Duovox?

[Accordion guy2010]

I got this donated to me, just the accordion and a hard case. Anyway from my research Duovox was like an organ in an accordion which I find pretty cool and I know that all of this 60s (I think) tech is completely thrown out the window by midi. From my understanding you need like a sound generator for the organ and something else idk. There’s a tiny leak in the bellows and some notes sound rough on the clarinet and musette register and some octaves on the bass side especially when you push the bellows in.

But everything else works fine. I believe Galanti was the higher end make than bell? No keys are sticking one ripped bellow buckle but other than that I really like it and I think it’s a keeper.

 

[dak]

I know that all of this 60s (I think) tech is completely thrown out the window by midi.

Not really: MIDI is a lot more versatile but generic: you still need a sound generator. The electronic organs on the old accordion organs had sounds that were designed to combine well with the acoustic accordion sounds in timbre and pitch and volume, and the controls are where you can use them for integrated play. There are certainly programs/scenes/whatever for Rolands and other modern offerings that try approximating the old comparatively simple sound concepts, but you don't get the same "instrument" regarding the controls and integration that those old boxes provided.

They are quite limited but coherent. And that's worth something.

 

[Accordion guy2010]

Not really: MIDI is a lot more versatile but generic: you still need a sound generator. The electronic organs on the old accordion organs had sounds that were designed to combine well with the acoustic accordion sounds in timbre and pitch and volume, and the controls are where you can use them for integrated play. There are certainly programs/scenes/whatever for Rolands and other modern offerings that try approximating the old comparatively simple sound concepts, but you don't get the same "instrument" regarding the controls and integration that those old boxes provided.

They are quite limited but coherent. And that's worth something.

Ahh, k. I don’t know where to find a sound generator though.

 

[Jibberin]

I’d keep an eye out on eBay, gumtree, auction sales and hopefully something will come up. The cable connection to the sound box looks like a very specific match. I recall Wilkies Music House in Perth having lots of these old electronic boxes on the shelf which were difficult to shift due the bulk, size,weight and the advent of midi. Good luck in your quest.

 

[Ventura]

you are now the proud owner of a boatanka

these were made for an american company, so this
one has certainly travelled, and likely been in some
odd storage space for many many decades

some of these had top shelf reeds, not many, you will
need to look inside to tell.. they do have a pro-quality
physical keyboard however, walnut keys, dual pivot..

considering the leakage and wheezing, this one needs a lot of
refurbishing, and the problem with that is even after fixing it up
it is still heavy as sin and only has 3 reeds on the treble side..
hence the boat anchor designation

Galanti was the accordion factory, Bell was the importer,
the organ circuitry was from Crumar, the organ sound stuff
was in a separate huge amplifier type cabinet with wired cable

this one has had all the organ guts removed, you cannot
connect it to anything as the pins of the connector are gone

i actually have one in like new condition sitting on a shelf waiting
for a cold day in hell when i finally get down far enough on the list
of projects waiting for me to find a useable roundtuit.. it is a good
candidate for a MIDI retrofit because of the excellent keyaction
and top quality physical build of the accordion itself

you could open it up and see if you can fix the obvious problems
enough to make it fun to play, then play it for awhile before you
put any real money or time into it

the one i have has handmade reeds but actually i will likely just
use the reeds for some other project

 

[Accordion guy2010]

Actually all the organ guts are still there, and it says made in Italy on the back

 

[dak]

Actually all the organ guts are still there, and it says made in Italy on the back

Make a photograph of the connector and ask your source for this accordion if they (or their source) happen to have some weird electronics box with that kind of connector lying around that does not serve an obvious purpose. You want to make sure (if still possible) that it isn't being trashed because nobody knows what it is good for.

 

[Ventura]

Actually all the organ guts are still there, and it says made in Italy on the back

oh cool.. the shadow on the connewctor made me thing they
were ripped out, but closer look the pins are there

and yes Galanti is in Mondaino Italy

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Make a photograph of the connector and ask your source for this accordion if they (or their source) happen to have some weird electronics box with that kind of connector lying around that does not serve an obvious purpose. You want to make sure (if still possible) that it isn't being trashed because nobody knows what it is good for.

I haven’t used the MIDI on my acoustic for a while. I have to tell my family where to find the power box and firing cable if anything happens to me and they want to sell the accordion

 

[Ventura]

open this message in the event of my final countdown

NOT NOW

the thing that goezinta that other thing can be found in the
box under that pile of stuff over there and you will get lots more
money when you sell it all together together

while you are taking care of that, please also discreetly dispose
of the old magazines and 16mm films and DvD's in the secret
compartment behind the files in the bottom drawer of the
FIle Cabinet

DO NOT TELL MY WIFE about them.. just get rid of them !!!

 

[Accordion guy2010]

still

oh cool.. the shadow on the connewctor made me thing they
were ripped out, but closer look the pins are there

and yes Galanti is in Mondaino Italy

Make a photograph of the connector and ask your source for this accordion if they (or their source) happen to have some weird electronics box with that kind of connector lying around that does not serve an obvious purpose. You want to make sure (if still possible) that it isn't being trashed because nobody knows what it is good for.

No, the person that donated it doesn’t have the tone gen sadly, looks like I’ll have to browse on for god knows how long.

I know they’re incredibly rare to find on the market.

 

[Ventura]

lol

you probably would have to find like 100 of them
to find even one that would actually even partially work

the tech and manufacturing methods used by Crumar
in that early series Duovox were pretty sad.. the good
part is the cabinets were solid wood and had damn good
speakers mounted in them

 

[Ben-jammin]

one thing to consider is if the sound generator is being sold separately of an accordion, there is a very slim chance it has been properly tested. And even if it is with the accordion , anybody that is knowledgeable enough to adequately test it will know its worth more as a pair. So essentially if you want to buy a known working unit that isn’t a gamble you may have to buy a whole outfit (if and when one becomes available). I would question if the juice is worth the squeeze. Of course if you have the desire to play with electronics then maybe it’s worth a gamble.

 

[Zevy]

one thing to consider is if the sound generator is being sold separately of an accordion, there is a very slim chance it has been properly tested. And even if it is with the accordion , anybody that is knowledgeable enough to adequately test it will know its worth more as a pair. So essentially if you want to buy a known working unit that isn’t a gamble you may have to buy a whole outfit (if and when one becomes available). I would question if the juice is worth the squeeze. Of course if you have the desire to play with electronics then maybe it’s worth a gamble.

There are also at least two very different models. I think your model is the earlier one. So you have to be 100% sure that it is the correct tone generator.

 

[Accordion guy2010]

I understand that I now need a specific tone generator, but how do I know if it’s the right or wrong?

 

[JerryPH]

Well, like Zevy mentioned, there are 2 models for your accordion, you have the earlier one. Only way to tell is if you get it AND by the greatest stroke of luck you connect it... it either works or not.

But let's be honest here... as Ventura mentioned, you have a 1% chance of finding a tone generator that old that works, and even if you do, there is a 50% chance it is not the one for your box. You may spend years looking and waiting to find something.

You are looking at a tone generator that comes from somewhere in the 70's and with the components that they used in those days, there is an excellent chance it won't work without some serious TLC. I have 2 boxes from the 80's, the earlier one already needs work, but my second one still works well thanks to being babied since new for the last 45 years... but I know to expect that things will one day go downhill and I am ready. I have all the parts and I have the factory original schematics.

You could start with places like Superior WIsconsin accordion museum or New England Accordion Museum and connection and see if they have anything... but it's not looking good.

 

[Ventura]

it's about 36 inches across, 30" high, 14" deep,
with a back compartment that protects the huge
cable that plugs into that double socket

it is very very heavy, if you are lucky it will still
have Aldo's custom wheel-kit under it

it says "Duovox" on it

there is really nothing else that looks quite like it..
you will know it when you trip over it..
if it can sense you have the accordion, it may grab you
by the leg and not let go..

but honestly, the chances of finding one that might work
even a little bit is slim to none.. it has been maybe a dozen
years now since the fella that had taken over Bell's stock
of repair parts and such retired and liquidated..

i tried to give away some pristine parts 8 or 10 years ago
and could find no takers...

it is cool that you have had your interest sparked in
our old Organ-Accordion jurassic period, but like i said,
just fix that one up enough to squeeze and have some fun...

 

[Thomas N]

I had a Cordovox from about 1985 through 2015. I was the second owner of it. I loved that accordion.

But it was huge with the massive amplifier and my wife was mentioning the space it took up too often. As soon as I bought the FR-8X it became redundant.

That accordion was like the proverbial boat for me: The two happiest days were the day I bought it and the day I sold it!

 

[John M]

But it was huge with the massive amplifier and my wife was mentioning the space it took up too often. As soon as I bought the FR-8X it became redundant.

Your wife sounds like mine. Since I got my 8X, I will have my B3, Leslie and 2 PR-40's up for sale. You can imagine how my wife complains about the space my B3 and speakers take up -- a little more than your Cordovox.

 

[Thomas N]

Your wife sounds like mine. Since I got my 8X, I will have my B3, Leslie and 2 PR-40's up for sale. You can imagine how my wife complains about the space my B3 and speakers take up -- a little more than your Cordovox.

Hah! It's a problem for sure, John.

I have an office and it has my Montage M8x which is a beast, two Yamaha HS8 Monitors on stands, a QSC K10 on a stand, my FR-8X, Excelsior 960 and Excelsior 930. Oh, and the BK-7M on a stand, my accordion stool and a computer desk with PC desktop and Mac Laptops. I try to do my best with cable management and it's still a mess. She rolls her eyes every time she enters. And my "studio" is small and limited compared to some friends that are "really into music" with 15 guitars, sets of amps, synths, etc.

Of course she has a "yarn room" for all of her knitting WIPs (works in progress). Literally an entire room full of yarn and various devices that I have no idea what they do. This would be very cool - if she knitted.