Most common PA with convertor OR freebass in USA

[tombitondo]

hi folks,

A few posts ago, I was considering learning CBA. However, after much careful consideration, it just does not make sense given my 40+ years of playing PA and piano, organ, etc.

However, I'm really interested on adding freebass to my skill set, and could see the potential benefits of this.

Since it seems that type of instrument, freebass system etc. vary from country to country, I'm looking to just go mainstream and find the most common setup here in the USA. In other words....should it be a bass convertor accordion, or dedicated free bass? (really NOT a fan of the Stradella bass anyway) and which layout (C, B or Quint?).

I'm not looking for something so obscure that the upgrade/replacement path kills the pleasure of playing the thing! And I believe that any of the systems, given the proper preparation on MY part, could work well for me.

Your expert opinions are cheerfully welcomed!!!

Tom Bitondo
New York

 

[JIM D.]

The most numerous used accordions here with a convertor bass are Titano accordions as they introduced the convertor free bass here first. The Titano convertor system has been called the Palmer, Quint, and Fifth - all the same design. The Palmer free bass mode is the most widely offered by accordion makers today and even The Roland digital accordions offer the Palmer free bass mode and call it the Fifth in their manual.

 

[tombitondo]

That's really interesting, Jim...I had read in a few other posts (on this site) that the Palmer was obscure and very difficult to find...food for thought, I will definitely investigate further!

 

[JIM D.]

We always have one or two used models in stock at http://accordionlab.com/accordionlab/mall/preown/TitanoFB3C/titanofb3c.htm

 

[Bill Palmer]

I think you can still get the quint converter system from Busso, but they no longer call it the Palmer Converter system. This was by mutual agreement between Faithe Deffner and my father shortly after he decided to quit his association with the instrument. In Europe, it's called the "Galla-Rini" system. After many conversations with people who knew Maestro Galla-Rini, the best conclusion I can come to for this nomenclature was that Victoria (the Italian manufacturer of Titano accordions at the time) couldn't call it a Palmer Converter system, because of contractual agreements with the Traficantes and/or the Deffners. Reports of the Maestro's involvement with the quint system are varied. Some people who knew him very well say that he conferred with the Traficantes on it. Others who knew him very well say that he didn't play it. The deeper I dig, the less I know.