PAs with the best keyboard ?

[Glug]

Hiya,
I've experienced 3 piano accordions so far and I've noticed that keyboards can age really badly.

Two of them (1935 Santianelli and 1950s Orfeo) have a wooden 'comb' to position the underside of the key.
That is the 'finger' end of the key moves up and down in a slot in a piece of wood.  After 70 years you get
rubbing which can be reduced with some effort.  Both of these are dual axle but the Orfeo has a brass bit on
the key that the axle goes through - I think that design is still used.

The other is a 1959 Hohner Lucia which has a plastic and metal keyboard.  It worked fine before I cleaned
and adjusted it, now it works perfectly.  It has individualy removable keys.  I can't remember how the 'finger'
end is positioned but it works with no rubbing.

Obviously the feel of the keyboard is the most important aspect but I've got very limited experience and
having restored all the PAs I've played I can see where the problems come from.

So if I was thinking of getting an LMMM at some point (a guys got to have a dream or two) and I
was too cheap to buy a new one, which (used) PAs have nicest keyboard ?

Cheers,
Gareth

waiting for the pubs to reopen

 

[debra]

I prefer the wooden keys (with celluloid tops). But there are different mechanisms "below" the wooden keys. The wooden comb may cause a problem when after many years the wood starts swelling a bit. That can be fixed but is a bit of a pain. You are right: the design with the brass bit on the key that the axle goes through is still being used today.
I do not like the feel of the all plastic keys. On older Hohners the positioning works as follows: there is a metal tip standing up. A ring of felt goes around it. The bottom of the key has a rectangular box that slides over that ring. If the key is positioned too high it will no longer be over the ring in the resting position and the keys have play (left and right) and may "clack" against each other. Can easily be fixed (by lowering the keys) but even so these keys feel cheap and flimsy.

 

[Thomas N]

I have an Excelsior 960 5/5 I had custom-built in Italy back in 2000. It has the short-travel Magnante keyboard. It is stunningly fast. Glissandos and repeating notes are such a dream compared to my Roland FR-8X.

I still play the Roland 95% of the time. It's lighter, I can use headphones, and I really like the acoustic bass.

But as far as keyboards, I have never played a faster or nicer keyboard than that Excelsior Magnante keyboard.

 

[nagant27]

I also prefer the wooden keys to the all plastic. I have a few excelsiors that I’ve worked on the keyboards and they are smooth. Replace the felts under the keys and the pallet felt and are like new. My Sonola is probably the smoothest, like butter. I think a good keyboard makes or breaks an accordion. I also find the older ones with a little work are excellent. They knew how to make a smooth keyboard. To be fair, I’ve played only a few “new” accordions. Rolands are no comparison, different animal.

 

[Glug]

Thanks for the replies guys.

It sounds like Excelsior and Sonola (Guerrini) are known for good keyboards.
I was going to ask if that's just on the expensive models but I don't think I've seen a cheaply made model by those two.

I quite like my plastic Hohner keyboard, but that's probably because it's the best I've experienced.
Maybe I should have asked which 'respected' (not made in China) makes have bad keyboards, or to be precise worse than my Lucia

 

[Glug]

Does anybody have an opinion on Scandalli keyboards ?

Another thread just reminded me Scandalli, Weltmeister, and Hohner have removable bass machines which is a feature I like a lot.

 

[Sebastian Bravo]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Maybe I should have asked which 'respected' (not made in China) makes have bad keyboards, or to be precise worse than my Lucia

In my experience repairing accordions, i can order some models/brands in worse to nice order:

Firotti accordions
Weltmeister Stella
Hohner Concerto
Hohner Bravo
Hohner Lucia/Atlantic
Any italian 41/120 reduced keyboard accordion
New Hohner Amica Forte
Serenellis, Crucianellis
Hohner Morino
Excelsior
Scandalli Air


in my opinion, the best response is always from high end CBAs

 

[Glug]

Thanks for that,
I'm getting a much better idea of how to find a nice keyboard

Might be a while before I see a Scandalli Air 1 on ebay going cheap because it needs fixing though