I am a fiddle player currently passing time at work teaching myself to play accordion on my friend's B/C Paolo Soparani. Yes, my co-workers have exiled me to practicing in the supply closet but I'm still plugging away! Anyway I'm looking to buy a nice yet fairly inexpensive (is that possible) B/C box by the end of the summer. I was wondering if anyone out there has any suggestions about where I can find one, what brands to look for, etc? Been playing trad for ages but I've no clue about boxes. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
I've been through this process recently. I've played the piano for years, and I've been playing the piano accordion with a few friends for a while. I wanted to learn button accordion, though, since it seems to fit in better with ITM.
Most good b/c boxes ( Castagnari, Cairdin, Saltarelle etc.) start around $1200 and go up from there depending on the quality of the reeds, stops, etc.
You can find some decent boxes to start with, although they probably won't be on the same level as your friend's Paolo. Delicia makes a b/c box that starts around $425 or so. The reeds are supposed to be pretty nice, but the action has been described as just OK. Weltmeister's bottom of the line box is around $760, but it's supposed to have pretty good action and a decent sound. I would stay away from the Chinese manufacturers like Parrot or Scarlatti, unless you can actually play one before you buy it. The quality of these have been spotty, although they are getting better.
After saying all that, I actually decided to buy a box from the Learner Co. They've been marketing a box for $400 that they have made in China, but it's made according to Billy McComiskey's specs. It took a little longer than I wanted before it arrived, and I sent the first one back, but I've been pretty happy with the one I have now. It has fairly fast button action, and it sounds pretty good. If I ever get to a decent level on this one, then maybe one day I'll put down the big bucks for a Castagnari or a Cairdin.
Other than that, check out the used boxes on the websites for the Button Box in MA (www.buttonbox.com), and at Jim Coogan's website, http://members.aol.com/jimattheboxofc/. Hobgoblin Music has a selection of Delicia and Scarlatti boxes at their site at www.hobgoblin.com.
Good luck! Maybe you can just coax your friend into letting you have his Paolo!
Possibly your best bet is to visit one of the many auction websites (e.g. eBay) and pick up an accordion from there. Even if you don't want to buy something that you haven't yet played, it's a good way of finding contact details for dealers of cheap/second-hand/reconditioned instruments in your area. A friend of mine has acquired a dozen or so vintage banjos in this way; he's in Belfast and they're being shipped from the States. He's never been let down and the instruments are by and large in good to excellent condition.
The better brands to look out for are Paolo Soprani (of course), Saltarelle, Cairdín and Castagnari.
Of course, you've still got the eternal dilemma to deal with yet: do you stick with the B/C or go for the C#/D?
A Cara
I think the best all round reasonable box to start with is the Hohner Black Dot. These do need a bit of modification after a while to make the button reponse better. They are reasonably priced you would get a new one for around the €550. Almost everyone I know started on one of these I have one myself and
find it ok. Definately we all dream of Saltarelle, Cairdín and Castagnari "sometime !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The Hohner Black dot was always regarded as the best starter box, but I think for a few dollars more the Salterelle Irish Bouebe is worth considering. I'm told the button action is much better than the Hohner, and it's made in cute natural wood so if you dont succeed in mastering it you will still have something nice to look at!!!!
I bought a beautiful used Salterelle Irish Boube from The Button Box last year. I really love it. It has ''swing tuning" which is between wet and dry. And Backer is right--it is beautiful, although my playing certainly is NOT.
I got a Saltarelle Bouebe a few years back from Hobgoblin when I developed a frozen shoulder stopping me fiddling. The shoulder cleared up and lured me back to the fiddle but the sound on the box was great (it is dry tuned) so plays very clean. One day I might get back to it, but my cats prefer the fiddle, they show signs of distress at the boc (i guess its the overtones or something) also its quite loud.
Have a look at the O'Neills music site in Ireland they mail all over the world. http://www.freezone.co.uk/oneillmusic/index1V.htm. They give good advice, good discounts and will have a wide range of instruments to suit all ages and abilities. I teach accordion and unless you are flush with cash I would advise a cheaper brand like black dot or boorinwood beginers box, or a good s/h box. nothing like a paolo sopranai to liven up a session if you can afford one. stick with b/c tuning as you can pick up a box at any session and play it. Fashion for fancy tunings come and go, tremlo in the 60's scottish musette in the 70's, irish musette in the 80's now we have wooden dry tuned boxes from the 90's that can't be heard in a good going session. If you can master the instrument well, then is the time to part with major bucks
If you're still looking for a button box, I have a Hohner for sale. I recently got a Paolo and no longer need the Hohner. If you would like to contact me off list, email lohmulle@ipfw.edu.
Accordion Info
Accordion Info
I am a fiddle player currently passing time at work teaching myself to play accordion on my friend's B/C Paolo Soparani. Yes, my co-workers have exiled me to practicing in the supply closet but I'm still plugging away! Anyway I'm looking to buy a nice yet fairly inexpensive (is that possible) B/C box by the end of the summer. I was wondering if anyone out there has any suggestions about where I can find one, what brands to look for, etc? Been playing trad for ages but I've no clue about boxes. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Cara
# Posted on June 25th 2002 by carafiddle
Re: Accordion Info
Hi Cara,
I've been through this process recently. I've played the piano for years, and I've been playing the piano accordion with a few friends for a while. I wanted to learn button accordion, though, since it seems to fit in better with ITM.
Most good b/c boxes ( Castagnari, Cairdin, Saltarelle etc.) start around $1200 and go up from there depending on the quality of the reeds, stops, etc.
You can find some decent boxes to start with, although they probably won't be on the same level as your friend's Paolo. Delicia makes a b/c box that starts around $425 or so. The reeds are supposed to be pretty nice, but the action has been described as just OK. Weltmeister's bottom of the line box is around $760, but it's supposed to have pretty good action and a decent sound. I would stay away from the Chinese manufacturers like Parrot or Scarlatti, unless you can actually play one before you buy it. The quality of these have been spotty, although they are getting better.
After saying all that, I actually decided to buy a box from the Learner Co. They've been marketing a box for $400 that they have made in China, but it's made according to Billy McComiskey's specs. It took a little longer than I wanted before it arrived, and I sent the first one back, but I've been pretty happy with the one I have now. It has fairly fast button action, and it sounds pretty good. If I ever get to a decent level on this one, then maybe one day I'll put down the big bucks for a Castagnari or a Cairdin.
Other than that, check out the used boxes on the websites for the Button Box in MA (www.buttonbox.com), and at Jim Coogan's website, http://members.aol.com/jimattheboxofc/. Hobgoblin Music has a selection of Delicia and Scarlatti boxes at their site at www.hobgoblin.com.
Good luck! Maybe you can just coax your friend into letting you have his Paolo!
Jose
# Posted on June 26th 2002 by jmmana
Re: Accordion Info
Hi Cara
Possibly your best bet is to visit one of the many auction websites (e.g. eBay) and pick up an accordion from there. Even if you don't want to buy something that you haven't yet played, it's a good way of finding contact details for dealers of cheap/second-hand/reconditioned instruments in your area. A friend of mine has acquired a dozen or so vintage banjos in this way; he's in Belfast and they're being shipped from the States. He's never been let down and the instruments are by and large in good to excellent condition.
The better brands to look out for are Paolo Soprani (of course), Saltarelle, Cairdín and Castagnari.
Of course, you've still got the eternal dilemma to deal with yet: do you stick with the B/C or go for the C#/D?
Good luck!
Conán
# Posted on June 26th 2002 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Accordion Info
A Cara
I think the best all round reasonable box to start with is the Hohner Black Dot. These do need a bit of modification after a while to make the button reponse better. They are reasonably priced you would get a new one for around the €550. Almost everyone I know started on one of these I have one myself and
find it ok. Definately we all dream of Saltarelle, Cairdín and Castagnari "sometime !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
# Posted on June 26th 2002 by Northcregg
Re: Accordion Info
The Hohner Black dot was always regarded as the best starter box, but I think for a few dollars more the Salterelle Irish Bouebe is worth considering. I'm told the button action is much better than the Hohner, and it's made in cute natural wood so if you dont succeed in mastering it you will still have something nice to look at!!!!
# Posted on June 26th 2002 by Backer
Re: Accordion Info
I bought a beautiful used Salterelle Irish Boube from The Button Box last year. I really love it. It has ''swing tuning" which is between wet and dry. And Backer is right--it is beautiful, although my playing certainly is NOT.
# Posted on June 26th 2002 by woman of the house
Re: Accordion Info
I got a Saltarelle Bouebe a few years back from Hobgoblin when I developed a frozen shoulder stopping me fiddling. The shoulder cleared up and lured me back to the fiddle but the sound on the box was great (it is dry tuned) so plays very clean. One day I might get back to it, but my cats prefer the fiddle, they show signs of distress at the boc (i guess its the overtones or something) also its quite loud.
# Posted on June 26th 2002 by donnchad
Re: Accordion Info
Have a look at the O'Neills music site in Ireland they mail all over the world. http://www.freezone.co.uk/oneillmusic/index1V.htm. They give good advice, good discounts and will have a wide range of instruments to suit all ages and abilities. I teach accordion and unless you are flush with cash I would advise a cheaper brand like black dot or boorinwood beginers box, or a good s/h box. nothing like a paolo sopranai to liven up a session if you can afford one. stick with b/c tuning as you can pick up a box at any session and play it. Fashion for fancy tunings come and go, tremlo in the 60's scottish musette in the 70's, irish musette in the 80's now we have wooden dry tuned boxes from the 90's that can't be heard in a good going session. If you can master the instrument well, then is the time to part with major bucks
# Posted on July 1st 2002 by An Boscadoír
Re: Accordion Info
Cara,
If you're still looking for a button box, I have a Hohner for sale. I recently got a Paolo and no longer need the Hohner. If you would like to contact me off list, email lohmulle@ipfw.edu.
BJ
# Posted on August 20th 2002 by BJL