Basso accordion

[debra]

Well, that's the reason for the flaps in mine. But it probably makes reedblock construction too complicated to have made it beyond the prototype stage.

The flaps are probably more prone to air loss than register sliders. My bass accordion has register slides (for the M and H reeds) inside the reed blocks and that too is a bad idea because it means that the vibrating air from both reeds travels a bit through the same channel. So when you tune LM and LH perfectly LMH will not be perfect. Conversely, if you tune LMH perfectly then LM and/or LH may not be perfect... The differences will not likely bother most people but they do bother me.

 

[dak]

The flaps are probably more prone to air loss than register sliders.

Oh, definitely. For the bass and bass octave reeds, it's enough to reliably cut off the tone on my instrument (or at least keep the reeds from starting). But it wouldn't do for anything but the bass reed block.

My bass accordion has register slides (for the M and H reeds) inside the reed blocks and that too is a bad idea because it means that the vibrating air from both reeds travels a bit through the same channel. So when you tune LM and LH perfectly LMH will not be perfect. Conversely, if you tune LMH perfectly then LM and/or LH may not be perfect... The differences will not likely bother most people but they do bother me.

Where the air supply is most critical is the low bass octave. Is your M reed in the same reed block as H here? Usually I'd expect them to be closely coupled to L, in order to serve as reed starter.

 

[debra]

...
Where the air supply is most critical is the low bass octave. Is your M reed in the same reed block as H here? Usually I'd expect them to be closely coupled to L, in order to serve as reed starter.

The Pigini bass accordion has a bit of a strange setup.
Below is a picture. It is actually from a P39 and not my own C39, but the difference is just in one missing high D# on the P39.
The large blocks contain L in the center and M on the outside. It looks like the H blocks are then just separate blocks but they are not:
the H reeds "feed into" the M reeds. In the second picture you can see this clearly: you see the register slides, a slanted one for he M reeds and a vertical on for the H reeds feeding into the block with the M reeds. This whole setup serves one purpose: to require fewer holes and thus smaller pallets. It does make tuning a nightmare because these reed blocks are all glued in place. The large (6-note) reed plates come out easily so that at least is a convenience, but all the small reed plates have to be dealt with "in situ". It is feasible to remove (and put back) the reed plates for H reeds, but not really feasible for the M reeds.

 

[dak]

Is that a mixture of leather gaskets for compound reed plates and of waxed single plates? That is … interesting. I am also a bit surprised at the choice of working with single pallets. Every accordion with cassotto (or déclassement) works with multiple pallets per key and people get along with that just fine.

 

[debra]

Is that a mixture of leather gaskets for compound reed plates and of waxed single plates? That is … interesting. I am also a bit surprised at the choice of working with single pallets. Every accordion with cassotto (or déclassement) works with multiple pallets per key and people get along with that just fine.

That is indeed a mixture of leather gaskets for the compound reed plates and of waxed single plates. That is actually not very uncommon.
Below is an accordion with a large plate for the lowest octave and (waxed) individual plates for all higher notes.
There are also accordions where the lowest notes are all on individual reed plates, and then at the start of the second and third block there
are first compound reed plates for the first 4 or 5 notes on each, and then they continue with individual reed plates...

Bass accordions do not have a cassotto so they all have a single pallet per key. Some have an "Umlenkstimmstock" which extends the resonance chamber through pipes located inside the reed block. Some accordions (but not bass accordions) use a "Winkelbaß" which has the same effect but is at a 90 degree angle.

 

[BSCUTTER]

Hi there, are you still looking for a bass accordion?
I have a couple of them. Here's photos attached. Giulietti 37 notes from low C to high F and has three register switches. Also a Scandalli. It has 37 notes from low E to high E and no switches. Both accordions have two sets of reeds. I'm In Canada. Thanks

Do you still a Basso for sale?

 

[debra]

Do you still a Basso for sale?

Be careful when buying older Bass accordions, because they tend to have a limited range compared to what is used in more recent arrangements (for accordion ensemble). Almost all start at low C (Hohner made an electronic bass accordion starting from just low E, some other may have done the same.) But many go up to just A (34 notes starting from low C), and even more go up to just C (37 notes starting from low C), and this includes Giulietti, Hohner, Zero Sette, whereas many arrangements expect you to have a bass accordion with 39 notes from low C up to high D.
Around here The Bugari basson is by far the most popular bass accordion with great powerful deep sound thanks to the "Umlenkstimmstock", and the Pigini P39/C39 is a close second, with 3 voices and registers (but no "Umlenkstimmstock").

 

[Stan62]

Do you still a Basso for sale?

Hi there BSCUTTER. Sorry for late reply, Yes I still have two bass accordions as in the photos. A Scandalli and a Giulietti.
Cheers
Stan

 

[BSCUTTER]

Sorry to get back to you after such a length of time. My work season got crazy. I am retired but I am busier now than pre-retiredment. LOL. NOW I AM JUST TIRED. LOL I am still interested in a Basso Accordion.

 

[BSCUTTER]

Hi there, are you still looking for a bass accordion?
I have a couple of them. Here's photos attached. Giulietti 37 notes from low C to high F and has three register switches. Also a Scandalli. It has 37 notes from low E to high E and no switches. Both accordions have two sets of reeds. I'm In Canada. Thanks

I am in Alaska. May I ask the price?