4th accordion forum - October 2017 (France)

[reivilos92]

The 4th Accordion forum took place at la La Bellevilloise in Paris, France on October 6-8.
I took a few pictures and videos. Sorry for the quality I only had my phone.

This is the shopping corner. You will notice there are essentially CBAs.
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A few performers:
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<YOUTUBE id=H5JusKik82s url=>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5JusKik82s</YOUTUBE>
<YOUTUBE id=6OesuRFqoUY url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OesuRFqoUY>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OesuRFqoUY</YOUTUBE>
<YOUTUBE id=-G9apUk8To8 url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G9apUk8To8>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G9apUk8To8</YOUTUBE>
<YOUTUBE id=CM7qoQiEAU0 url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM7qoQiEAU0>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM7qoQiEAU0</YOUTUBE>
<YOUTUBE id=osT48IUSKw0 url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osT48IUSKw0>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osT48IUSKw0</YOUTUBE>

Other videos (trophy) available at the organizers website:
https://go.twitch.tv/tnachannel/videos/all

 

[JerryPH]

Wonderful post! Don't worry about the quality, it is more about just seeing and hearing the event a little and the quality is more than good enough.

Thank-you for sharing!

 

[Geoff de Limousin]

Thanks for the pictures and video links. My phone does not include a camera, but I was there and can bear wittness to these incredible performances.
Perhaps a little unfortunate ,for me, the noise level in the other room, where the dealers /makers were was often too high to comfortably talk, get price lists and try some instruments. Having gone there with a set of criteria in mind for a possible imminent purchase I did get lots of usefull information... but I ran out of the place after four hours....less confused than I thought I'd be! :tup:

 

[reivilos92]

Thanks for the pictures and video links. My phone does not include a camera, but I was there and can bear wittness to these incredible performances.
Perhaps a little unfortunate ,for me, the noise level in the other room, where the dealers /makers were was often too high to comfortably talk, get price lists and try some instruments. Having gone there with a set of criteria in mind for a possible imminent purchase I did get lots of usefull information... but I ran out of the place after four hours....less confused than I thought Id be! :tup:

I was surprised by the overall level of amateurs. The shop corner was loud indeed. I left after 3 hours to prevent my head from exploding, literally.
It was surprising to hear one different the accordions would sound. Now Im convinced buying without trying (e.g. online) is nonsense. Now I now I hate accordions with wooden sound. I heard two high-end Victoria models (one of which was Poeta) and did not like their sound.

One thing that struck me: those were high-end instruments, semi to profesional models nearing 10k and the visitors were mostly amateurs. I wonder if that many instruments have been sold.

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[craptiger]

Thanks for the photos, it's so helpful to know what to expect. If you think that was bad for noise levels you should (or not) try the MusikMesse in Frankfurt. Imagine the noise you experienced, then add (in the same very very large hall) the same number of stalls again but selling brass instruments (yes, trumpets, saxophones etc), and again for pianos. All in one room. It was a proper assault on the ears. My wife lasted about half an hour before running outside.

Really good advice about trying before you buy though, I'd never again buy blind.

As for wooden instruments it really is horses for courses. For playing out in the pub I do sometimes find them too soft (hence me asking you about the BB Replique) but for home use or when amplified they have a gorgeous soft, fluffy and gentle sound you just don't seem to get otherwise. You can always have them tuned a bit wetter to give them a bit more ooomph.

I'm looking forward to watching those videos when I'm not at work!

 

[craptiger]

P. S. What's the black buttoned wooden box?

 

[Geoff de Limousin]

P. S. Whats the black buttoned wooden box?

Second picture from the top ? Its a Cavagnolo. I thought this intruiging and just what I was looking for , the right size and range... with a metal grill to let the upper partials sparkle ( Id hope)... price was in the €8600 -9000 range, so outside my budget. I do not have the exact figure ! I did not get to hear (or try ) it because the Cava demonstration team never stopped playing very loudly ,incredible pieces on some of their prestigious models... and my french is not subtle enough to say would ye ever give over for a minute in a super polite way....

Anyway they are not interested enough to even have this one on their website... They had the biggest stand, in THE prime position and did not appear to care if anyone wanted to buy.... They have their market.

PS; in Reivilos third picture from the top you can see the Réplique just peeking into the right hand side of the photo.

 

[Deleted member 48]

Thank you for posting pictures and videos of the 4th Salon d'accordéon in Paris.
Let's hope this accordion festival will grow in the next years, and get more international publicity. The other makers will perhaps attend and have their stands at Bellevilloise in Paris.

I heard in a video the accordion stands at the Musicora music festival in Paris were overshadowed by the mainstream music business (show, light and podium effects, amplification, digital, blingbling etc ... ). So they decided to separate and create an accordion makers only festival.
Maybe a good idea.

 

[reivilos92]

Anyway they are not interested enough to even have this one on their website... They had the biggest stand, in THE prime position and did not appear to care if anyone wanted to buy.... They have their market.

So true...
I understood that model was actually a prototype.

I appreciate the innovative spirit of the makers, but who can afford / will spend so much money on such expensive instruments ???

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