Galanti Super Dominator

[boxplayer4000]

This Galanti Super Dominator is double octave tuned LMMP with the L reed in cassotto.
The bass end has six rows in standard Stradella formation but there is a 7th row, nearest the bellows. These buttons are tuned to the flattened 3rd, i.e.. at C bass button the buttons are C, E and Eflat.
Also, under the players hand at the bass end there is a vertical lever shift which is making a change to bass/chords but Im not sure what it is meant to achieve.
Any information on the system would be welcome. Thanks.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c8o2xbur356xzhj/Galanti1 copy.jpg?dl=0>

<ATTACHMENT filename=Galanti1 copy.jpg index=0>

 

[Soulsaver]

Nice. I've seen Super Dominators come up from time to time.. they often go at attractive prices for the spec. I've never seen this spec before though. Special order?

 

[TomBR]

The minor thirds, the Eb on the C row, are there so you have a minor counterbass when playing minor chords etc. It also makes your basses pretty chromatic, depending on skill!

(On my French style Fratelli Crosio the minor counter basses are moved "up" one row which means you can play scales on the major and minor counter bass rows using the same fingering as on bass and major counter bass.
This is not relevant to your Galanti! )

What sort of change to the bass end does the lever make - tone quality? Is it the "piano" register giving less bright sounds with fewer octaves in the reeds?

I assume you haven't got a free-bass converter there! :lol: (Don't have any bass buttons pressed while you actuate the lever!)
Tom

 

[boxplayer4000]

Many thanks for your contributions soulsaver and TomBR.
The accordion will go for sale soon. I have it here for some small tuning issues. There doesn't seem to be many around at the moment to get a handle on possible value.
At the moment the lever on the bass end seems only to affect the chords and I don't think it changes to freebase. I need a closer look.

 

[JIM D.]

Yes, that bass switch lowers the chords 1 octave.

 

[boxplayer4000]

Thanks everybody for their contributions.
The Dominator is presently back with the owner. It may already be up there for sale on an 'as seen' basis as he seems keen to sell. It's in above average condition for its age and if there is fault with the bass lever it's not likely be a major matter. I may get the chance to have a further look at it in the future in which case I would be happy to come back on the matter.
The comment about the Frattelli Crosio with slightly different minor 3rds is interesting. Is this any relation to a 'Belgian Base' system. Excuse my ignorance.

 

[Glenn]

Thanks everybody for their contributions.
The comment about the Frattelli Crosio with slightly different minor 3rds is interesting. Is this any relation to a Belgian Base system. Excuse my ignorance.

I think this is not the Belgian base system but rather an alternative to the 3x3 bass systems.
Rather than dispense with diminished chords to have the extra diminished or augmented counter bass row, they have simply added another row of buttons.
One might say this is an elegant solution apart from the complexity and cost.
All my accordions have a 3x3 system with diminished 3rd.
When I ordered my Ballone Burini from the manaufacturer the guy at the other end called it (in his broken English) the Dutch system.
Since then Ive learned that it is fairly common elsewhere so I dont think it is particularly Dutch.
I believe the Belgian bass system refers to the arrangement of the circle of fifths which we find in a regular Stradella system.
In the Belgian system the order is reversed.
One of my first accordion teachers could play this arrangement and although he never brought one along for me to try he did speak of it occasionaly.

 

[Soulsaver]

It looks a bulky accordion; maybe just the pics but they look bulky on eBay when they appear, too?

This one was finished £820(cash on)collection only (Leicestershire) so may have got more bids if unrestricted. Good listing by someone in the know.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GALANTI-S...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557