It depends on your budget. I don't know where you live, but this is what I've found at the UK marked, and also at the German marked...
The used marked in UK have lots of decent B/C accordions such as Hohner. There are special shops such as hobgoblin.com who has got lots of new and used boxes.
If you're looking for something less expensive there are the Delicia-type ones. Made in the Chech Republic, they don't play and sound that good, but are great fun and will get you started at a low price.
If you want to start off better, you can get a used quality box at many music stores. But again, it depends on you budget.
Try looking at hobgoblin.co.uk if you are in UK, and diatonie.de and accordionservice.de for many other countries.
My dad is actually in the same position in that he's looking for a beginner accordion. The Hohner and Delicia kinds were both available at a local music store, and ultimately we were told by an extremely reliable source to stay away from both of them. Essentially, the Delicia was just bad according to this person, and I don't think the Hohner was as bad, but I think it was a bit pricey. Ultimately, my dad ended up ordering a Learner (that's a brand name, not necessarily an adjective) from a tremendous local musician by the name of Billy McComiskey. Ultimately the Learner was fairly inexpensive, and although Billy admitted that over time the user will probably find some shortcomings, ultimately it is a great accordion to start with. Oh, and if I'm not mistaken, I think the thing is made in China. Anywho, I'm not an accordion player, but I'm trusting Billy on this one. Man knows a thing or two about the box .
You can get lucky with a Delicia, but by and large they are to be avoided. The reeds are not of the best quality and the response and attack of the buttons leaves a lot to be desired, in my experience.
If you don't start off with, at the very least, a reasonable instrument it may be enough to put you off learning. It's worth trawling eBay for a second-hand box or ask a player you know if they have one they don't use any more; it's better to borrow one if you can just to make sure you are keen on learning the instrument.
I have one of Billy's "Learner" boxes, one of only 100 C#/D's he imported. It's a good learning instrument, though I also will probably upgrade some time. I think Billy's boxes may have reached the end of their run: that is, I think that he only ever planned to import a certain number to the US.
Please be warned - try before you buy! I went through this process a year ago and was lucky to recieve good advice before I began.
I listened to an excellent box player in Dublin and asked him afterwards which make he'd recommend (I ended up buying exactly the make and model he was using, knowing that if I don't end up playing as well as he did it's down to me, not the instrument...). His advice was that it's not worth buying a cheap instrument since they're not easy to play, are likely to put you off since you won't sound as good as you'd hoped, and will be impossible to offload when you're ready to trade up. The best thing to do is try as many instruments as you can (be prepared to travel) and buy the best you can afford. I asked several people at sessions if I could try their instrument and was neven refused - and usually given a few pointers on the best local shop to try.
I looked around the UK and found a similar range of cheap boxes, then several more expensive makes. Soprani make some of the best (but hence probably out of a beginner's budget), and Castagnari make beautiful all wood little boxes with a very sweet sound. Below that range is Mengascini, which is the unit I purchased - it cost 750 pounds UK, which would be 1100 US(? - you guys would know better - or are you Canadians?) and is available by mail order. I know this because another beginner at my session heard the sound my box plays and bought one the following week, brand new. People have often commented on the sweet sound that this particular box makes.
The most important two things to check are action and tone (although you can get them re-reeded fairly cheaply). The action is particularly important because on some boxes the buttons may be depressed below the level of the fingerboard, which makes fast playing very difficult.
I would also put a pretty strong caveat on buying second hand boxes, especially on line. I'd only recommend it if you can get the unit checked out by someone who knows what they're looking at before you buy. And even then, there's no substitute for actually playing the thing yourself (or at least 'wearing' it and pushing the buttons, even if you've never played one before).
Another plust of the Mengascini and Castignari makes are that they're smaller and lighter (and in my opinion more attractive to look at).
There's plenty more to this - if you'd like more info, e-mail me direct from my profile (click on the name at the end of this post).
Dear Lars,
A lot of years ago banjos made in thre GDR were scorned on not because there was anything wrong with them. the construction was EXACTLY the same as the current Korean ones.
They have been unchanged for possibly 30 years. I distributed & & retailed the Kay & the Korean one ( now I am talking the same design not as the the cheaper Korean retailing £150 apr. against the dearer one over £200 ). The snob attitude " oh its only an old cheap GDR one " " you only get what you pay for ". The difference going into the higher pay per hour.
The Delicia accordion sells in Ireland with slight mods as seen on www.boorinwoodmusic.com. with a case @ less than the H.g. price. It even is fitted with rust resistant reeds supplied in case. Availabe with a choice of better reeds
What would be the diff. between 2 different brand accordions made in China one at the former German price ( £465 in card box ) & the other made almost definitly with the same material
possibly in the same factory @ £195 in hard case .
Some big name Italian accordians I heard romoured are also China made. The Blk. Dot is now made in China What's not?
ANYWAY if he wants that high a quality beginner why not go Paolo Soprani. etc.
B.r.
J.B.
Starting the Box
Starting the Box
I'm a Banjo and Mandolin player who wants to start up playing the box. I was wondering what button accordions you suggest for a begginer.
# Posted on March 21st 2004 by Urger
Re: Starting the Box
It depends on your budget. I don't know where you live, but this is what I've found at the UK marked, and also at the German marked...
The used marked in UK have lots of decent B/C accordions such as Hohner. There are special shops such as hobgoblin.com who has got lots of new and used boxes.
If you're looking for something less expensive there are the Delicia-type ones. Made in the Chech Republic, they don't play and sound that good, but are great fun and will get you started at a low price.
If you want to start off better, you can get a used quality box at many music stores. But again, it depends on you budget.
Try looking at hobgoblin.co.uk if you are in UK, and diatonie.de and accordionservice.de for many other countries.
Lars.
# Posted on March 22nd 2004 by Larshansen
Re: Starting the Box
My dad is actually in the same position in that he's looking for a beginner accordion. The Hohner and Delicia kinds were both available at a local music store, and ultimately we were told by an extremely reliable source to stay away from both of them. Essentially, the Delicia was just bad according to this person, and I don't think the Hohner was as bad, but I think it was a bit pricey. Ultimately, my dad ended up ordering a Learner (that's a brand name, not necessarily an adjective) from a tremendous local musician by the name of Billy McComiskey. Ultimately the Learner was fairly inexpensive, and although Billy admitted that over time the user will probably find some shortcomings, ultimately it is a great accordion to start with. Oh, and if I'm not mistaken, I think the thing is made in China. Anywho, I'm not an accordion player, but I'm trusting Billy on this one. Man knows a thing or two about the box
.
~~Jason
# Posted on March 22nd 2004 by Jason G
Re: Starting the Box
You can get lucky with a Delicia, but by and large they are to be avoided. The reeds are not of the best quality and the response and attack of the buttons leaves a lot to be desired, in my experience.
If you don't start off with, at the very least, a reasonable instrument it may be enough to put you off learning. It's worth trawling eBay for a second-hand box or ask a player you know if they have one they don't use any more; it's better to borrow one if you can just to make sure you are keen on learning the instrument.
Conán
# Posted on March 22nd 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Starting the Box
I have one of Billy's "Learner" boxes, one of only 100 C#/D's he imported. It's a good learning instrument, though I also will probably upgrade some time. I think Billy's boxes may have reached the end of their run: that is, I think that he only ever planned to import a certain number to the US.
You might get over to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/irishbox and search the archives. See also Han Speek's Irish Box page (do a google.com search).
chris smith
# Posted on March 22nd 2004 by coyotebanjo
Re: Starting the Box
Hi Urger,
Please be warned - try before you buy! I went through this process a year ago and was lucky to recieve good advice before I began.
I listened to an excellent box player in Dublin and asked him afterwards which make he'd recommend (I ended up buying exactly the make and model he was using, knowing that if I don't end up playing as well as he did it's down to me, not the instrument...). His advice was that it's not worth buying a cheap instrument since they're not easy to play, are likely to put you off since you won't sound as good as you'd hoped, and will be impossible to offload when you're ready to trade up. The best thing to do is try as many instruments as you can (be prepared to travel) and buy the best you can afford. I asked several people at sessions if I could try their instrument and was neven refused - and usually given a few pointers on the best local shop to try.
I looked around the UK and found a similar range of cheap boxes, then several more expensive makes. Soprani make some of the best (but hence probably out of a beginner's budget), and Castagnari make beautiful all wood little boxes with a very sweet sound. Below that range is Mengascini, which is the unit I purchased - it cost 750 pounds UK, which would be 1100 US(? - you guys would know better - or are you Canadians?) and is available by mail order. I know this because another beginner at my session heard the sound my box plays and bought one the following week, brand new. People have often commented on the sweet sound that this particular box makes.
The most important two things to check are action and tone (although you can get them re-reeded fairly cheaply). The action is particularly important because on some boxes the buttons may be depressed below the level of the fingerboard, which makes fast playing very difficult.
I would also put a pretty strong caveat on buying second hand boxes, especially on line. I'd only recommend it if you can get the unit checked out by someone who knows what they're looking at before you buy. And even then, there's no substitute for actually playing the thing yourself (or at least 'wearing' it and pushing the buttons, even if you've never played one before).
Another plust of the Mengascini and Castignari makes are that they're smaller and lighter (and in my opinion more attractive to look at).
There's plenty more to this - if you'd like more info, e-mail me direct from my profile (click on the name at the end of this post).
Whatever you chose - have fun!
Ian
# Posted on March 22nd 2004 by bc_box_player
Re: Starting the Box
Wow, thanks for the advice everyone, I'm guess I'm going to have to hunker down and review my options.
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by Urger
Re: Starting the Box
Dear Lars,
A lot of years ago banjos made in thre GDR were scorned on not because there was anything wrong with them. the construction was EXACTLY the same as the current Korean ones.
They have been unchanged for possibly 30 years. I distributed & & retailed the Kay & the Korean one ( now I am talking the same design not as the the cheaper Korean retailing £150 apr. against the dearer one over £200 ). The snob attitude " oh its only an old cheap GDR one " " you only get what you pay for ". The difference going into the higher pay per hour.
The Delicia accordion sells in Ireland with slight mods as seen on www.boorinwoodmusic.com. with a case @ less than the H.g. price. It even is fitted with rust resistant reeds supplied in case. Availabe with a choice of better reeds
What would be the diff. between 2 different brand accordions made in China one at the former German price ( £465 in card box ) & the other made almost definitly with the same material
possibly in the same factory @ £195 in hard case .
Some big name Italian accordians I heard romoured are also China made. The Blk. Dot is now made in China What's not?
ANYWAY if he wants that high a quality beginner why not go Paolo Soprani. etc.
B.r.
J.B.
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by boorinwood