Modern/Borsini (60’s model) , Newbie Inquiry

[BMJ]

I recently purchased a “Modern” (Borsini) 120 base keyboard accordion which has a fantastic sound quality. As a newbie I was expecting the diamond middle base note to be a C, yet it’s an F. And, the minor and major rows are flipped from what I understand is now the norm. So, any advice for a newbie learning to play on this instrument?
Thanks
BJ

 

[Chickers]

Hi BJ
I'm not sure what you have in your Borsini. Maybe "custom" built, maybe a mistake ???
A typical Stradella bass layout would be (going from bellows) 1st -row=Counterbass, 2nd row=Fundamental bass, 3rd row= Major Chord, 4th row= Minor Chord 5th row=Seventh Chord, 6th row=Diminished Chord then an indent or jewel in --C-Fundamental bass.
Is that not what you have ?/

 

[Chickers]

BJ:
A PS.
The above is for a Standard PA (Piano accordion).

 

[BMJ]

Mine has a Jewel in the F, A & Csharp. 1st -row=Counterbass, 2nd row=Fundamental bass, 3rd row= Minor Chord, 4th row= Major Chord 5th row=Seventh Chord, 6th row=Diminished Chord

I’m pretty sure I can learn to play it, just adjusting for the 4th & 5th rows. Was hoping to hear from accordion experts that this was a fingering adaption for a reason?
I did read that Borsini made the Modern in the 60’s. for the Modern Accordion School in Michigan.
It has such a rich beautiful tone I hate to send it back to the seller. Any advice is most appreciated. I can send a pic if it would be helpful.
Thanks!

 

[BMJ]

 

[debra]

It is possible that some repairer in the past has accidentally swapped buttons when disassembling and reassembling the bass mechanics.
It is unlikely that the swapped major and minor chords have been made like this on purpose.

 

[BMJ]

How complicated is it to have them swapped back…is it still able to be played well?

 

[JerryPH]

It's not an easy job but it should be doable... just time.

 

[BMJ]

Thank you..I assume the “doable” is in reference to learning to play , and not swapping the bass lines back (I can’t imagine how that happened?). I really appreciate the response from the artists who play/repair this instrument. I’ve been playing brass instruments for decades, and have very little knowledge of the intricacies of the accordion. Again, Thank you each!
BJ

 

[JerryPH]

Thank you..I assume the “doable” is in reference to learning to play , and not swapping the bass lines back (I can’t imagine how that happened?). I really appreciate the response from the artists who play/repair this instrument. I’ve been playing brass instruments for decades, and have very little knowledge of the intricacies of the accordion. Again, Thank you each!
BJ

Honestly? My opinion is that sure you can learn to play around it, but its NOT supposed to be like that and when you move on to another accordion, it is yet again another unnecessary relearning process for something that you should not have needed to train yourself to do in the first place. If you are serious about the accordion... get the accordion repaired. I'd go back to the vendor and see what they could do.

When my Morino was in for some maintenance, something similar like this happened with my bass except it was the 7th and minor tones were reversed on a couple of bass. I noticed it instantly. That took all of perhaps 15 minutes to address. It is simply lack of attention by the repair person. In your case, it looks like they misplaced a bit more rods and bass buttons. This is not a factory error (unless it was bought new and not touched by your vendor for touch-up work).

 

[BMJ]

Thank you!

 

[BMJ]

Any advice for a reputable Accordian repair person around Central Virginia (USA), and what would be the approximate cost to have something like this repaired?
Thank You!!!

 

[Scuromondo]

I’m not sure whether Dale Wise still does repairs. He is in Burr Hill, which would be relatively close to you. Busso Music in Alexandria is very good as well, though not as conveniently located for you; and they can sometimes be difficult to get in contact with.

There is also The Accordion Place in Chapel Hill,NC. I have heard of them but have no direct experience with them.

 

[BMJ]

Thank you…I’ll check these two referrals out….appreciate everyones time!

 

[Ventura]

is there any chance that you saved (or if it is still up on the Web somewhere)
the vendors/sellers advert and description of this instrument which got you to buy it

might they have taken advantage of you ? a newbie with zero experience..

how on earth did they get you to think some old "wannabe Excelsior" accordion
ordered by an american jobber half a century ago and (possibly) built by a reasonably reputable
accordion company in Italy for them (who nevertheless allowed themselves to
be party to the deception) would be a good first choice for an instrument ?

frankly, on the face of it, it seems absurd to me

bearing in mind, it is NOT a Borsini.. it does NOT meet the Borsini standard..
it may have been buit by Borsini, but remember, no Italian accordion company
would ever give a competitor something that is as good as their own Marquee Brand

also bearing in mind that American Jobbers purchase accordions under their own
brand name from MULTIPLE SOURCES over the decades.. that people who were
probably not even alive when this accordion was built could sell this as a "Borsini"
with any authority is extremely unlikely, as you would need an accordion tech
who had INTIMATE knowledge of Borsini from decades of working on them..

i can only think of one guy on this forum with that kind of actual knowledge..

so forgive me if i suggest you might consider sueing them if possible to get your money back
and start over

 

[BMJ]

Sorry if you misunderstood, they sold it as a “Modern “, I later discovered that in the 60’s Borsini manufactured these for Modern Accordion Co. There was no deception on the part of the instrument dealer. I do have a 45 day risk free return policy, but this accordion has an amazing sound quality that I’d like to keep. And all though a newbie in the accordion world, I’ve been playing tpt/flugelhorn for over 50 years so appreciate your passion for young musicians being taken advantage of. Thanks for your time and insight.

 

[BMJ]

And now for the rest of the story! I spoke with a wonderful accordion repairman (G I Mulligan in Silver Spring MD USA). He was familiar with this Modern made by Borsini. Suggested that a poor repair/service must have been done on the instrument and that the bass blocks were in some way reversed. G I Mulligan was able to talk me through getting to the bass blocks, with cell phone pictures discovered that in fact the frame braces were reversed. I was able to reverse the blocks …. IT WORKS AND SOUNDS FANTASTIC! In addition, the store I purchased it from was most apologetic and are providing reimbursement store credit. So…there are good people out there…Best to all!