The Session >> Discussions >> Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
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Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Damned curiosity, which I'm constantly plagued with, and this one is to do with reeds for boxes, say a two row button squeezebox, 21 or 23 button. What's the lowest reeds (note & octave) one can get into a block of reeds for something like that? What are the limitations? I have heard one that went down to D, on the low set, a box tuned D/D# and with four sets of reeds, one low, two mid and one high... I'm just curious as to how low it could go? And I don't mean the bass side of things.
Even if all you can do is recommend someone who might know that would be welcome. As well, what are good sources for quality reeds?
Yes, I might have an opportunity to acquire a project squeeze, and I'd want to do it myself, whatever the risks... I suspect there are some of you out there that have already gone this route, and your guidance would be most welcome, or any addresses of contacts you respect who you consider 'in the know'...
Don't dissuade me, I haven't taken the leap yet. I'm just checking the possibilities and risks...
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
I spend quite a lot of my time fixing instruments, among them the occasional squeezebox. My experience suggests that it could be unwise to try to build one from scratch as a first project - you need a very wide range of skills to make a properly functioning instrument.
If kits of ready-machined components are available that might offer a less intimidating way forward though it certainly wouldn't be a pushover..
better perhaps to buy a basket case used instrument and cut your teeth on fixing that, developing skills as you go along
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Thanks, no, I'm not yet ready to start from scratch, except possibly making maybe some of the needed tools... There's the possibility of getting a squeeze that needs new reeds...
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Lots of info, knowledge and enthusiasm over at melodeon.net.
As to "how low can you go" I recently did a conversion for a friend putting bass reeds from a Hohner Verdi PA onto the treble side of a little old Hohner Student (I or II, can't remember) to make a little bass accordion. Had to make new reed blocks, and the size of the bass reeds meant the existing bass reed blocks had to come out, but the conversion works, just a bit more volume would be nice.
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Hmm. I have a disassembled accordion of unknown parentage sitting in my workroom. Someone used a glue gun to reattach a whole block of reeds. Sigh. The leathers are okay, but in need of some work. Fortunately, I didn't pay much for the wreck. I was a sucker for ivory keys. This is my winter project; I am just curious to see if I can get it up and running again.
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Actually, C, and technically speaking you could get about as low as you want, by getting the extremity of the reed much "heavier" than the other end (that's the way with free reeds : when you tune them, you grind a bit at the extremity, makes it hegher, you grind in the middle, it gets lower, So logically, if get the extremity heavier by sticking metal to it, it can lower to about any note you want...: same thing could work to raise them, but then, you take matrial away, so it fragilize the reed...)some boxes have average sized reeds, with bits of lead stuck to them to make them get lower : I've seen 2 voice boxes tuned LM, but the low one was the same size as the medium, with packs of lead to get it one octave lower. After it's a matter of response of the reed, size of the window, etc...
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Thanks you lot, and for the pokes in the ribs too... Now to go enjoy some music. I haven't yet quite commited to this.
Nikita, I have done some work and tuning before, but on smaller things ~ concertinas... That's not to say I consider myself 'capable', just experienced, which could be taken in any number of ways. I've never taken a glue gun to one though, and won't...
Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Damned curiosity, which I'm constantly plagued with, and this one is to do with reeds for boxes, say a two row button squeezebox, 21 or 23 button. What's the lowest reeds (note & octave) one can get into a block of reeds for something like that? What are the limitations? I have heard one that went down to D, on the low set, a box tuned D/D# and with four sets of reeds, one low, two mid and one high... I'm just curious as to how low it could go? And I don't mean the bass side of things.
Even if all you can do is recommend someone who might know that would be welcome. As well, what are good sources for quality reeds?
Yes, I might have an opportunity to acquire a project squeeze, and I'd want to do it myself, whatever the risks... I suspect there are some of you out there that have already gone this route, and your guidance would be most welcome, or any addresses of contacts you respect who you consider 'in the know'...
Don't dissuade me, I haven't taken the leap yet. I'm just checking the possibilities and risks...
Thanks ~ 'c'
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by ceolachan
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
I spend quite a lot of my time fixing instruments, among them the occasional squeezebox. My experience suggests that it could be unwise to try to build one from scratch as a first project - you need a very wide range of skills to make a properly functioning instrument.
If kits of ready-machined components are available that might offer a less intimidating way forward though it certainly wouldn't be a pushover..
better perhaps to buy a basket case used instrument and cut your teeth on fixing that, developing skills as you go along
good luck
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by millionyears_bc
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Thanks, no, I'm not yet ready to start from scratch, except possibly making maybe some of the needed tools... There's the possibility of getting a squeeze that needs new reeds...
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by ceolachan
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & re-building boxes
~ a re-build and repairs...
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by ceolachan
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
a valve grind and oil change, check the bearers and joists.
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by mcknowall
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
replace the ant caps on the stumps if you live in WA ...
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by Hup
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Clean the groove, square the rails and lubricate the nose sprocket.
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by ∅
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Lots of info, knowledge and enthusiasm over at melodeon.net.
As to "how low can you go" I recently did a conversion for a friend putting bass reeds from a Hohner Verdi PA onto the treble side of a little old Hohner Student (I or II, can't remember) to make a little bass accordion. Had to make new reed blocks, and the size of the bass reeds meant the existing bass reed blocks had to come out, but the conversion works, just a bit more volume would be nice.
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by TomB-R
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
The potential project may be built around a more modern body of a Paulo Soprani 23 button box...
I'm the one needing the oil change and valve grind, and the bearings and joists, well, they grind and creak...
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by ceolachan
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Hmm. I have a disassembled accordion of unknown parentage sitting in my workroom. Someone used a glue gun to reattach a whole block of reeds. Sigh. The leathers are okay, but in need of some work. Fortunately, I didn't pay much for the wreck. I was a sucker for ivory keys. This is my winter project; I am just curious to see if I can get it up and running again.
Good luck, C.
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by Michele Sims
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
"Someone used a glue gun ..."
It wasn't mcknowall was it?
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by ...
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Actually, C, and technically speaking you could get about as low as you want, by getting the extremity of the reed much "heavier" than the other end (that's the way with free reeds : when you tune them, you grind a bit at the extremity, makes it hegher, you grind in the middle, it gets lower, So logically, if get the extremity heavier by sticking metal to it, it can lower to about any note you want...: same thing could work to raise them, but then, you take matrial away, so it fragilize the reed...)some boxes have average sized reeds, with bits of lead stuck to them to make them get lower : I've seen 2 voice boxes tuned LM, but the low one was the same size as the medium, with packs of lead to get it one octave lower. After it's a matter of response of the reed, size of the window, etc...
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
bother the fact you can't correct a post : it's higher, material... my computer dysorthography is getting worst than ever.... must be old age !
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Ho, and here's a site for good quality reeds :
http://www.accordions.com/binci/
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
http://www.cgmmusical.co.uk/
http://www.vociarmoniche.it/
http://www.hmtrad.com/catalog/winds/sbx/sbx-part.html
http://1accordion.net/tuning.html
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by ∅
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Thanks, Joesmith, for the link to Ike's site ! very instructing !
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
http://www.buttonbox.com/
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by 'tinamatt
Re: Stooping low into the the esoteric ~ reeds & building boxes
Thanks you lot, and for the pokes in the ribs too... Now to go enjoy some music. I haven't yet quite commited to this.
Nikita, I have done some work and tuning before, but on smaller things ~ concertinas... That's not to say I consider myself 'capable', just experienced, which could be taken in any number of ways. I've never taken a glue gun to one though, and won't...
# Posted on November 5th 2009 by ceolachan