Advice for buying a beginner's PA in France or Italy

[ChromaTrad]

Hi! I'm new here. I've been reading many posts and find this forum very useful.

I'd like to buy a brand-new accoustic PA to learn how to play, just for fun. I've played the piano for years, so I think online self-learning will suit me well. Here in Canada, I can only find good-quality (excluding "26 / 12 Hohner Hohnica" kind of toys) piano accordions at 2500 EUR or above. I met with an accordion teacher who bought a good one from Piatanesi for 1700 EUR. So, since I'll be visiting family in the regions of Paris, Basel and Nice, in the upcoming weeks, I thought I could find a good deal with a local manufacturer. I could pay in cash (in Italy) to help with it.

I'd like a 3-voice PA, with 34 to 41 keys, with a "musette" of 15 cents or less.

I have a budget of 1300 EUR. I made a list of places to shop :
#Stradella:
-Stocco
-Beltrami
-By Marco

#Vercelli
-Cooperativa Armoniche

#Torino :
Verde : they look like imported accordions, even if sold under the Verde name. I'd be less confident in buying from them.

#Castelfidardo :
-Piatanesi
-Ottavianelli
-Brandoni
-Scandalli
-Baffetti
-Beltuna
-Siwa & Figli
-Bugari / Zero Sette
-Giustozzi
-Victoria
-Excelsior : won't allow local purchases

That's a lot of manufacturers but I'm not sure if they make PAs in that price range. Any advice?

Plus, I'm not sure that I want to go as far as Castelfidardo. If you know other locations near Paris/Marseilles/Nice/Basel, please let me know.

Thank you so much!

 

[Scuromondo]

If you find a new 34-key, 3-voice Italian-built instrument even under €2600 (double your budget) from any of the distinguished builders in your list, I would be very much surprised.

 

[pentaprism]

I'd like a 3-voice PA, with 34 to 41 keys, with a "musette" of 15 cents or less.

I have a budget of 1300 EUR.

I’m not buying. But if I were, I’d be very happy if I could find a good used one (of reputable maker, relatively new, in decent shape and needing no repair) at that price.

 

[ChromaTrad]

Thanks to both of you.
I was thinking that if the above-mentioned professional accordeonist bought a custom-made 34/72, 3-voice (and 7 cents musette) Piatanesi with 20mm keys for €1700 + shipping + Canadian customs fees and taxes, for a total of ~3500 CAD$, I should be able to get a more basic accordion (maybe with lower-end reeds?) for less than that, especially if buying locally with cash.
At the very least, shouldn't I get something for €1700?

 

[debra]

When you have not yet played and want a decent instrument to start with I'd highly recommend looking for a good used accordion, not a brand new one, especially considering the budget you have in mind. The main problem with smaller but decent accordions to start with is that when it comes to manufacturing one the cost isn't just a fraction of that of making a larger instrument. When a new good 4 voice full-size accordion (41/120) costs 6000 euro (no frills, no cassotto) you could dream of having a smaller one (like 34/72 3 voice) built for half that, but even that is unlikely. It isn't all that much less work, and still has about 80% of the parts. Now, you are dreaming of finding one for again almost half off... but that is really dreaming. Small good quality Italian accordions are being made. People who buy them either buy them for stage performance (to be able to play standing up and walking around without breaking their back) or for children who then grow out of them after which they move up to a larger accordion. When you are in France and Italy I suggest to look for stores and manufacturers and the pre-owned accordions they may have in stock.
And when you are making such a large trip, let me tell you that it is definitely worth the extra distance to get to Castelfidardo!

 

[Scuromondo]

From what I have heard, Piatanesi accordions offer an excellent value for the price, and can be a fine choice. Still, I am skeptical that it is possible to buy a genuine, new, 3-voice Piatanesi, made in Italy, for €1700. I don’t know whether Piatanesi have a line of instruments bearing their name that is assembled in China, but at such a price, that would be my first of two suspicions; with the second being an outright fake Chinese accordion with the Piatanesi name on it.

Just a few years ago I bought a nearly new (Pigini-built) 3-voice 37-key Excelsior for $1700. It was a nice, no-frills accordion meant to be a “student” instrument, but it was a steal at that price, and really a nice accordion. But not new. A new one would have been over $4000.

 

[ChromaTrad]

All right, thanks for confirming the information.

The fear I have with buying pre-owned is that I could easily be fooled by the seller, since they would know I'm a beginner. I'd have to shop with an experienced accordeonist, but that's not an easy task, even here where I live (the closest store that offers more than 3 instruments is 400 km away).

I'm awaiting a response from another accordeon tutor here. I'll ask about my options locally. I'll let you know about it.

As for the €1700 Piatanesi, the guy told me he had bought it from the manufacturer, so I'm clueless!

 

[Tom]

Love love love my Piatanesi!!!! I have two, both bought new direct from Sig Ovidio Piatanesi. Shipped to the U S in weeks, not months or years. Out of respect, I won't state the prices I paid, and it was some years ago, but I believe the story of your friend paying €1700 .

It's true, a 34/72 (non professional, artiste model) Piatanesi with dural reeds is not a €10,000 ##### (insert high end brand) with a mano reeds, but then, a Camry is not a Lexus either, but will it get you where you want to go? (I have 265,000 on my Camry, just saying).

Your results will vary.... I say, give 'em a call!

 

[ChromaTrad]

Tom, I was expecting a response from you, since from all the posts I've read, I knew you were a Piatanesi enthusiast! And there you are!

I'll call them. The quality of the instrument would probably be better than I need at first, which is a good thing for upcoming years.

BTW sorry for talking about prices here. I don't know if it's a cultural thing. Here in North America, we're used to see prices displayed openly everywhere.

P.S. I don't drive a luxury car either! An old Kia Rio...

 

[Tom]

Tom, I was expecting a response from you, since from all the posts I've read, I knew you were a Piatanesi enthusiast! And there you are!

I'll call them. The quality of the instrument would probably be better than I need at first, which is a good thing for upcoming years.

BTW sorry for talking about prices here. I don't know if it's a cultural thing. Here in North America, we're used to see prices displayed openly everywhere.

P.S. I don't drive a luxury car either! An old Kia Rio...

Good point. Unless you speak Italian, I would recommend emailing, actually. Who knows, they may have a demo model or lightly used one in stock, in your budget. Btw, Ottavianelli are made in the same location, probably with some of the same stock parts. Another fine choice.

 

[Tom]

From what I have heard, Piatanesi accordions offer an excellent value for the price, and can be a fine choice. Still, I am skeptical that it is possible to buy a genuine, new, 3-voice Piatanesi, made in Italy, for €1700. I don’t know whether Piatanesi have a line of instruments bearing their name that is assembled in China, but at such a price, that would be my first of two suspicions; with the second being an outright fake Chinese accordion with the Piatanesi name on it.

Just a few years ago I bought a nearly new (Pigini-built) 3-voice 37-key Excelsior for $1700. It was a nice, no-frills accordion meant to be a “student” instrument, but it was a steal at that price, and really a nice accordion. But not new. A new one would have been over $4000.

I haven't heard of an accordion sold and branded by Piatanesi that was made in China, nor have I seen a fake.

But nowadays who knows, there's fake just about everything!