Baile Clansman, Treble Couplers

[eddieraven]

Hi, I've recently bought a Baile Clansman 120 Bass,  with 11 treble couplers and can't find any Info on what sound each of them is supposed to produce,
The dots on the Couplers are White, Yellow & Red in various configurations,
Does anyone know anything about this, This is my first Accordion, and I have no Knowledge about them,
Best Regards
Eddie

 

[Glug]

Hiya,
a photo would really help

But if it looks like this: https://www.theaccordionshop.co.uk/accordions/baile-clansman-120-bass-accordion/ then its got LMMM reeds (ie. Four Voice Musette).

And in any case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accordion_reed_ranks_and_switches explains the dots quite nicely.

Hope that helps some,
Gareth.

 

[george garside]

Hiya,
a photo would really help

But if it looks like this: https://www.theaccordionshop.co.uk/accordions/baile-clansman-120-bass-accordion/ then its got LMMM reeds (ie. Four Voice Musette).

And in any case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accordion_reed_ranks_and_switches explains the dots quite nicely.

Hope that helps some,
Gareth.

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best to find out what each coupler setting sounds like rather than just the combination of reeds in play eg mm, mmm, m, l, etc which only gives a very broad idea of the sound. Simply hold down a group of notes eg CEG ;keep the bellows moving and switch each coupler in turn - and all will be revealed!

george

 

[eddieraven]

Hi again,
Here's a link to the same accordion as mine
I was hoping to find out which coupler represented which instrument,
ie, Bassoon, Clarinet, etc,
Thanks for your input so far
Best Regards
Eddie

scotlandaccordions.co.uk/Baile%2041%20120%20pearlescent%20grey?manufacturer_id=15

 

[Glug]

Unfortunately I can't see the dots on that link, however that Wikipedia page does give the information.

For example:
Clarinet: One M (middle = 8') reed playing.  So switch has one dot in the middle row, others empty
Basoon:  One L (low = 16') reed playing.  So switch has one dot in bottom row, others empty.

The 'icon' column on the Wikipedia page "common register switches" table shows what should be on the switches, although your 'master' switch isn't shown: it should be 3 dots in middle row and 1 dot in the bottom row and should be the middle switch.

Gareth

 

[george garside]

an accordion is an accordion  and  coupler settings   purporting to imitate other instruments  rarely if ever provide the true sound of  whatever instrument they purport to imitate  . at best  making a sound that resembles a particular instrument.  So which couple to use and when to use it is really down to individual choice as to which sound best suites  whatever you are playing at any given time.

george

 

[Glug]

I was going to mention 'Clarinet' etc are just notional

One day I will end up with a V-accordion because I'd really like to play sax (or meet a cute female who does).
There is a 'Sax' register on some accoustic accordions but apparently it's not much like a saxophone.

 

[eddieraven]

There are 2 or 3 Coupler Icons not on the Wilkepedia Site
I've taken a photo of the couplers on mine
Best Regards
Eddie

 

[Glug]

Yay, that helps a lot.

From left to right they are
1) Bassoon
2) Clarinet 1
3) Bandoneon 1
4) Violin 1
5) Accordion 1
6 - middle) Master = all voices on
7) Accordion 2
8) Violin 2
9) Musette
10) Bandoneon 2
11) Clarinet 2

It's common for some switches to be repeated so they are easier to reach from the other end of the keyboard.

But I think there's something extra going on here: the dot colour.
I would guess that red = tuned starp and yellow = tuned flat.
So Violin1 probably sounds slightly different to Violin2 (but they're still both 'violin')

 

[eddieraven]

Thank You so much that's exactly what I wanted to know,
Best Regards
Eddie

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Here's a graphic I've made with better detail
of the colour arrangements on the coupler icons.