I`m from germany and I will buy me a Castagnari Box in B/C.
i could get a used Castagnari Tommy with guarantee. The Tommy has a stepped Keyboard and "handmade" TAM Reeds.
I`m a absolut beginner at the Accordeon and that`s my questions:
- Is it better to play a closed keyboard or an open keyboard.
- Somebody say the Tommy is to small for good playing (concerning the buttons).
- Ho much is the audible difference between teh Durall Reeds (cheaper Castagnari/Saltarelle) and the "handmade" TAM Reeds? And is the stepped Keyboard really bad for playing Irish Trad Music or fast playing? (mayby anytime ). My limit is just 1800 $ (1550 Euro in Germany).
Is it better to buy a better used Box or a cheaper new box like Saltarelle Irish Buoebe oder the Castagnari Ciacy. Somebody tells me the most Saltarelle are plywood. Is this correct?
Thank you for your help and sorry for my bad english
You can order a DINN III for not very much more, almost the same as a Tommy with closed keyboard or you're within DINN II price which is also a cracking box with handmade reeds. If you order directly from Castagnari you'll save several hundred quid, but there is a wait of several months. The wait is well worth doing for a fab box.
Hi Sean,
thank you for your answer.
Ok, i wrote a mail to Castagnari direct at the moment. You would recommend a
flat keyboard and handmade reeds. The Dinn II new costs 1730 Euro in Germany.The Dinn III is to expensive for me. Thats why I`m looking for that used Tommy for 1500 Euro. But if the Tommy is not so good for Irish Music, with the stepped Keyboard or the small size, maybe I will search for a Dinn II new.
I've been playing three years now. I started on a Cairdin standard B/C. Flat keyboard. I bought a Tommy two years ago and love it. I've hardly touched the Cairdin since. There may be a thing or two that are a tiny bit easier on a flat keyboard, but surely it's nothing essential, and nothing that a beginner is going to notice. Maybe an ornament here or there that you might have to leave out or do differently. Maybe a place where sliding from one button to another doesn't work (but some great players will tell you that you shouldn't be doing that anyway).
The small size is both good and bad. The buttons are a bit smaller and closer together, which experienced players may have to get used to if they switch, but for a beginner that just means that you'll have to train your fingers to be a tiny bit more precise, which is a good thing in the long run. Being light means that you'll have fewer physical complaints as your muscles and joints get used to the motions and weight. But it also means that it's harder to keep the instrument stable. It does tend to shift around a bit as you play it - moreso than a full-sized accordion.
For an instrument to learn on, I don't see any good reason not to go for the Tommy. If you get to the point where the differences matter, by then you will have had time to try the alternatives and have saved enough money to buy a different box.
Hi Jurgen,
I bought a new accordeon (C/G) to my daughter a few months ago, I first looked for a Castagnari, but I was told a Belgian accordeon maker (Philippe Laporte) who worked for three years with the Castagnari brothers, was making fine accordeons. The name of those accordeons are "LIBOUTON", He works with a fine accordeon player (Luis Spana). Last time I met Philippe, he was making an Irish accordeon for Rachel (ORION is the name of her group, well known in Europe). I know he made several Irish accordeons in B/C. Philippe died one month ago, so I don't know if Luis continues their fantastic work. I think you can easily find info about them on the net (their workshop isn't far from germany a few kilometers from Aachen). My daughter's accordeon was cheaper (300 € less) than the Castagnari and sounds really fine ... good luck
I like flat keyboards much better for playing this type of music. Castagnari's are a good brand, but there are other good ones as well. Better to start with a simpler model than one with a lot of stops and stuff--that adds considerably to the cost, but in my mind adds very little to the utility.
Hi, thank for all answers
I thought, if I had the chance to buy this uses Tommy, its a good deal for a used Instrument for me as beginner for Irish Music.
Maybe I buy me a cheaper New Instrument with flat Keyboard and 23 Buttons without stop and learn to play good Irish Music.
Whats better a new Castagnari Dinn II or the Irish Boube? The Dinn is 200 Euro dearer.
I have played older Bouebes that I liked very much (and initially intended to make that my next purchase) but believe that the Dinn II and Dinn III are of better value than the newer Bouebes.
You can find a good saving on the cost of a box direct from Castagnari than you would pay in a store. Email them, ask for prices and wait time before you decide anything. I think you'll be surprised at what can be had for your money.
You can also check with John Garner of Castagnari Express on what deal he could arrange for you also.
Castagnari Questions
Castagnari Questions
Hi,
). My limit is just 1800 $ (1550 Euro in Germany).
I`m from germany and I will buy me a Castagnari Box in B/C.
i could get a used Castagnari Tommy with guarantee. The Tommy has a stepped Keyboard and "handmade" TAM Reeds.
I`m a absolut beginner at the Accordeon and that`s my questions:
- Is it better to play a closed keyboard or an open keyboard.
- Somebody say the Tommy is to small for good playing (concerning the buttons).
- Ho much is the audible difference between teh Durall Reeds (cheaper Castagnari/Saltarelle) and the "handmade" TAM Reeds? And is the stepped Keyboard really bad for playing Irish Trad Music or fast playing? (mayby anytime
Is it better to buy a better used Box or a cheaper new box like Saltarelle Irish Buoebe oder the Castagnari Ciacy. Somebody tells me the most Saltarelle are plywood. Is this correct?
Thank you for your help and sorry for my bad english
All the best from germany
Jürgen
# Posted on November 5th 2005 by creasecurlies
Re: Castagnari Questions
Hi Jurgen,
You can order a DINN III for not very much more, almost the same as a Tommy with closed keyboard or you're within DINN II price which is also a cracking box with handmade reeds. If you order directly from Castagnari you'll save several hundred quid, but there is a wait of several months. The wait is well worth doing for a fab box.
Sean
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by Seanie
Re: Castagnari Questions
Hi Sean,
thank you for your answer.
Ok, i wrote a mail to Castagnari direct at the moment. You would recommend a
flat keyboard and handmade reeds. The Dinn II new costs 1730 Euro in Germany.The Dinn III is to expensive for me. Thats why I`m looking for that used Tommy for 1500 Euro. But if the Tommy is not so good for Irish Music, with the stepped Keyboard or the small size, maybe I will search for a Dinn II new.
Jürgen
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by creasecurlies
Re: Castagnari Questions
Doesn't Sharon Shannon play a Tommy?
I've been playing three years now. I started on a Cairdin standard B/C. Flat keyboard. I bought a Tommy two years ago and love it. I've hardly touched the Cairdin since. There may be a thing or two that are a tiny bit easier on a flat keyboard, but surely it's nothing essential, and nothing that a beginner is going to notice. Maybe an ornament here or there that you might have to leave out or do differently. Maybe a place where sliding from one button to another doesn't work (but some great players will tell you that you shouldn't be doing that anyway).
The small size is both good and bad. The buttons are a bit smaller and closer together, which experienced players may have to get used to if they switch, but for a beginner that just means that you'll have to train your fingers to be a tiny bit more precise, which is a good thing in the long run. Being light means that you'll have fewer physical complaints as your muscles and joints get used to the motions and weight. But it also means that it's harder to keep the instrument stable. It does tend to shift around a bit as you play it - moreso than a full-sized accordion.
For an instrument to learn on, I don't see any good reason not to go for the Tommy. If you get to the point where the differences matter, by then you will have had time to try the alternatives and have saved enough money to buy a different box.
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by GaryAMartin
Re: Castagnari Questions
Hi Jurgen,
I bought a new accordeon (C/G) to my daughter a few months ago, I first looked for a Castagnari, but I was told a Belgian accordeon maker (Philippe Laporte) who worked for three years with the Castagnari brothers, was making fine accordeons. The name of those accordeons are "LIBOUTON", He works with a fine accordeon player (Luis Spana). Last time I met Philippe, he was making an Irish accordeon for Rachel (ORION is the name of her group, well known in Europe). I know he made several Irish accordeons in B/C. Philippe died one month ago, so I don't know if Luis continues their fantastic work. I think you can easily find info about them on the net (their workshop isn't far from germany a few kilometers from Aachen). My daughter's accordeon was cheaper (300 € less) than the Castagnari and sounds really fine ... good luck
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by georges bij
Re: Castagnari Questions
I like flat keyboards much better for playing this type of music. Castagnari's are a good brand, but there are other good ones as well. Better to start with a simpler model than one with a lot of stops and stuff--that adds considerably to the cost, but in my mind adds very little to the utility.
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Castagnari Questions
Hi, thank for all answers
I thought, if I had the chance to buy this uses Tommy, its a good deal for a used Instrument for me as beginner for Irish Music.
Maybe I buy me a cheaper New Instrument with flat Keyboard and 23 Buttons without stop and learn to play good Irish Music.
Whats better a new Castagnari Dinn II or the Irish Boube? The Dinn is 200 Euro dearer.
All the best from Germany
Jürgen
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by creasecurlies
Re: Castagnari Questions
I have played older Bouebes that I liked very much (and initially intended to make that my next purchase) but believe that the Dinn II and Dinn III are of better value than the newer Bouebes.
Jurgen:
One other thought: you may want to visit/join/search the archives at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/irishbox
There is very good information there, also links, and the archives have extensive discussions of all these boxes.
Viel Glueck.
Das ganzes beste,
chris smith
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by coyotebanjo
Re: Castagnari Questions
http://castagnari.com/familles?start=6
You can find a good saving on the cost of a box direct from Castagnari than you would pay in a store. Email them, ask for prices and wait time before you decide anything. I think you'll be surprised at what can be had for your money.
You can also check with John Garner of Castagnari Express on what deal he could arrange for you also.
www.castagnariexpress.com/reasonsforbuying.htm
Sean
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by Seanie