hello
i have a heavy button accordion and do not want to change it but want do want to take weight off it, its a 4 voice castagnari
I think its becasue the wood is heavy, so would it be advisable to sand the wood down on the bass side to take weight off
Its just that i usually have to stop playin after a tune or 2 to have a rest
How about attaching some balloons filled with helium (non-flammable and always good for a laugh when you've finished with them) to the strap holders? You could use personalized decals on the balloons...
Whiddler's completely right. If you just keep playing every day for about half an hour, you'll get stronger and "grow into your instrument". You can lift weights to help the process, too.
Play in major keys - it's lighter. In a similar vein, before travelling with your laptop, remove unnecessary data and also discharge the batteries, as these both can save a considerable amount of excess weight.
It's all those reeds that are heavy, the case etc is relatively light, so apart from the above suggestions, changing to a lighter box is probably the only real answer, unless.....
With four voices you've presumably got two reed blocks "under" each pallet, four reed blocks at the treble end.
It could well be a quick,easy and totally reversible matter to take out one of each pair of reed blocks. You've then got a large, lighter two voice box that you can convert back to four when you want to. (Okay there's actually a bit more to it than that. ) See what they think over at melodeon.net !
I see you posted before about your box being so heavy. I was thinking of asking why or how you come to have this particular instrument - but that's not really relevant.
Weight has and will always be an issue for multi-voiced box and Castagnari are unlikely to have 'over-engineered' the construction.
Mess with it at your peril!
Swop it or do a deal for a smaller instrument otherwise you just going to have to learn to live with it. Mess with it and it will become so much valueless woodwork.
weight
weight
hello
i have a heavy button accordion and do not want to change it but want do want to take weight off it, its a 4 voice castagnari
I think its becasue the wood is heavy, so would it be advisable to sand the wood down on the bass side to take weight off
Its just that i usually have to stop playin after a tune or 2 to have a rest
any other techniques are welcome
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by today
Re: weight
How about attaching some balloons filled with helium (non-flammable and always good for a laugh when you've finished with them) to the strap holders? You could use personalized decals on the balloons...
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by john knoss
Re: weight
Don't sand it down.
Couldn't you do excercises like weights at the gym to build up your strength?
(THIS is a serious comment.)
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: weight
If it's that heavy he would even need to lift weights to get stronger... just play more.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: weight
*wouldn't
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: weight
Second-hand zimmer-frame to stand it on.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Innocent Bystander
Re: weight
been playing for three years and can only manage a couple of tunes? why do I think someone's havin' a laugh?
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by john knoss
Re: weight
Whiddler's completely right. If you just keep playing every day for about half an hour, you'll get stronger and "grow into your instrument". You can lift weights to help the process, too.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: weight
Ashes are pretty light.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by feardearg
Re: weight
If it is a twenty one button instrument, try removing about 10 of them. You could also try playing the harmonica, that's lighter still.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: weight
Play in major keys - it's lighter. In a similar vein, before travelling with your laptop, remove unnecessary data and also discharge the batteries, as these both can save a considerable amount of excess weight.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: weight
It's all those reeds that are heavy, the case etc is relatively light, so apart from the above suggestions, changing to a lighter box is probably the only real answer, unless.....
With four voices you've presumably got two reed blocks "under" each pallet, four reed blocks at the treble end.
It could well be a quick,easy and totally reversible matter to take out one of each pair of reed blocks. You've then got a large, lighter two voice box that you can convert back to four when you want to. (Okay there's actually a bit more to it than that. ) See what they think over at melodeon.net !
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by TomB-R
Re: weight
I see you posted before about your box being so heavy. I was thinking of asking why or how you come to have this particular instrument - but that's not really relevant.
Weight has and will always be an issue for multi-voiced box and Castagnari are unlikely to have 'over-engineered' the construction.
Mess with it at your peril!
Swop it or do a deal for a smaller instrument otherwise you just going to have to learn to live with it. Mess with it and it will become so much valueless woodwork.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by john knoss
Re: weight
Have you tried spinach?
Olive Oyl as a lubricant?
I would gladly pay you tuesday
for a lighter box ...er....um....."today"?
# Posted on June 14th 2008 by Bodhi
Re: weight
Biblical story -
Popeye went to Mount Olive ....... so Blutto thumped him.
# Posted on June 16th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: weight
Try a structured weight training regime at your local gym....
free reed and mark harmer....
# Posted on June 16th 2008 by jig