Any opinion on "not practising" on your favorite accordion to "save" it

[Alan Polivka]

One of the worst things you can do for an accordion is to leave it sit unplayed. I have a 1969 Titano Virtuoso with everything original (leather, bellows, etc.) on which I've put around 10,000 hours of practicing and performing time. It is still in mint condition.

 

[JerryPH]

My Hohner Morino came to me new in 1973 as a 13 year old, today I am 63 and my 50 year old Morino STILL looks brand new and works/sounds perfect. My Scandalli Brevette came to me even earlier, it works and looks like brand new EXCEPT for the small gouges in a couple of the white keys that my aunt placed there due to her long fingernails after playing it for near 53 years!



Me "back then" with the Brevette:


Me today, with the same Brevette:



Me at 13 years old with the Morino:


My Morino today:


As I said before... if not for yourself, who are you saving it for? Use it or lose it!

 

[Plinky]

Me at 13 years old with the Morino:


My Morino today:


As I said before... if not for yourself, who are you saving it for? Use it or lose it!

Exactly ,and love the pictures

 

[Tom]

Awesome Jerry! At 13, I think your colleague either liked you or was jealous of your Morino….. Just sayin’

 

[Frank Barocco]

I have always been told that the accordion must be played at least periodically so to allow for air influx and prevent internal mold and other issues.
What I know for sure about other instruments that I play (besides the accordion) is that they must be played to prevent several kinds of issues. On my shamisen, the leather will literally break/rip if it is not played for a few weeks.

 

[Alan Polivka]

My Hohner Morino came to me new in 1973 as a 13 year old, today I am 63 and my 50 year old Morino STILL looks brand new and works/sounds perfect. My Scandalli Brevette came to me even earlier, it works and looks like brand new EXCEPT for the small gouges in a couple of the white keys that my aunt placed there due to her long fingernails after playing it for near 53 years!



Me "back then" with the Brevette:


Me today, with the same Brevette:



Me at 13 years old with the Morino:


My Morino today:


As I said before... if not for yourself, who are you saving it for? Use it or lose it!

How did you get Einstein to pose in the 3rd photo with your band, Jerry?

 

[Walker]

I had never thought about "saving" an instrument from being played to practise !

I find that when I'm working on new music; either composing music or in the early stages of learning a new piece that requires intense practice, I always pick up my Pigini 55/P Senior, it's a great "study" accordion with lovely mechanics, light, no cassotto and quite neutral sounding. It's for putting in the free bass miles - like tonight when I spent a couple of hours practicing the Prelude of Bach's Cello Suite as a left hand study. I can focus on putting all my effort into strengthening technique rather than being in a daze about the sounds bombarding my ears. It's only when I feel that a piece is taking shape that I put the Pigini aside and get the Rolls Royce out... the Scandalli Conservatorio BJP442 is on a different Solar System to the Pigini 55/P Senior for sheer tone quality, and I get terrific enjoyment from playing it - but only once I'm ready to play music that makes it sing.​

 

[Richard]

I was selling a very small Paolo Soprani accordion this week.

And I had this old man on the phone telling me he was in search of an instrument in order to save his favorite Piermaria accordion which was "wonderful".

I had never thought about "saving" an instrument from being played to practise !

Since then I feel guilty when I practise my arpegios on my beloved Bugari Armando Artist Cassotto.

I am kidding of course, but I would like to know what you folks, think about that?

Hello, I too did something similar in that I purchased my dream accordion on EBay 10 or so years ago. It is a Scandalli Super VI special model ‘N’ with a bass decoupler built in the early 60’s. The sound was so beautiful both bass and treble that I stored it, bringing it out for only for special friends to try. I was told by many friends that the accordion should be played, it would keep it in condition. So, guess what? I made it my main accordion. Not only do I enjoy the beautiful sound,(no amplification needed) but recently playing for my Silicon Valley Club I had one top player yell out that he wanted to buy it!! So play your beauty and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

 

[JerryPH]

How did you get Einstein to pose in the 3rd photo with your band, Jerry?

That gent was my accordion instructor for around 10 years, a man whose teachers were (amongst others) Magnante & Nunzio. An amazing accordionist, teacher and creator/conductor of Les Accordionists here in Montreal. He was a true task master and I felt that baton many times on my forearms and fingers… lol