I'm a beginner; should I buy both of these accordions?

[matcool]

Greetings,

I am really excited to start playing accordion! Or learning to play. I used to play drums, but this is the only musical experience I have.

I am in my early 20s and looking forward to receiving a Hohner Panther G/C/F 3-Row Diatonic Accordion. I just bought one off of Ebay. Heres a link to the same Panther accordion, but sold by Amazon.

However, I know someone who is trying to sell me their Hohner 1302 12 Bass, 25-Key Piano Accordion for $150. Here is a link to this piano accordion. I would receive the accordion, a carrying case, and some vintage straps with this deal. Is this worth it? Since Ive never played accordion, I dont know if the Panther and the Piano accordion are significantly different enough to warrant buying both.

I figure, at worst, I could perhaps sell the Hohner Piano accordion for the same price?

What do you all think?

Thanks! {}

 

[Happy girl]

It’s OK someone wanting to sell this instrument to you, but have you actually heard it played & do you like how it sounds?

I would not recommend that you purchase this piano accordion; you will soon find it very limiting in repertoire with only 12 basses & you will then get bored with it.

It is so easy to put your hand in your pocket & buy stuff; the real task comes with practice, dedication & perseverance in learning to play, & for that you need an instrument which feels good when strapped to your person , sounds good to your ears & which will provide service & value for money.

I very quickly replaced my ‘vintage’ straps for brand new ones because they were worn out & didn’t serve their purpose.

Britain will be waking up in a few hours, &, no doubt you will be getting answers from the most knowledgeable …………watch this space!!

 

[matcool]

Okay, I very much appreciate the response! Looking forward to being a part of these forums. I have heard the 12 basses on the piano accordion are good for beginners, though? I guess you would get bored with it if you got good enough. My goal is to become good enough to play a 120 bass. Then again, I have no idea what I'm talking about

Can't wait to get the diatonic accordion though!

 

[Glenn]

These two instruments are totally different beasts. A bit like buying a clarinet and a flute and thinking they are more or less the same because you blow into both of them. As you are as complete beginner, I would first buy something that goes in the direction of someone who's music you admire. If they play a diatonic instrument then go in this direction. Chopping and changing for a beginner will be tough in my opinion to the level where you may give up on both through lack of progress.

 

[dunlustin]

I second Glenn's thoughts and Hg's take on buying the other accordion - almost nobody would recommend a 12 bass even to start.
You might like to look at the Melodeon.net site - a great source for UK/European diatonic music.
Look for Daddy Long Les on Youtube for lots of useful Beginner stuff and beyond, including GCF
Also Texmex in the USA where the GCF is pretty standard. - beware, they sometimes take out the bass reeds.
Although diatonics tend to be used for similar (ie folk/traditional/ethnic) music, often the only point in common among Piano and Continental Chromatic Button Accordion players is their love of the instrument.
How they use it as wide as you'd expect for, say, a piano player.
Whichever road you go down there are lots of welcoming communities and you'll never stop learning.

 

[matcool]

Thanks Glenn and Dunlustin! And I will certainly check out melodeon.net, Dunlustin.

I watched a couple minutes of Daddy Long Les on YouTube. Great stuff. I am happy I got this diatonic accordion.

Do most accordion players "move up" accordions until they get to the 120 bass?

Edit: also I am learning Music Theory over my school break--just using online sources. I am almost at the "chord" section. Truth be told, when the accordion says it plays in GCF, I don't *exactly* understand what that means.

But I think almost every piece of music I've heard from an accordion is esteemed by myself. Since I listen to a lot of classical music, I know I like this type of music, but TexMex and Folk sound very interesting too.

What type of music does Yann Tiersen fall under? After listening to La Valse d'Amelie (accordion version) is when I realized I would like to play this instrument.

 

[Glenn]

Yann Tiersen is firmly in the chromatic accordion school.
Hunt around youtube and you'll find lots of examples at all levels.
His music uses accordion but he's not a classical accordion composer.
Hunt for French musette style. You may like that.

 

[matcool]

Yann Tiersen is firmly in the chromatic accordion school.
Hunt around youtube and youll find lots of examples at all levels.
His music uses accordion but hes not a classical accordion composer.
Hunt for French musette style. You may like that.

Wow! I really like it. I watched this video:
Im guessing I cant do that with a GCF, diatonic, smaller accordion, can I ?

 

[Glenn]

No, I don't think the diatonic accordion is suitable for that.
With skill, you can get amszing music from them but as a beginner you will concentrate on traditional and folk.
A chromatic will open up more styles right from the start in my humble opinion. Thid may make it more confusing in which direction to go.
But as I said earlier, chromatic and distonic asre reaslly different instruments to play.

 

[dunlustin]

Quote
I am really excited to start playing accordion! - I think I can remember how that felt when I first discovered Free reed instruments. Welcome to a lifetimes passion.
This accordion has the melody side like yours but the basses are as in the musette video - called accordeon mixte:

Look for Emile Vacher on youtube.
This is like yours

These (called Naragonia) are playing pro versions of your box.


I suggest either stick with the GCF for now or dont start and trade it in for a small Piano or chromatic button accordion (eg 48 - 72 basses)
It is not a good idea to start learning both together. On the other hand it is not that uncommon to move on to a (eg chromatic button) accordion.
Serge Desaunay (video) changed because he couldnt get work with his diatonic - a 2-row GC as it happens but things have changed since then.
GCF : each row is tuned to a particular key as you go up and down it like a mouthorgan - basically 3rows = 3keys but in fact you can get more. By playing across the rows you can get more chords and smoother runs.
PS There are also plenty of reasons to go for the bigger boxes - not least availability - but its a different beast.