swing tuning is the sound you hear on sharron shannons, or alan kellys box. i could give you a technical definition but talking in hertz hurts...
i don't know anything about castagnari box's but i love the sound of sharons box so maybe they'll be good. thing is, you can really get your box tuned to sound what ever way you like, for a better sound though just get good handmade reeds like tipo imano (excuse d fonetik spellin) and tell someone to make it sound like whoevers box you're into.
an important thing not to forget about is action. the less your finger has to go down the better and the more you'll be able to do. i had the action on my paolo soprani lowered and it's just makes it a pleasure to play. i couldn't do a lot of things now on anybody elses accordion (it is arguable that i can't do anything anyway but that's a diff kettle of fish)
SO get whatever box but get one with keys that don't go down too far,high quality reeds, and tell the tuner who's sound you like, give them about 500 and they'll give you they box you want.
SO get whatever box but get one with keys that don't go down too far,high quality reeds, and tell the tuner who's sound you like, give them about 500 and they'll slap you and call you loads of terrible names primarily claiming that that figure is nowhere near enough to burn the piece of sh1te. (sorry couldn't resist an alternate ending...) it is a piano box...
I like Sharon Shannon's sound as well. I've not heard Alan Kelly yet, but I'm pretty sure he has a Saltarelle Clifden now. From what I've seen advertised on a certain UK music shop website, Phil Cunningham also has one.
I know the tipo a mano reeds are best and I plan on having my current box retuned.
Currently I have a standard 41/120 keyboard system, and I'm thinking that downsizing to a smaller instrument will be better, especially for travel purposes. I don't think the smaller range will hurt, because most trad tunes don't go beyond B below high C.
I am pretty well satisfied with the shallow action on my Excelsior, it is much shallower than any box I have owned, and you are right when you say it is nice to play.
Can't comment on PA stuff, as I play buttons, but on button accordions I would say Saltarelle and Castangari are about equal, although Castangari action seemed a bit quicker.
I have a swing-tuned box, just a little hint of tremelo, which I really like. When I bought it, they had the exact same box in the store, but tuned dry--and while both had a nice sound, the swing tuned box sounded more interesting, without sounding corny and old-fashioned. A completely dry box sounds something like a concertina or harmonica--a single reed instrument, but with more ooomph because of the second reed.
I had thought Sharon Shannon played dry tuned boxes for a while, and I thought that kid from Broderick (Luke something or other, Daniels maybe) played a dry box. I have found that it is often the case that the younger the player, the dryer the box.
Probably of no help, but i have a dinn III, saltarelle nuage, kincora (for sale at the right price!!), 3 voice red '60 soprani and 3 voice grey '60s soprani and its always the saltarelle when doing a gig. While I won't say its the best box, its is still the easiest box to play.
Have a look at the Fantini range sold by Allodi in London. They produce a 72 bass PA in a 48 case. (3 voice ) He markets a Folk version to special order which has C# as the top row in the bass. I have had one for 12 months and it is excellent for Trad music. It is small and light and does virtually everything my 120 bass does. It is also very powerfull for such as small instrument.
Castagnari vs Saltarelle PA'S
Castagnari vs Saltarelle PA'S
Anybody have any experience with a Castagnari Magica 3 PA or a Saltarelle Clifden?
I've talked to a couple of Sessioneers about the Clifden and they are well pleased with it.
I just discovered that Castagnari makes a PA and was wondering if there are those out there who have one and what they like about it.
Any general thoughts on Castagnari and Saltarelle voicings?
Also, could someone define 'swing' tuning. I'm thinking it is somwhere in between musette and dry.
# Posted on January 7th 2006 by rogfox
Re: action vs reeds on PA'S
swing tuning is the sound you hear on sharron shannons, or alan kellys box. i could give you a technical definition but talking in hertz hurts...
i don't know anything about castagnari box's but i love the sound of sharons box so maybe they'll be good. thing is, you can really get your box tuned to sound what ever way you like, for a better sound though just get good handmade reeds like tipo imano (excuse d fonetik spellin) and tell someone to make it sound like whoevers box you're into.
an important thing not to forget about is action. the less your finger has to go down the better and the more you'll be able to do. i had the action on my paolo soprani lowered and it's just makes it a pleasure to play. i couldn't do a lot of things now on anybody elses accordion (it is arguable that i can't do anything anyway but that's a diff kettle of fish)
SO get whatever box but get one with keys that don't go down too far,high quality reeds, and tell the tuner who's sound you like, give them about 500 and they'll give you they box you want.
SO get whatever box but get one with keys that don't go down too far,high quality reeds, and tell the tuner who's sound you like, give them about 500 and they'll slap you and call you loads of terrible names primarily claiming that that figure is nowhere near enough to burn the piece of sh1te. (sorry couldn't resist an alternate ending...) it is a piano box...
all the best,
mt.
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by martin t
Re: Castagnari vs Saltarelle PA'S
Thanks for the info Mairtin.
I like Sharon Shannon's sound as well. I've not heard Alan Kelly yet, but I'm pretty sure he has a Saltarelle Clifden now. From what I've seen advertised on a certain UK music shop website, Phil Cunningham also has one.
I know the tipo a mano reeds are best and I plan on having my current box retuned.
Currently I have a standard 41/120 keyboard system, and I'm thinking that downsizing to a smaller instrument will be better, especially for travel purposes. I don't think the smaller range will hurt, because most trad tunes don't go beyond B below high C.
I am pretty well satisfied with the shallow action on my Excelsior, it is much shallower than any box I have owned, and you are right when you say it is nice to play.
Kind Regards
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by rogfox
Re: Castagnari vs Saltarelle PA'S
Mairtin
Could you give us an example of someone who plays with dry tuning, please?
thanks!
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by triplet
Re: Castagnari vs Saltarelle PA'S
Can't comment on PA stuff, as I play buttons, but on button accordions I would say Saltarelle and Castangari are about equal, although Castangari action seemed a bit quicker.
I have a swing-tuned box, just a little hint of tremelo, which I really like. When I bought it, they had the exact same box in the store, but tuned dry--and while both had a nice sound, the swing tuned box sounded more interesting, without sounding corny and old-fashioned. A completely dry box sounds something like a concertina or harmonica--a single reed instrument, but with more ooomph because of the second reed.
I had thought Sharon Shannon played dry tuned boxes for a while, and I thought that kid from Broderick (Luke something or other, Daniels maybe) played a dry box. I have found that it is often the case that the younger the player, the dryer the box.
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Castagnari vs Saltarelle PA'S
Probably of no help, but i have a dinn III, saltarelle nuage, kincora (for sale at the right price!!), 3 voice red '60 soprani and 3 voice grey '60s soprani and its always the saltarelle when doing a gig. While I won't say its the best box, its is still the easiest box to play.
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by Jonathan Roche
Re: Castagnari vs Saltarelle PA'S
Have a look at the Fantini range sold by Allodi in London. They produce a 72 bass PA in a 48 case. (3 voice ) He markets a Folk version to special order which has C# as the top row in the bass. I have had one for 12 months and it is excellent for Trad music. It is small and light and does virtually everything my 120 bass does. It is also very powerfull for such as small instrument.
# Posted on January 10th 2006 by rod johnston