Asymmetric MMM Tuning

[wirralaccordion]

I have finally had my Brandoni Super Musette LMMM accordion tuned as follows on the M reeds:
-5 cents, 0 cents, +16 cents.
Therefore my registrations are now:
Clarinet = Dry ( 1 reed only )
Celeste = 5 cents
Violin = 16 cents
Brilliant = 21 cents
Musette = 21 cents ( damped by middle reed )

This is how they sound for a familiar phrase. I suggest listening in the order above.

I am interested to know your preference.

The sound bites were recorded on Microsoft Voice Recorder and so are not exactly top quality but do show the dofferences.

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Re the above thread: Sorry for any inconvenience, the attachments were not allowed - back to the drawing board!

 

[Eddy Yates]

Thanks. Sorry we didn’t get to hear them. If there isn’t one already, that’s a good idea for a thread: sound bites of various tunings.

 

[wirralaccordion]

Thanks. Sorry we didn’t get to hear them. If there isn’t one already, that’s a good idea for a thread: sound bites of various tunings.

I have, thanks to of Jeff Jetton, now managed to upload the clips. I hope they work. They are in order of cents spread but musette has all 3 reeds simultaneously.

Do you hear the difference/ Which do you particularly like?

 

[maugein96]

Phil,
Firstly, your tuner has done a great job on your Brandoni, and it is a lot easier on the ear than it was previously. Some of us aren't too keen on musette tuning at all, so the issue of whether we "like" a particular sound may not be the feedback you were looking for. 
In a studio or "quiet" environment then it's nice to have a selection of various register combinations to give a bit of variety. Three MMM reeds are something I've never used for many years, but I'll give you my tuppence worth.
The clarinet register is probably the same as on other similar Brandoni instruments, so there isn't much else I can say about that.
The celeste is basically similar to swing tuning, with a flat instead of a sharp reed, and you'd get away with playing swing tunes using that register. Few people would realise your "off" tuned reed was flat rather than the normal sharp of swing tuning. 
The violin is perhaps most like a "modern" French sound, and most French boxes with that tuning are usually LMM these days. 14 to 18 cents "up" is about as far as most French players want these days, although there are those who still want to try and break the wine glasses. 
The Brilliante is something I had never previously encountered until I heard your Brandoni with the old tuning. It is certainly a lot more tuneful than what it was previously, although I personally feel that it needs that "damper" of the straight tuned flute reeds to balance things out. 
The musette is now quite a pleasant sound, and much preferable to the older tuning you had.  
For me it's the Violin then Celeste, as I don't feel there is really a need for three MMM reeds, unless you play Scottish or other styles where full MMM tuning is a prerequisite. Others will probably disagree with me with regard to the best type of tuning for French and Italian musette, but music just tends to be like that. 
Check out guitarists with more than 20 instruments, because they have convinced themselves that they "need" a certain type for a certain style. A good player can get by with one or two instruments only and the sound comes from the player. 
Your Brandoni now seems to be very well suited  for purpose, and I hope you get a lot of enjoyment playing it, regardless of what register combination you're using.

 

[wirralaccordion]

Phil,
Firstly, your tuner has done a great job on your Brandoni, and it is a lot easier on the ear than it was previously. Some of us aren't too keen on musette tuning at all, so the issue of whether we "like" a particular sound may not be the feedback you were looking for. 
In a studio or "quiet" environment then it's nice to have a selection of various register combinations to give a bit of variety. Three MMM reeds are something I've never used for many years, but I'll give you my tuppence worth.
The clarinet register is probably the same as on other similar Brandoni instruments, so there isn't much else I can say about that.
The celeste is basically similar to swing tuning, with a flat instead of a sharp reed, and you'd get away with playing swing tunes using that register. Few people would realise your "off" tuned reed was flat rather than the normal sharp of swing tuning. 
The violin is perhaps most like a "modern" French sound, and most French boxes with that tuning are usually LMM these days. 14 to 18 cents "up" is about as far as most French players want these days, although there are those who still want to try and break the wine glasses. 
The Brilliante is something I had never previously encountered until I heard your Brandoni with the old tuning. It is certainly a lot more tuneful than what it was previously, although I personally feel that it needs that "damper" of the straight tuned flute reeds to balance things out. 
The musette is now quite a pleasant sound, and much preferable to the older tuning you had.  
For me it's the Violin then Celeste, as I don't feel there is really a need for three MMM reeds, unless you play Scottish or other styles where full MMM tuning is a prerequisite. Others will probably disagree with me with regard to the best type of tuning for French and Italian musette, but music just tends to be like that. 
Check out guitarists with more than 20 instruments, because they have convinced themselves that they "need" a certain type for a certain style. A good player can get by with one or two instruments only and the sound comes from the player. 
Your Brandoni now seems to be very well suited  for purpose, and I hope you get a lot of enjoyment playing it, regardless of what register combination you're using.

John,
Thanks for your comments. I had forgotten that you still have access to my earlier playing of the Brandoni on the forum.
Indeed I am very happy with the new tuning and my personal favourite is the Celeste registration which I feel now has a "punch" to it.
I have another accordion, LMM which I am thinking of having tuned with a 10 cents difference between the M's, I will then have four "cents spreads" to choose from with the two accordions!
Phil

 

[maugein96]

[quote pid='64453' dateline='1553007152']


Thanks for your comments. I had forgotten that you still have access to my earlier playing of the Brandoni on the forum.
Indeed I am very happy with the new tuning and my personal favourite is the Celeste registration which I feel now has a "punch" to it.
I have another accordion, LMM which I am thinking of having tuned with a 10 cents difference between the M's, I will then have four "cents spreads" to choose from with the two accordions!
Phil

Hi Phil,


Haven't been on the forum for a while as I tend to lose interest every now and then. It's just the way I've always been, and most of my musical efforts at the moment are taken out on my guitars. 

There hasn't been much happening of late on here, but saw your post and glad you were able to get the sound samples posted. That's a completely new sound you have there, like a different box altogether. One of my boxes has 4 cent swing tuning, but I don't particularly like it. My reeds are tuned sharp rather than flat, but the problem is the box concerned has had a very hard life and the reeds could probably do with replacing. Retuning might help but I'm not sure. Maybe some day.   
[/quote]

 

[losthobos]

Your man's done a really nice job there... I'd be happy with a box that had that many sweet tones inside...
I had Emilio Allodi tune my Brandoni to the same specs after seeing on liberty bellows site, and also ex member BobM had his tuned same and was elated with sound to..
Alas for me, my L and M Reed were both in cassotto and the blend never really worked for me... Pity as the Brandoni was a well crafted box , had a superb action and reasonable weight, but I just couldn't fall in love with her... Far too staid..
Luckily for you the equations seem to have come true... Enjoy