Non-standard bass reed block layouts

[Morne]

I dont know if this has been posted before, but in doing a bit of research I have found some examples of non-standard bass reed block layouts.

You can find more pictures by searching for Winkelbass or winkelbaß (German: angled bass) on Google Images. I have also seen the term quasicassotto being mentioned.

I have not found much on this in English, but there are some discussions of it in German, especially on the this music forum: http://www.musiker-board.de/forum/

Here are some examples:
This one has all the bass reeds blocks at a 90 degree angle compared to the standard layout and mounted on a wooden box. It seems to have been in use at least during the war, possibly pre-war, based on the accordion it is in. Some more pictures here.

<ATTACHMENT filename=DSCN2157_Bass.JPG index=2>

This one is called Umlaufstimmstock (German: Circulation reed block). This kind has a bulkier reed block. Source

<ATTACHMENT filename=morinoivm_bassstock.png index=1>

This is the kind that seems to be called Winkelbaß primarily. Source

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Then I have also seen some (free bass) bayan and garmon (Russian accordions) where the reeds are mounted directly on the mounting plate/soundboard instead of in a reed block. Some of that might have been just for space restrictions and not necessarily for a specific sound change.

 

[debra]

The "Winkelbaß" was popular in some Hohner models, mainly Morino (N) and some Atlantic deluxe models, and maybe others. Strangely enough though the Gola did not have this yet it had better sounding and more responsive bass than the Morino. The "Umlaufstimmstock" has the same effect to the sound but in a more compact package. It is popular in basson accordions (my Bugari Basson had it and my Pigini C40 basson has it too).
The reeds mounted directly on the mounting plate/soundboard is a construction I have seen in many, mainly cheap, accordions. I believe I saw it in a Parrot on the keyboard side, and I recently received a Bianco Freres 80 bass accordion that had a 5 reed bass side with the 5th (highest) reeds mounted directly on the soundboard. There was no switch to disable them (they made the bass side sound to high for my taste) so I glued and taped them shut, turning the instrument into a 4 reed bass side that sounds much better. Generally, instruments with reed plates mounted directly on the sounding board are a pain to work on.

 

[donn]

Then I have also seen some (free bass) bayan and garmon (Russian accordions) where the reeds are mounted directly on the mounting plate/soundboard instead of in a reed block. Some of that might have been just for space restrictions and not necessarily for a specific sound change.

Coincidentally, from a local online ad, accordion for sale, custom made years ago Moscow, Russia

- Treble reed blocks and free bass blocks are removable from the deck. Blocks with low bass and low octaves of free bass reeds in LH are permanently attached to the deck to achieve extra power in sound.

There are some internal pictures, but as best as I can make out everything in these pictures looks normal, though nailed instead of waxed construction.

 

[Soulsaver]

The bottom picture with the horizontal bassoon bass reeds is a pretty common configuration. Is there a name for it? They want to call it 'Angle Bass'?

 

[Morne]

I have seen much less insides of accordions, so how common is that? Are they common relative to a specific year or price/quality? Up until recently I thought the only real variation was the number of reed blocks.

As for the name, winkelbass is what gets me the most results, but I dont know if there is an official name used by other manufacturers. It seems like at least Hohner calls it that. In the winkelbass link above there is also this image scanned from a Hohner document:



Its possible that a literal angle for winkel might not be the best translation (I do not speak German). I know that the term winkelhaak that is used in Dutch and Afrikaans refers more specifically to a 90 degree angle (and a similarly angled tool for measuring right angles). So the implied translation might be closer to (right) angle bass. The etymology of winkel has to do with corner, so again that would probably indicate that angle bass might not be the best term.

 

[Geoff de Limousin]

I have several 1930's period instruments with 5 reed Basses. Each has at least one bank attached flat to the soundboard. This certainly does give a different quality to the overall sound. One ( a Ranco) has two banks mounted flat. Yes it is difficult to work on, especially when tuning, but the sound is quite beguiling and more Bandoneon-ish.

 

[Soulsaver]

In Paolo Soprani quality instruments, too. Yes the literal 'angle bass' makes some sense which is why I posted it. It wasn't a question aimed at you.

 

[Morne]

Here is an elongated reedblock (almost like a straight winkelbass) used in a Weltmeister Supita:
<ATTACHMENT filename=DSC00322 (Large).JPG index=0>
Source

 

[debra]

Interesting design. This uses up significantly more space. But as I have seen in my Bugari 540 it is possible to get away with this because the righthand (keyboard) side of the accordion requires more "depth" where the cassotto is than where the other reeds are, so if the "shallow" side corresponds to the "deep" side of the lefthand (bass) side it all still fits.

 

[Morne]

The second picture in that link shows that the bass side is build to accommodate this. That elongated reed block sits lower than the other reed blocks, so the effect is that they are basically the same height.

By the way, the reason that last instrument has so many reeds is because it is an MIII system.

 

[AccordionUprising]

The little 1940s Soprani I found last year had reed blocks mounted sideways which isnt very common.

[thumbnail]https://accordionuprising.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/img_7628.jpg[/thumbnail]

https://accordionuprising.wordpress...tiny-titan-from-the-golden-age-of-accordions/

 

[Deleted member 48]

Figures 1 to 4 showing vertically mounted reed plates in 3 cylinders, with a transposition mechanism, in a piano accordion

https://www.google.com/patents/US11...ved=0ahUKEwjQy4yv_LDLAhVhAZoKHW81DJ0Q6AEIJDAB
Transposing mechanism for accordions and the like.
US 1129190 A

Joseph Galleazzi, patented 1915

 

[Morne]

Here are some mini winkelbasses following the Soprani sideways reedblock design:
<ATTACHMENT filename=Top.jpg index=1>
<ATTACHMENT filename=Side.jpg index=0>
Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/PAOLO-SOPRANI-BASS-REEDS-5-SETS-No-Rust-Clean-Leathered/283165945195