MMM (+ midi) tuning help!

[Ganza]

Hi,
I don't really like the tuning on my second-hand Piermaria 318 (L) which has MMM reeds.
The first register plays 3 reeds together and is VERY wet musette! Too wet for me.
The second register plays 2 reeds together and is a little wet, but ok.
The third register plays 1 reed.
The fourth register is a mute, for the midi system which is installed.

I'm wondering: What are my options for changing this? I would prefer to have (in any order):
1 register as a slightly wet 3-reed musette, 1 register as a dry 2 reeds, and 1 register as a single reed.
Obviously the fourth register, being a mute for the midi, cannot be changed. Or can it?


What I think I would like even more than MMM, is to have LMM, thus changing one of the M reed banks to L.
Is this possible?? Although, I guess I couldn't use the bass reed because of the silly mute register.
On that note, why is there even a mute register? I would prefer to play midi with only the bellows closed, I don't need the fake compression of the midi system, do I?!

Could I revert this mute register to actually being usable as a register, as it was originally before the midi was installed by prev owner?

Sorry for this long list of questions - I'm only starting out on CBA C system, but I was very lucky to find a really good, made-in-last-5-years accordion for an incredibly low price (CBAs are unknown in Australia, so I guess the owner found it hard to sell - it cost me 1/3 of the new price!).

I appreciate any advice. Thanks!

 

[goldtopia]

I would recommend that you phone Alan Young on the Isle of Wight. He has tuned two of my accordions of which I am very pleased. If you tell him what you want he can retune them to how you would like. He told me he is moving to Wiltshire, though I don't know if he has already done so. Its possible he may not have moved yet. give him a ring and he can give you a price . I have sent you a private email with his phone number.

 

[Soulsaver]

Assuming the reeds are in tune & no corrosion.
As you prob know, the musette is created by 3 reed sets tuned a)slightly flat, b)concert pitch, usually, & c) slightly sharp.

If very wet then the sharp reed set is probably sharper by more then the flat set is flat eg. Flat -20 cents; Sharp +40.

The sharp could be tuned back to equal the flat (ie -20 & +20) and that would give a less wet musette at the lowest cost (maybe c£100 in the UK) limiting tuning work to just the sharp set.

To be definitive you'll need to take it to someone with the equipment to measure the tuning ... and ideally the ability to retune it.

Converting M to L will likely mean changing the all the reeds in a set, and prob need a different block, plus tuning - which will be likely be significantly more costly.

The question on the mute will need look at the innerds (pic?) .

 

[JIM D.]

Converting one of your M set of reeds to L will require the purchase of a set of L reeds and the conversion of the reed block to fit the larger reeds. As for that mute switch, the shift slides will have to be altered. What you desire here will be expensive in labor and parts, and the conversion will result in the box altered and it's value decreased. I would suggest you sell the box in it's original form a look for a box that will suit your needs.

 

[Ganza]

Hmmm thankyou for your advice everybody!
I think i will keep the instrument as its of great quality and i do want a midi option as well, however i will look into having at least the 3rd M reed detuned a little.
By the way, im in Sydney, Australia. Goldtopia alterted me to the fact that my location wasnt on my profile, so Ive tried to update that now, hopefully its there now!