Help? My second hand bayan has some curled bass reed leathers

[CharlieHunterFan]

Hello, I recently bought a Ukrainian Bayan accordion from the 80s-90s, which had been previously owned in a humid, coastal environment by the seller. Upon discovering some curled reeds, likely due to the extended exposure to humidity, I noticed issues with certain bass notes producing air sounds.


Now that the accordion is in my possession in a dry environment, I'm curious about potential solutions for the curled reeds. Can being in a drier environment help them straighten out naturally? Are there any methods I can try to uncurl the reeds myself to improve the instrument's performance? Additionally, I'm seeking advice on any essential tips, tricks, associated costs, or warnings to keep in mind. I prefer to troubleshoot and address these issues independently rather than sending the accordion for professional service. Feel free to request images if needed. Thank you for your assistance!

 

[Ffingers]

The website

https://accordionrevival.com/

is very, very useful

 

[debra]

You can uncurl the leathers yourself. But considering the history of the instrument you should check under the leathers whether the reeds are all still in usable condition or whether they are rusted.
For the leathers: remove them. Hold the (previously) glued end. Grab the leather (just past your finger) with pincers, then curl them in the opposite direction to what they were. They will stay curled a bit in that opposite direction. That's ok. Glue them back on (using a drop of shoe glue) and press them flat with your finger. For more extensive help go to accordionrevivall.com, as Ffingers already said.