Hi - I'm after some feedback about Hyde accordions. Peter 'Stormy' Hyde manufactures beautiful looking button boxes. I've read a couple of conflicting comments about them - made in passing - on this site, but haven't seen anything comprehensive.
As the fellow lives relatively near me (Adelaide Aust, cf Christchurch NZ) compared with the Salterelle factory in Italy, there seem to be advantages in buying a quality instrument from *this* hemisphere. Provided it makes the sound I'm after, reliable etc etc.... hence this post.
Gidday Nathan,
I've heard nothing except great reports about Hyde accordions. He has a couple of great players advocating his wares including Sharon Shannon. I have heard that they can be a "little soft" in that the modern concertina sound is what you're paying for. At least a Hyde is made or maintained by the man as opposed to a Salterelle which nowadays could be made by anybody in the factory on the day. I play a Salterelle and am happy with it, I've never played a Hyde box. Much like all good instruments it comes down to waiting time and putting the dollaros aside to afford it. If your concerns surround supporting "local" (1500 miles away) makers then he's your only option for a quality hand made box. Depending on what system you play you might make enquiries in ChCh to JJ who'll set you right for second hand boxes.
I owned one for a few months. It was a very small single voice box, so maybe not a good one to go by in general (there's a photo of the one I had on his Web site...the Melotina).
It was very light and fast, but a little delicate (definately not something to handle roughly or bang around). It had a very mellow sound and was pretty loud for one reed, but not as cutting a sound as many accordions. The price was good (not sure if they've gone up at all in the last year or two).
The only other box I'd owned at that point was a Castagnari Lilly (also a one voice). The Lilly was louder and more rugged (also more expensive).
Stormy was an interesting guy to email back and forth with.
This is fair comment, my instruments are not made to be handled roughly or bang around (would you treat any other instrument that way?) but I do try my utmost to make them very light and fast.
The Melotina (name coined by Brett), has a concertina styled reed pan, to give it the mellower concertina sound, it is this range of instruments I call the Flutina, unlike the Lilly that has a glued down accordion reed block that gives it more upper harmonics, and sounds louder to the player, I also make instruments in this style.
When I started making boxes about 20 years ago they were copies of the older Mezon accordions made in Saxony. My first few boxes were far too heavy, so much so I had a couple of female accordion players complain about this fact. At that point I backed off from copying other instruments and free felled on my own.
The important thing to me is that my customers design the boxes that I make. I have never made for retail outlets (although I have had a few accordion outlets asking to sell my boxes, but they soon back off when I say I have to have contact with the person who is buying the instrument,) I only custom make, so the direction that I have gone in has been totally dictated by my customers. Patkiwi is right; I make every part of the box except where the components come from Italy.
My priorities are ease of playing (weight and size,) speed and tonal quality, and of course; I want the outside to show the quality of the inside. Every part of my accordions are variable, be it the keyboard style, button spacing, timber or finish choice, size, and last but not least any tuning. I think to date I have made about 200 instruments, and not any two are the same.
When people ask me about the models I make, I just tell them to go away (with the help of a data CD) and design the box that they want, it is not unusual to have people spending up to 6 months designing their instruments, but at the end they get the instrument that they want, if not I guarantee to refund the cost of the instrument, this has never been requested.
As far as delicate is concerned; this is part of appealing to the female players, 50% of my customers over the last 2 years are women, and the biggest single part of that group are young women in their early 20’s, I would doubt very much if any other maker could claim the same. Although my boxes do look light and delicate rest assured they are strong, but not as strong as the maker who stands on his accordions (I’ve seen it with my own eyes) to show how strong they are, I guarantee that if you were to stand on any of mine it will collapse. After all; it is a musical instrument, and needs to be treated as such.
Hyde Boxes
Hyde Boxes
Hi - I'm after some feedback about Hyde accordions. Peter 'Stormy' Hyde manufactures beautiful looking button boxes. I've read a couple of conflicting comments about them - made in passing - on this site, but haven't seen anything comprehensive.
As the fellow lives relatively near me (Adelaide Aust, cf Christchurch NZ) compared with the Salterelle factory in Italy, there seem to be advantages in buying a quality instrument from *this* hemisphere. Provided it makes the sound I'm after, reliable etc etc.... hence this post.
Thanks for your help
Nathan
# Posted on July 30th 2006 by Brown Creeper
Re: Hyde Boxes
Gidday Nathan,
I've heard nothing except great reports about Hyde accordions. He has a couple of great players advocating his wares including Sharon Shannon. I have heard that they can be a "little soft" in that the modern concertina sound is what you're paying for. At least a Hyde is made or maintained by the man as opposed to a Salterelle which nowadays could be made by anybody in the factory on the day. I play a Salterelle and am happy with it, I've never played a Hyde box. Much like all good instruments it comes down to waiting time and putting the dollaros aside to afford it. If your concerns surround supporting "local" (1500 miles away) makers then he's your only option for a quality hand made box. Depending on what system you play you might make enquiries in ChCh to JJ who'll set you right for second hand boxes.
# Posted on July 30th 2006 by Patkiwi
Re: Hyde Boxes
I owned one for a few months. It was a very small single voice box, so maybe not a good one to go by in general (there's a photo of the one I had on his Web site...the Melotina).
It was very light and fast, but a little delicate (definately not something to handle roughly or bang around). It had a very mellow sound and was pretty loud for one reed, but not as cutting a sound as many accordions. The price was good (not sure if they've gone up at all in the last year or two).
The only other box I'd owned at that point was a Castagnari Lilly (also a one voice). The Lilly was louder and more rugged (also more expensive).
Stormy was an interesting guy to email back and forth with.
-Brett
# Posted on July 31st 2006 by bretton
Re: Hyde Boxes
Ask on Melodeon.Net and/or look here:
http://www.melodeon.net/reviewmelodeon_AO.html#hyde
I've never seen or played one but I quite like the look of some of his boxes.
# Posted on July 31st 2006 by Compo
Re: Hyde Boxes
In response to Brett
This is fair comment, my instruments are not made to be handled roughly or bang around (would you treat any other instrument that way?) but I do try my utmost to make them very light and fast.
The Melotina (name coined by Brett), has a concertina styled reed pan, to give it the mellower concertina sound, it is this range of instruments I call the Flutina, unlike the Lilly that has a glued down accordion reed block that gives it more upper harmonics, and sounds louder to the player, I also make instruments in this style.
When I started making boxes about 20 years ago they were copies of the older Mezon accordions made in Saxony. My first few boxes were far too heavy, so much so I had a couple of female accordion players complain about this fact. At that point I backed off from copying other instruments and free felled on my own.
The important thing to me is that my customers design the boxes that I make. I have never made for retail outlets (although I have had a few accordion outlets asking to sell my boxes, but they soon back off when I say I have to have contact with the person who is buying the instrument,) I only custom make, so the direction that I have gone in has been totally dictated by my customers. Patkiwi is right; I make every part of the box except where the components come from Italy.
My priorities are ease of playing (weight and size,) speed and tonal quality, and of course; I want the outside to show the quality of the inside. Every part of my accordions are variable, be it the keyboard style, button spacing, timber or finish choice, size, and last but not least any tuning. I think to date I have made about 200 instruments, and not any two are the same.
When people ask me about the models I make, I just tell them to go away (with the help of a data CD) and design the box that they want, it is not unusual to have people spending up to 6 months designing their instruments, but at the end they get the instrument that they want, if not I guarantee to refund the cost of the instrument, this has never been requested.
As far as delicate is concerned; this is part of appealing to the female players, 50% of my customers over the last 2 years are women, and the biggest single part of that group are young women in their early 20’s, I would doubt very much if any other maker could claim the same. Although my boxes do look light and delicate rest assured they are strong, but not as strong as the maker who stands on his accordions (I’ve seen it with my own eyes) to show how strong they are, I guarantee that if you were to stand on any of mine it will collapse. After all; it is a musical instrument, and needs to be treated as such.
Good health to you all
Peter (Stormy) Hyde
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by Peter Stormy Hyde