I have a Hohner Erica accordion and I find the buttons are quite high compared to my old accordion, a Sonata. Is there a way to lower the buttons as I find it more difficult to play with the higher buttons?
for more technical and specialised questions about accordions, I would advise you to become a member of www.melodeon.net there is a wealth of knowledge on that site and you will have your questions answered.
melodeon.net may have someone who can give advice. But hte sites utility is a bit limited since it is focused onD/G players. (the attitutde is a bit.....well you other guys can work on one row and figure out the rest.)
If you are playing the Irish boxes (I assume that's why your're here) we have some good guys who cna do referrals.
I always recommend googling IrishDancemaster. Michael there is a master. He can probably answer your question
1. Wrestle manfully with the Erica and do all you can with it -
2. - while trying to acquire as much $ as possible. Then,
3. Buy a decent melodeon.
You'll hit the ground running!
Alternatively, there might be someone in your area who could customise your Erica - i.e., alter the setting of the buttons, make the action more responsive, alter the tuning and do whatever else might be needed to enable it to play fast and sound good when taking on Irish reels and the like. This would cost, but probably a fair bit less than a good new box.
- Or, you might be lucky and find a decent second-hand box of a good make, on the Net or elsewhere.
The Erica is honestly not much of an instrument - unless it's been much improved over the years, which I rather doubt.
I think Zippys' description of mel.net is a bit disparaging. We welcome players of all systems and have current thriving threads on B/C, B/C/C#, and D/D#. Plus the advice requested was on button travel on an Erica, does it matter what system it is?
Come on in we are quite friendly and mostly helpful
Newfiegirl,
I 2nd zippy's advice to contact dancemaster. Also chiffboard.mati.ca, and go to the freereed board. And...I think nicholas' description of the Erica a bit disparaging.I like many aspects of the Ericas and wouldn't rip on anyone' s accordion. You work with what you have.
The Erica is a fantastic box and they get even better once a few simple modifications have been made. Some people find the buttons to be a bit high. No big deal, it's a simple fix, if you're so inclined to fix it yourself.
If you'd like to lower the buttons then first remove the grille to expose the pallets. Hold down the pallet while pushing firmly on its corresponding button. This will bend the lever and lower the button. A technician will do the same thing. If you do this carefully across all buttons taking care to be consistent, then you will have a uniformly lower button height.
Tip: don't over do it! Lower the buttons gradually so you don't make them way too low the first time. Also note that if you were to lower the button too much then the pallet would not lift sufficiently high off the sound board, and the note would be muted.
I did this before installing felts inside the keyboard to limit button travel. If you already have a felt bumper in the keyboard then lowering the button so its lever is too close to the felt will cause a problem with lever travel. Just take out the felt, lower the buttons, and replace the felt although you may have to use thinner gauge the second time on account of the lowered buttons. Good luck. Hohner rules!
I tried to register with melodeon.net a couple of months back but didn't get a reply. I quite like browsing theri forum although I'm new to accordeonhood.
I must try and register again, although I may well have been "recognised" and black balled (can we still say that?) last time.
Pay no attention to Nicholas' reference to the Ericas. All I could say is that Derek Hickey recorded all his De Danann albums with a Hohner Erica and they sound amazing. Remember, its the player and not the box that makes a difference. I have seen many beginners holding £3000 accordions and must say it looks silly if you can't play it. People think that Castagnari or Saltarelle are the be all and end all...not so. The erica is a great little box so stick with it and modify it. Micheal at Dancemaster will give you some advice on that. I have a grey Paolo Soprani and a Briggs and I still play both my 60s Ericas from time to time. Great little things!
Not being disparaging. It was only a comment to put the website in perspective for purposes of being part of an answer to the original question.
melodean.net a nice site otherwise. Personally, I have found its scope a bit limiting as a B/C player. But to the actual question for major surgery on an instrument, getting the advice of a specific person with expertise is the way to go.
Well, thank heavens some one likes the Hohner Erica....and thank you for your responses and especially for the tips on how to lower the buttons.
I'm not going to do it myself but will let the technician know the advice you gave me...
High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
I have a Hohner Erica accordion and I find the buttons are quite high compared to my old accordion, a Sonata. Is there a way to lower the buttons as I find it more difficult to play with the higher buttons?
# Posted on May 14th 2009 by newfiegirl
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
for more technical and specialised questions about accordions, I would advise you to become a member of www.melodeon.net there is a wealth of knowledge on that site and you will have your questions answered.
# Posted on May 14th 2009 by csparpd
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
one bit of caution though
melodeon.net may have someone who can give advice. But hte sites utility is a bit limited since it is focused onD/G players. (the attitutde is a bit.....well you other guys can work on one row and figure out the rest.)
If you are playing the Irish boxes (I assume that's why your're here) we have some good guys who cna do referrals.
I always recommend googling IrishDancemaster. Michael there is a master. He can probably answer your question
# Posted on May 14th 2009 by zippydw
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
1. Wrestle manfully with the Erica and do all you can with it -
2. - while trying to acquire as much $ as possible. Then,
3. Buy a decent melodeon.
You'll hit the ground running!
Alternatively, there might be someone in your area who could customise your Erica - i.e., alter the setting of the buttons, make the action more responsive, alter the tuning and do whatever else might be needed to enable it to play fast and sound good when taking on Irish reels and the like. This would cost, but probably a fair bit less than a good new box.
- Or, you might be lucky and find a decent second-hand box of a good make, on the Net or elsewhere.
The Erica is honestly not much of an instrument - unless it's been much improved over the years, which I rather doubt.
# Posted on May 14th 2009 by nicholas
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
I think Zippys' description of mel.net is a bit disparaging. We welcome players of all systems and have current thriving threads on B/C, B/C/C#, and D/D#. Plus the advice requested was on button travel on an Erica, does it matter what system it is?
Come on in we are quite friendly and mostly helpful
# Posted on May 14th 2009 by goldfrog
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
Newfiegirl,
I 2nd zippy's advice to contact dancemaster. Also chiffboard.mati.ca, and go to the freereed board. And...I think nicholas' description of the Erica a bit disparaging.I like many aspects of the Ericas and wouldn't rip on anyone' s accordion. You work with what you have.
Rob
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by mellow_bellows
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
The Erica is a fantastic box and they get even better once a few simple modifications have been made. Some people find the buttons to be a bit high. No big deal, it's a simple fix, if you're so inclined to fix it yourself.
If you'd like to lower the buttons then first remove the grille to expose the pallets. Hold down the pallet while pushing firmly on its corresponding button. This will bend the lever and lower the button. A technician will do the same thing. If you do this carefully across all buttons taking care to be consistent, then you will have a uniformly lower button height.
Tip: don't over do it! Lower the buttons gradually so you don't make them way too low the first time. Also note that if you were to lower the button too much then the pallet would not lift sufficiently high off the sound board, and the note would be muted.
I did this before installing felts inside the keyboard to limit button travel. If you already have a felt bumper in the keyboard then lowering the button so its lever is too close to the felt will cause a problem with lever travel. Just take out the felt, lower the buttons, and replace the felt although you may have to use thinner gauge the second time on account of the lowered buttons. Good luck. Hohner rules!
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by gravelwalks
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
I tried to register with melodeon.net a couple of months back but didn't get a reply. I quite like browsing theri forum although I'm new to accordeonhood.
I must try and register again, although I may well have been "recognised" and black balled (can we still say that?) last time.
- chris
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
oops, appears I can log in. I couldn't last time I tried.
They didn't recognise me after all :heh:
- chris
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
Pay no attention to Nicholas' reference to the Ericas. All I could say is that Derek Hickey recorded all his De Danann albums with a Hohner Erica and they sound amazing. Remember, its the player and not the box that makes a difference. I have seen many beginners holding £3000 accordions and must say it looks silly if you can't play it. People think that Castagnari or Saltarelle are the be all and end all...not so. The erica is a great little box so stick with it and modify it. Micheal at Dancemaster will give you some advice on that. I have a grey Paolo Soprani and a Briggs and I still play both my 60s Ericas from time to time. Great little things!
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by csparpd
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
goldfrog
Not being disparaging. It was only a comment to put the website in perspective for purposes of being part of an answer to the original question.
melodean.net a nice site otherwise. Personally, I have found its scope a bit limiting as a B/C player. But to the actual question for major surgery on an instrument, getting the advice of a specific person with expertise is the way to go.
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by zippydw
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
Only by a good seamstress.
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by dafydd
Re: High Buttons - Can they be lowered?
Well, thank heavens some one likes the Hohner Erica....and thank you for your responses and especially for the tips on how to lower the buttons.
I'm not going to do it myself but will let the technician know the advice you gave me...
# Posted on May 15th 2009 by newfiegirl