Hello and thoughts on buying online

[SteveBox]

It should be mentioned here for the benefit of a beginner contemplating their first CBA purchase that, just like there are different key sizes used on piano accordions, there are also different button sizes and spacings used on CBAs.

There are the smaller 14-15mm buttons with 19mm spacing found on French-style, Roland digital, and others. This is also the button size and spacing used on most diatonic button accordions. Then there are CBAs that have larger 16-17mm buttons with a slightly wider spacing.

I have never seen this specification mentioned in the advertised specs for any accordion, and it is hard to tell just looking at a photo. I mention this only in the interest of full knowledge about what you are buying. Which you choose probably doesn't make a difference to most people. My two CBAs are the smaller size. Some say the larger buttons are a little easier to play. However, if you have more than one instrument, it can be annoying to adjust to different button spacings when you switch accordions.

 

[Reen49]

I was looking at them online last night. I'd absolutely love one, or one of the Castagnari ones but they really are an investment and I don't have the budget for it now. I invested in my concertina when I bought it and it's very saleable so I think I'll buy cheap for now and if the CBA accordion grabs me (and I strongly suspect it will) I can downgrade my lovely concertina, sell my B/C diatonic and upgrade the accordion then.
Going to see the Zero Sette C Griff below on Wednesday. It's apparently in excellent condition, in tune and everything working as it should. If that's the case, I'm going to buy it. In time I can upgrade to a lighter one but this seems to be the best deal I'll get in Ireland right now as there's very little around and is be happy to learn on it if it's in good condition. It's only €750 as the interest in the CBA system is so small in Ireland.
Thank you to all who've shared some really interesting suggestions of what to buy. You've all been brilliantly helpful. Unfortunately they're just not available where I live. I'll let you know how it goes on Wednesday.

 

[saundersbp]

I'm not a big fan of the musette sound and would like to use it to play classical and folk

I think a free bass would be ideal for folk and classical as you can make a lighter texture than the chord button accordion tends towards. If you play with other people/instruments they appreciate it!

Also consider that if your interest is in classical music, you might want an accordion with a free-bass system

Agreed as budget allows. I used to have the one below which was freebass only. It got me going nicely. I think I sold it for about £1000.
Some poster mentioned the hohner version of this, but I have heard from a number of people it does disintegrate rather quickly....

I meant free beginner resource of B is more than C because lot of the material can be found in https://ale07.ru/. But there are not much online teacher of CBA, and I think english speaker of C is more than B.

Great resource! I downloaded some of the Anthology of literature for the accordion (F. Lipps) for pieces I knew, but it doesn't actually contain any fingering so B or C system doesn't seem to matter. I know B system is best if you are in Asia or E Europe.

Going to see the Zero Sette C Griff below on Wednesday. It's apparently in excellent condition, in tune and everything working as it should. If that's the case, I'm going to buy it.

I also had a Zero Sette almost identical to that. It was a super accordion and my version had freebass sytem too. It was about £1,250 second hand, now sold as well. They do pop up though from time to time and this is a little one I got recently for playing outdoors for folkey things. It was £1000. If you do get that Zero Sette it will get your right hand going nicely. Let me know if you need any music with C system fingering too!

 

[Reen49]

I think a free bass would be ideal for folk and classical as you can make a lighter texture than the chord button accordion tends towards. If you play with other people/instruments they appreciate it!


Agreed as budget allows. I used to have the one below which was freebass only. It got me going nicely. I think I sold it for about £1000.
Some poster mentioned the hohner version of this, but I have heard from a number of people it does disintegrate rather quickly....


Great resource! I downloaded some of the Anthology of literature for the accordion (F. Lipps) for pieces I knew, but it doesn't actually contain any fingering so B or C system doesn't seem to matter. I know B system is best if you are in Asia or E Europe.


I also had a Zero Sette almost identical to that. It was a super accordion and my version had freebass sytem too. It was about £1,250 second hand, now sold as well. They do pop up though from time to time and this is a little one I got recently for playing outdoors for folkey things. It was £1000. If you do get that Zero Sette it will get your right hand going nicely. Let me know if you need any music with C system fingering too!

Thanks for your thoughts and kind offer of music. Much appreciated. Where is the switch on a converter to switch between free bass and full chords?

 

[saundersbp]

Where is the switch