I am considering buying an accordion (Irish Bouebe) directly from John Williams' site. Definitely a good price, but he doesn't offer any warranty.
What are the general warranties available (if any) for boxes from other sites/stores? Do you have any recommendations where to buy? Any other helpful info?
Could you please expand on your answers? So far, I have heard only good things about the Bouebe, and unsubstantiated negative comments or recommendations of other instruments are not very helpful. Thanks!
heike,
I have a Saltarelle Irish Bouébe that I bought from the Button Box in Amherst, MA (I think their website is www.thebuttonbox.com, if not, a google search should find them relatively easy). Rather than have them ship it, I made a day trip to try it out and make sure everything was OK before I bought it. One reason I went with them is because they have a full-service repair and tuning shop associated with the business. But obviously, you can't drive all the way across the country to try one out. Aren't there any accordion shops in San Diego? They don't have to be Irish accordion shops, but dealing with someone who can do tune-ups and repairs for you once you buy your box is important.
Mr. Williams is a straight-up, honest guy, and I know people who have bought boxes by mail with good results, so I think that is a fairly safe alternative as well.
I don't see where the negative comments are coming from--I am very happy with my Bouebe, and others with more experience than I have played it and remarked that it is a nice box.
I am also genuinely curious as to why continuo and fused are so big on Hohner. Yes, the older German "Black Dot" boxes had nice reeds and sound great in the right hands (Martin Quinn, Josephine Marsh etc.), but the keyboards are very sloppy. The newer made-in-China Hohners have been criticised for low-quality construction and cheap reeds. Unless you're talking about one of John Brosnan's completely re-built boxes?
The problem with Saltarelle is that it's a label, not a manufacturer, and quality has varied widely over the years as they've changed suppliers. This means that the name "Bouebe" is no guarantee of anything, and that you can't base a decision on how great or poor last year's model was. Which is not to say that individual boxes aren't great, just that you can't tell by the name.
What about some of the other "cheaper" alternatives like Dancemaster, Weltmeister or Learner? Or mid-price ones like Megascini or Serenellini?
AlfBrown said: 'I don't see where the negative comments are coming from--I am very happy with my Bouebe, and others with more experience than I have played it and remarked that it is a nice box.'
Ditto for me. I bought my Bouebe C#D from the Button Box sight unseen a few months ago and, after a little playing-in time, couldn't be happier. I certainly can't understand the preference for Hohner, except for maybe price.
I play a Delicia... it's dirt cheap and a great starter box. Just google 'Delicia accordions' and you'll find a fair entry-level box in B/C for about $400.
heike
I've had my Irish Bouebe for seven years and it has worked well. I think Saltarelle's quality control with their suppliers has resulted in their boxes having a signature sound. The ones I've sampled recently have similar sound and action to mine. Of course, mine's the best.
Like Al and greg.box, I bought mine from The Button Box, now located a little north of Amherst in Sunderland, Massachusetts.
It all depends on your expectations. The Bouebe is Saltarelle's entry level box, and although it is more expensive and will definitely sound better than some of the other brands mentioned, there's a big leap in reed quality and tone when you try Saltarelle's other models.
I bought my Connemara III from John Williams, and I was very satisfied with the service and personal attention. We had an extended discussion about which accordion would be best suited for my purposes, and he personally checks over each one before it's shipped out to the buyer.
Well I've had a lot of experience of both and ultimately found that the Hohner (properly tuned, with keyboard rebuilt and springs etc modified) has far more character, balls and blends better (esp with fiddles). Plus it's small, light, and more reliable (playing 50 year old box for a long time now without much problems - the Saltarelle had a lot of problems - sticking basses, broken reeds etc in a very short space of time. (BTW one of the tuners I know won't touch them anymore.)
Thanks to everyone for the feedback.
Continuo, once I have that many years experience playing a box and know what exactly I'm looking for in a box, I might come back to a tweaked Hohner.
But for now, I've decided to go with the Bouebe from John Williams.
So, in a couple of weeks, I'll have yet another toy with which to annoy my neighbors!
Thanks for the additional Hohner remarks, continuo. If you have time for another question, what does "properly tuned" mean? I have a bit of your playing on a tape somewhere (The Graf Spee, I think it is), but it's hard to hear how the box is tuned.
i spent 2500 on a saltarelle.it wasnt much good.i sold it again,waist of time.mairtin o connors one is very good but any other ones i played werent great. i would have no other accordion except a C#D black hohner.
its is by no means a beginners accordion.
most other boxs have the same old boring heavy reed sound ...
i also have a castagnari melodeon.that is also very good.
I'm a newbie wanting to buy a small, portable accordian to take on my boat for lazy moments and maybe for some folk ensembles with guitar. I know nothing about accordians. What should I look for: small bass piano type? Button? Concertina? I play some piano and am familair with keyboards but I'd like that Irish/Italian/French sounding melody line. I'd appreciate the thoughts of you savvy accordianists. Thanks.
If you want a concertina or any button accordion, it helps a lot if you know harmonica, because the layout is usually the same...
The concertina's shape makes for a fun concept in a boat or just hanging out, but remember it's very hard for it to make any raucous wall of sound by itself like other sorts of accordions can. It's a more melodic and elegant instrument than it's made out to be. That said, it's portable, pretty, and it rewards very hard work.
I'd go with a button Accordion if I were you. Not that I own one.
And unless you want Irish tunes much, you may be more versatile with tuning a fourth apart (i.e. D/G) instead of a half-step (i.e. B/C).
Buying an accordion
Buying an accordion
I am considering buying an accordion (Irish Bouebe) directly from John Williams' site. Definitely a good price, but he doesn't offer any warranty.
What are the general warranties available (if any) for boxes from other sites/stores? Do you have any recommendations where to buy? Any other helpful info?
Thanks for your feedback!
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by heike
Re: Buying an accordion
buy a HOHNER
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by fused
Re: Buying an accordion
Yeah that's the best thing to do. Don't touch the Bouebe.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by continuo
Re: Buying an accordion
fused and contino:
Could you please expand on your answers? So far, I have heard only good things about the Bouebe, and unsubstantiated negative comments or recommendations of other instruments are not very helpful. Thanks!
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by heike
Re: Buying an accordion
Are you referring to the Saltarelle Irish Bouébe (Melodeon).
My other half has one and she really likes it. (C#D)
She did start out on a Hohner to she how she got on (couple of years) and has now upgraded.
If it's your first squeezebox then yeah, maybe a Hohner is an idea.
I'm sure there will be more useful input from site members in a while.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by curlew
Re: Buying an accordion
heike,
I have a Saltarelle Irish Bouébe that I bought from the Button Box in Amherst, MA (I think their website is www.thebuttonbox.com, if not, a google search should find them relatively easy). Rather than have them ship it, I made a day trip to try it out and make sure everything was OK before I bought it. One reason I went with them is because they have a full-service repair and tuning shop associated with the business. But obviously, you can't drive all the way across the country to try one out. Aren't there any accordion shops in San Diego? They don't have to be Irish accordion shops, but dealing with someone who can do tune-ups and repairs for you once you buy your box is important.
Mr. Williams is a straight-up, honest guy, and I know people who have bought boxes by mail with good results, so I think that is a fairly safe alternative as well.
I don't see where the negative comments are coming from--I am very happy with my Bouebe, and others with more experience than I have played it and remarked that it is a nice box.
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Buying an accordion
I am also genuinely curious as to why continuo and fused are so big on Hohner. Yes, the older German "Black Dot" boxes had nice reeds and sound great in the right hands (Martin Quinn, Josephine Marsh etc.), but the keyboards are very sloppy. The newer made-in-China Hohners have been criticised for low-quality construction and cheap reeds. Unless you're talking about one of John Brosnan's completely re-built boxes?
The problem with Saltarelle is that it's a label, not a manufacturer, and quality has varied widely over the years as they've changed suppliers. This means that the name "Bouebe" is no guarantee of anything, and that you can't base a decision on how great or poor last year's model was. Which is not to say that individual boxes aren't great, just that you can't tell by the name.
What about some of the other "cheaper" alternatives like Dancemaster, Weltmeister or Learner? Or mid-price ones like Megascini or Serenellini?
# Posted on July 11th 2005 by Gzeg
Re: Buying an accordion
AlfBrown said: 'I don't see where the negative comments are coming from--I am very happy with my Bouebe, and others with more experience than I have played it and remarked that it is a nice box.'
Ditto for me. I bought my Bouebe C#D from the Button Box sight unseen a few months ago and, after a little playing-in time, couldn't be happier. I certainly can't understand the preference for Hohner, except for maybe price.
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by greg.box
Re: Buying an accordion
I play a Delicia... it's dirt cheap and a great starter box. Just google 'Delicia accordions' and you'll find a fair entry-level box in B/C for about $400.
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: Buying an accordion
Ooh! Or a Dancemaster. My Delicia is being retuned with Dancemaster reeds, and you can probably get a Dancemaster for cheaper than a Delicia.
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: Buying an accordion
heike
I've had my Irish Bouebe for seven years and it has worked well. I think Saltarelle's quality control with their suppliers has resulted in their boxes having a signature sound. The ones I've sampled recently have similar sound and action to mine. Of course, mine's the best.
Like Al and greg.box, I bought mine from The Button Box, now located a little north of Amherst in Sunderland, Massachusetts.
It sounds like you got a good deal, Zazzaliss.
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by ∅
Re: Buying an accordion
It all depends on your expectations. The Bouebe is Saltarelle's entry level box, and although it is more expensive and will definitely sound better than some of the other brands mentioned, there's a big leap in reed quality and tone when you try Saltarelle's other models.
I bought my Connemara III from John Williams, and I was very satisfied with the service and personal attention. We had an extended discussion about which accordion would be best suited for my purposes, and he personally checks over each one before it's shipped out to the buyer.
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by jmmana
Re: Buying an accordion
Well I've had a lot of experience of both and ultimately found that the Hohner (properly tuned, with keyboard rebuilt and springs etc modified) has far more character, balls and blends better (esp with fiddles). Plus it's small, light, and more reliable (playing 50 year old box for a long time now without much problems - the Saltarelle had a lot of problems - sticking basses, broken reeds etc in a very short space of time. (BTW one of the tuners I know won't touch them anymore.)
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by continuo
Re: Buying an accordion
So, heike
Buy a Hohner then have it rebuilt and you'll be ready to go.
But there's no reason for Saltarelle owners to continue to have low levels of this important component in their instruments as compared with Hohners.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=694183&cp=711658
# Posted on July 12th 2005 by ∅
Re: Buying an accordion
Thanks to everyone for the feedback.
Continuo, once I have that many years experience playing a box and know what exactly I'm looking for in a box, I might come back to a tweaked Hohner.
But for now, I've decided to go with the Bouebe from John Williams.
So, in a couple of weeks, I'll have yet another toy with which to annoy my neighbors!
# Posted on July 13th 2005 by heike
Re: Buying an accordion
Thanks for the additional Hohner remarks, continuo. If you have time for another question, what does "properly tuned" mean? I have a bit of your playing on a tape somewhere (The Graf Spee, I think it is), but it's hard to hear how the box is tuned.
# Posted on July 13th 2005 by Gzeg
Re: Buying an accordion
i spent 2500 on a saltarelle.it wasnt much good.i sold it again,waist of time.mairtin o connors one is very good but any other ones i played werent great. i would have no other accordion except a C#D black hohner.
its is by no means a beginners accordion.
most other boxs have the same old boring heavy reed sound ...
i also have a castagnari melodeon.that is also very good.
# Posted on July 18th 2005 by fused
Re: Buying an accordion
I'm a newbie wanting to buy a small, portable accordian to take on my boat for lazy moments and maybe for some folk ensembles with guitar. I know nothing about accordians. What should I look for: small bass piano type? Button? Concertina? I play some piano and am familair with keyboards but I'd like that Irish/Italian/French sounding melody line. I'd appreciate the thoughts of you savvy accordianists. Thanks.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by player
Re: Buying an accordion
http://www.accordions.com/index/how/how.shtml
If you want a concertina or any button accordion, it helps a lot if you know harmonica, because the layout is usually the same...
The concertina's shape makes for a fun concept in a boat or just hanging out, but remember it's very hard for it to make any raucous wall of sound by itself like other sorts of accordions can. It's a more melodic and elegant instrument than it's made out to be. That said, it's portable, pretty, and it rewards very hard work.
I'd go with a button Accordion if I were you. Not that I own one.
And unless you want Irish tunes much, you may be more versatile with tuning a fourth apart (i.e. D/G) instead of a half-step (i.e. B/C).
# Posted on June 26th 2008 by King_Toe