Mounting an accordion to a table.

[paulywog]

1. If I mount an accordion on a table so the treble keys face you like a piano( the bass buttons would be opposite from you but facing up ), you think I would have problems with sound production because of the different reed block orientation?

I'll replace the bellows with a rigid plenum and relocate the bellows to pump from below with my knees.

I have bad neck and back problems too and this would allow me to also operate an accordion pain free.


2 .Does anywhere sell a full set of reeds? Looks like you can buy multiples of one size but no full sets. I don't want to spend a fortune on a set of reeds. I am no pro.

Thanks

 

[Ben-jammin]

1) sound production will be fine but sound projection might be less than ideal as the sound will be directed right at the performer.

2) I believe you can buy a full set of reeds but I wouldn’t count on them being cheaper than a decent used accordion to harvest the reeds from. Some of the pre midi acoustic/electronic accordions can be found for very modest money and had pretty good reeds. Anyway even if you bought new they will likely need to be voiced/tuned on their new reed boxes.

 

[Dingo40]

I have bad neck and back problems too and this would allow me to also operate an accordion pain free.

Welcome PW,
If I were you, I'd investigate a kind of instrument called a "chord organ".
There's a number of these by various makers and they appear to be already what you are intending to make for yourself.
See here:

Chord organ - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And here:

And here:

vintage Sonola Organ w/wood case & legs - working EX | eBay

<p>vintage Sonola Organ w/wood case & legs - working Rare! EX. </p><p>37 keys, 16 chord button, & knee lever.</p><p>Very nice wooden case! All working.</p>

www.ebay.com

There's many others available!
But, I see from your other post you are a harmonium player, so you probably already know all about chord organs!

 

[paulywog]

1) sound production will be fine but sound projection might be less than ideal as the sound will be directed right at the performer.

2) I believe you can buy a full set of reeds but I wouldn’t count on them being cheaper than a decent used accordion to harvest the reeds from. Some of the pre midi acoustic/electronic accordions can be found for very modest money and had pretty good reeds. Anyway even if you bought new they will likely need to be voiced/tuned on their new reed boxes.

Thanks Ben-jammin,

Cool! Having all the sound directed toward me its actually ideal. I chant, sing and hum to my harmonium(solo) to feel the mix of our frequencies inside my chest and head. After several minuets i'm transported to some strange magical harmonic land.

 

[paulywog]

Welcome PW,
If I were you, I'd investigate a kind of instrument called a "chord organ".
There's a number of these by various makers and they appear to be already what you are intending to make for yourself.
See here:

Chord organ - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And here:

And here:

vintage Sonola Organ w/wood case & legs - working EX | eBay

<p>vintage Sonola Organ w/wood case & legs - working Rare! EX. </p><p>37 keys, 16 chord button, & knee lever.</p><p>Very nice wooden case! All working.</p>

www.ebay.com

There's many others available!
But, I see from your other post you are a harmonium player, so you probably already know all about chord organs!

Thanks Dingo

I love it! Did not know this existed. That is definitely the idea what i'm going for.

I'm going to try and make it with my accordion. I'll make it so it's easily convertible back to the original playing style. I will post some pictures of the progress.
I love my accordion by the way. it's one coolest things I've come across in a long time. The sound is so much more powerful than my harmonium it makes it sound like a whisper.

The video from 6:17 till the end is hilarious.
I would get along great with this guy.

Thanks

 

[debra]

1. If I mount an accordion on a table so the treble keys face you like a piano( the bass buttons would be opposite from you but facing up ), you think I would have problems with sound production because of the different reed block orientation?
...

The different reed block orientation may cause a very slight change in tuning, but you probably won't notice.
However, gravity will be pulling open half the valves all the time. They will resist that for a while but if the accordion (half) is laying down for a very long time half of the valves will remain open and cause half of the (lower) reeds to become sluggish to respond because the air first has to suck the valve (next to the reed) closed before the note will sound.

 

[paulywog]

The different reed block orientation may cause a very slight change in tuning, but you probably won't notice.
However, gravity will be pulling open half the valves all the time. They will resist that for a while but if the accordion (half) is laying down for a very long time half of the valves will remain open and cause half of the (lower) reeds to become sluggish to respond because the air first has to suck the valve (next to the reed) closed before the note will sound.

Thanks Debra

I will disassemble and store it in the correct position when not playing.

In my original post I asked about finding a set of reeds but I meant to say reed VALVES. Know anywhere that sells a full set at a reasonable cost?

 

[Dingo40]

I include this simply to show how fancy some of them can be .
This one, for example, has 48 bass buttons and 37 treble keys:

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[Dingo40]

Still another way to go: instead of trying to redesign the accordion you already have, simply get a floor stand for it (to support it) and play it the way it's been made to be played.
See here:

 

[debra]

Thanks Debra

I will disassemble and store it in the correct position when not playing.

In my original post I asked about finding a set of reeds but I meant to say reed VALVES. Know anywhere that sells a full set at a reasonable cost?

Sorry, I only know where to buy valves in larger quantities than you would need for just one accordion. When you get to replace all the valves of one accordion it's best to take off all the reed plates and after adding valves (inside and outside or first only inside and only later outside) you wax them back into place (with new wax). Then, after giving the wax days (or weeks) to dry you need to retune the whole accordion. This is all work for someone who is a skilled repairer and does it more often and who can use the larger quantities of valves of different sizes.

 

[Ben-jammin]

The only one I know who sells sets with multiple sizes is this here.

Accordion REED LEATHERS VALVES Ventile Assorted Sizes 1-7 Set of 428 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Accordion REED LEATHERS VALVES Ventile Assorted Sizes 1-7 Set of 428 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

It may or may not be exactly the number of specific sizes you require. But probably a good start at having different sizes available to get started.

 

[paulywog]

Sorry, I only know where to buy valves in larger quantities than you would need for just one accordion. When you get to replace all the valves of one accordion it's best to take off all the reed plates and after adding valves (inside and outside or first only inside and only later outside) you wax them back into place (with new wax). Then, after giving the wax days (or weeks) to dry you need to retune the whole accordion. This is all work for someone who is a skilled repairer and does it more often and who can use the larger quantities of valves of different sizes.

That is great info. Looks like there are a lot more nuances in dealing with accordions than harmoniums.

 

[paulywog]

Still another way to go: instead of trying to redesign the accordion you already have, simply get a floor stand for it (to support it) and play it the way it's been made to be played.
See here:

Cool! That is a great idea. Thanks.

 

[tcabot]

A long time ago folks used to strap the other side of the bellows to their knees.
The thumbs went into thumb straps on the back of the keyboard , which allowed them to pump the bellows by lifting the keyboard.

 

[Dingo40]

The thumbs went into thumb straps on the back of the keyboard , which allowed them to pump the bellows by lifting the keyboard.

Are you sure you're not just having a lend of (kidding) us?
It seems to me, playing a glissando could be rather difficult!

 

[tcabot]

Playing anything would be rather difficult
But apparently this was a thing. If you look closely enough, on the left photo you can see the left hand side belt going from the bottom of the box under the player's left leg.

 

[cestjeffici]

You might want to look at a Ketron SD60K. That's where I'm going when the box gets too heavy for me.

 

[cestjeffici]

You might want to look at a Ketron SD60K. That's where I'm going when the box gets too heavy for me.

 

[Dingo40]

That's where I'm going when the box gets too heavy for me.

Does it come with a PA keyboard and stradella bass?

 

[cestjeffici]

and

I don't think so. The SD60 is a keyboard model but doesn't have the Stradella bass like the SD60K. The SD60K is about the new price of a Roland FR8, less expensive than the old FR8 price.