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Beginner recommendationss

Digelectric

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Sep 26, 2024
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Moss Beach, CA
I am just learning accordion (I currently play guitar and mandolin, but have also played drums and banjo). I have a small Erica 2-row button accordion but want to get a piano 72 bass for ease of learning and versatility. On the mandolin I'm mostly into Celtic and was inspired to try the accordion after listening to the Pogues, which is Irish rock. I'd like to learn Irish tunes not he accordion but won't limit myself to that.

I was looking at a few instruments in the sub $1000 range and up to $2,400 but would prefer to keep it to $1500 or so. Liberty Bellows has a lot of good options.

I'm sure this question gets asked a lot but I'm hoping for some recommendations. I'm sure this gets asked all the time and will search old threads for info too.

Thanks in advance!
 
I see this hasn’t been answered. I think that may because the options available at that price point and category have been disagreed quite a bit about in this forum. Unfortunately there aren’t many used Italian built instruments that fit those requirements, like there might be in a 120 bass format. Depending who you ask the new Chinese made Hohners are somewhere between surprisingly ok to a waste of money. The currently produced Weltmeisters also seem to have a mixed reputation. If I had to get a 72 bass from Liberty bellows I would probably go for the Roland.
 
I glanced over the Liberty Bellows offerings, and I think probably those used Hohners with LMM reeds would be the sweet spot in your price range. It does depend on the kind of music you want to play, but those would be pretty versatile. Since you are in California, you might make a road trip to Smythe accordion center in Petaluma. Kimric always has some refurbished small accordions for sale.
 
Well first, if you really want to focus mainly on Irish traditional music, a two-row button accordion is sort of the standard instrument there. But with the rows a half-step apart rather than being a fifth (or fourth, depending on how you look at it) apart, as your Erica is set up. Here's Sharon Shannon playing that sort of accordion:


That said, there is a minority who play Irish trad on piano accordion (and, of course, that's going to make it easier to play other styles). Karen Tweed is a good example there:


Anyway, I'll second the recommendation of checking out Smythe's. It doesn't look like he has any cheap, used 72-basses at the moment though. I would normally avoid Sophie-Marie, but the fact that Kimric has gone over and adjusted all of the ones he sells might make it worth considering.
 
Well first, if you really want to focus mainly on Irish traditional music, a two-row button accordion is sort of the standard instrument there. But with the rows a half-step apart rather than being a fifth (or fourth, depending on how you look at it) apart, as your Erica is set up. Here's Sharon Shannon playing that sort of accordion:


That said, there is a minority who play Irish trad on piano accordion (and, of course, that's going to make it easier to play other styles). Karen Tweed is a good example there:


Anyway, I'll second the recommendation of checking out Smythe's. It doesn't look like he has any cheap, used 72-basses at the moment though. I would normally avoid Sophie-Marie, but the fact that Kimric has gone over and adjusted all of the ones he sells might make it worth considering.

If I went to Smythe’s, I’d try that Bugari— dry-tuned MM is about right for modern Irish playing, and F through F# on the left hand will be fine for anything Irish or folk-rock. I tried the faux-cork 48-bass, and I remember liking it too, but I’m all set for a small accordion.
 
I see this hasn’t been answered. I think that may because the options available at that price point and category have been disagreed quite a bit about in this forum. Unfortunately there aren’t many used Italian built instruments that fit those requirements, like there might be in a 120 bass format. Depending who you ask the new Chinese made Hohners are somewhere between surprisingly ok to a waste of money. The currently produced Weltmeisters also seem to have a mixed reputation. If I had to get a 72 bass from Liberty bellows I would probably go for the Roland.

Thanks for the reply. It wounds like many members prefer Italian. I tend to find the German ones a little more to my liking but as a guitarist/mandolinist I know my preferences will tend to change over time and I may not have the first one forever. I appreciate your suggestions!
 
I glanced over the Liberty Bellows offerings, and I think probably those used Hohners with LMM reeds would be the sweet spot in your price range. It does depend on the kind of music you want to play, but those would be pretty versatile. Since you are in California, you might make a road trip to Smythe accordion center in Petaluma. Kimric always has some refurbished small accordions for sale.
Thanks for this. I ended up getting a Weltmeister Achat from LB. I didn't know about the shop in Petaluma, and wish I had before trying to decide online. One of the issues with trying them in person is I'm such a newbie I don't think I could pick one up and play it enough to make a good decision. Probably the employees could, though, so I'd have gone up there if I'd see the reply sooner.
 
Well first, if you really want to focus mainly on Irish traditional music, a two-row button accordion is sort of the standard instrument there. But with the rows a half-step apart rather than being a fifth (or fourth, depending on how you look at it) apart, as your Erica is set up. Here's Sharon Shannon playing that sort of accordion:


That said, there is a minority who play Irish trad on piano accordion (and, of course, that's going to make it easier to play other styles). Karen Tweed is a good example there:


Anyway, I'll second the recommendation of checking out Smythe's. It doesn't look like he has any cheap, used 72-basses at the moment though. I would normally avoid Sophie-Marie, but the fact that Kimric has gone over and adjusted all of the ones he sells might make it worth considering.

Thanks for posting the videos. Totally enjoyed them!

I'm likely to have different taste in music than most of the forum members have, which is not a problem for me. For some of my favorite Irish bands, it's more of the Irish rock/irish punk genre. They all seem to use piano accordion. And if I branch out, I think the piano might be a better overall choice since I don't want to be a one trick pony.

The Pogues:


Dropkick Murphys:


Flogging Molly:
 
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