Problematic Condition of New Accordion

[OuijaBoard]

When the accordion arrived, was that flimsy cardboard “back pad” already partially detached?—or were you so shocked at seeing it that you peeled it back out of curiosity to see what was beneath?

Maybe you didn't see my explanation above. The flap you see being held by the hands was not affixed to the accordion. I didn't "peel" it off, pull it off, tear it off, or detach it in any way from the body. There is a horizontal fold or seam in the "back pad," and it hangs free below that fold or seam. I was simply running my hands around the cabinet to be sure there were no fine cracks from transport. It had not yet dawned on me there was not a quality cushioned removable back pad with snaps. Because those are also sometimes free at the bottom portion. When my hands hit that naked part and I moved the flap, it dawned on me that the pad was not the cushioned removable snap type one receives on a new made-in-Italy accordion. I was feeling it, prefatory to unsnapping it for a quick look at the back. But then I saw that couldn't happen, because the thing was affixed by screw-in discs that looked like thumbtacks and were not snaps. And glued to the accordion all along the horizontal top edge with sticky, gross, adhesive glue.

Does that make sense?

 

[Scuromondo]

Does that make sense?

My apologies for not quite understanding the details of the original explanation. Thank you for describing it again.

This is very curious.

I had considered Ottovianelli to be a very good and reputable brand. It would be useful to view another new example of this same model of Ottovianelli and see if it is constructed in the same way. Do you think it is possible that the accordion could have been intentionally manufactured with that cardboard backpad panel firmly attached to the bday of the accordion but that something—perhaps due to rough handling or shipping—caught the edge of it and peeled it away?

 

[OuijaBoard]

My apologies for not quite understanding the details of the original explanation. Thank you for describing it again.

This is very curious.

I had considered Ottovianelli to be a very good and reputable brand. It would be useful to view another new example of this same model of Ottovianelli and see if it is constructed in the same way. Do you think it is possible that the accordion could have been intentionally manufactured with that cardboard backpad panel firmly attached to the bday of the accordion but that something—perhaps due to rough handling or shipping—caught the edge of it and peeled it away?

The naked gauged out area is permeated with blue from celluloid that plainly once was there. Something happened to it or with it, and somebody took a blade and hacked a chunk out. If someone tried to glue that crummy "back pad" entirely over the damage to try to hide it, there is no trace of that on the part that is free. The whole bottom part is free and unmarked. If you look at the photo of the underside of the free-hanging flap, there is no gunk or residue on it.

 

[Scuromondo]

I do hope you receive support from the dealer.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Here are a couple of photos of the back of a 2021 "Paolo Soprani" made by one or another of the Castelfi concerns under the PS marque. I purchased it used a couple years old. Same treble/bass configuration as the problematic blue one. This is what one should expect as the minimum standard for a new Italian-made accordion costing several thousand dollars. Suffice it to say that the problematic blue one cost much more than this one, which was a fortunate used find.

 

[Ffingers]

...or perhaps done by someone hoping to find something illict hidden in a secret compartment?

 

[PhiliGol]

I'd agree that somebody deliberately did this cut-out (for whatever reason) - maybe he simply needed a piece of marbled blue celluloid.
I cannot even think of a reputable company selling an instrument with such a flaw as "brand-new".

Also - if at all - this instrument comes with a factory installed back-pad by default I don't think they'd screw/glue it to the box.
On all my instruments I had or still have featuring a factory-mounted back-pad it's fixed with snap fasteners.

 

[Scuromondo]

In any scenario I can think of (assuming the package was not opened and the contents tampered with before you received it) this incident does not reflect well on the dealer. They either failed to inspect the accordion before shipping it; or they did inspect it, and decided to ship it anyway despite its condition; or they caused the damage themselves.

 

[Wheezer]

after reading just your initial post, I’d give 10 to 1 odds that I can guess where it came from.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Here are a couple of photos of the back of a 2021 "Paolo Soprani" made by one or another of the Castelfi concerns under the PS marque. I purchased it used a couple years old. Same treble/bass configuration as the problematic blue one. This is what one should expect as the minimum standard for a new Italian-made accordion costing thousands of dollars. Suffice it to say that the problematic blue one cost much more than this one.

after reading just your initial post, I’d give 10 to 1 odds that I can guess where it came from.

Complete with gaslighting: To Paraphrase: ]]]]]They ship all of this model this way. (ME: Maybe that one is true. Even more appalling.) This is perfectly normal. They wrapped the celluloid around and left a space deliberately. You aren't supposed to look under the permanent back pad. Most people never look there. Etcetera.[[[[[

And the topper, verbatim,

"The exposed wood is not a material defect because it is covered by the back piece to make a finished product. Is the difference clear now? Most people would not even think about this and would just enjoy playing the accordion."

Yes, there will be a return. Hassle all mine.

Here are a couple more photos of yet another recent-construction Italian-made small PA, different from the Paolo Soprani I attached photos of above. Another standard, not-premium, but competently and professionally built instrument. (Yes, there is a ton of lint on the back pad, it's been in my office for ages. Amazing what gets into a case)

 

[Wheezer]

Complete with gaslighting: To Paraphrase: ]]]]]They ship all of this model this way. (ME: Maybe that one is true. Even more appalling.) This is perfectly normal. They wrapped the celluloid around and left a space deliberately. You aren't supposed to look under the permanent back pad. Most people never look there. Etcetera.[[[[[

And the topper, verbatim,

"The exposed wood is not a material defect because it is covered by the back piece to make a finished product. Is the difference clear now? Most people would not even think about this and would just enjoy playing the accordion."

Yes, there will be a return. Hassle all mine.

Here are a couple more photos of yet another recent-construction Italian-made small PA, different from the Paolo Soprani I attached photos of above. Another standard, not-premium, but competently and professionally built instrument. (Yes, there is a ton of lint on the back pad, it's been in my office for ages. Amazing what gets into a case)

this just about confirms that I know where it came from.

 

[tcabot]

They ship all of this model this way. (ME: Maybe that one is true. Even more appalling.) This is perfectly normal. They wrapped the celluloid around and left a space deliberately. You aren't supposed to look under the permanent back pad. Most people never look there

I don't know what's more appalling, the hole in the celluloid or the dealer trying to shit-talk you into thinking this is normal.
Sounds like a full refund to me, and the buggers shall pay return shipping.
This is not OK.

 

[Tom]

Hard to imagine that level of attention to detail on a $3500 accordion. My faith is dashed. I think Ovidio Ottavianelli would be turning over in his grave if he saw this.

 

[Scuromondo]

I visited the Ottavianelli website to see whether there were any photos showing the backside of any of their accordions, but I found none. Which model is it? I bet there is likely someone on the forum who owns one. I’d be curious to hear what their experience has been.

 

[Thomas N]

Complete with gaslighting: To Paraphrase: ]]]]]They ship all of this model this way. (ME: Maybe that one is true. Even more appalling.) This is perfectly normal. They wrapped the celluloid around and left a space deliberately. You aren't supposed to look under the permanent back pad. Most people never look there. Etcetera.[[[[[

And the topper, verbatim,

"The exposed wood is not a material defect because it is covered by the back piece to make a finished product. Is the difference clear now? Most people would not even think about this and would just enjoy playing the accordion."

Yes, there will be a return. Hassle all mine.

Here are a couple more photos of yet another recent-construction Italian-made small PA, different from the Paolo Soprani I attached photos of above. Another standard, not-premium, but competently and professionally built instrument. (Yes, there is a ton of lint on the back pad, it's been in my office for ages. Amazing what gets into a case)

APPALLING response to a customer!!!!!! APPALLING!!!!! I know you paraphrased but still, I cannot fathom such a response. "You aren't supposed to look under the backpad" ?!!!!!! One of the things that really bothered me in your original post was that I'm not so sure I would have looked under the backpad. I don't think I pulled mine off my Excelsior 960 for the first 5 years I owned it. I sure will in the future!

And of course if mistakes are that egregious on the outside my confidence on the workmanship of the inside is zero. Really sorry you had to go through this ordeal and thanks for posting about it.

 

[OuijaBoard]

I visited the Ottavianelli website to see whether there were any photos showing the backside of any of their accordions, but I found none. Which model is it? I bet there is likely someone on the forum who owns one. I’d be curious to hear what their experience has been.

I think they are made specially in this size configuration, 26 60 LMM. The "Cub." They are extremely charming and attractive looking. In a rainbow of color choices, like their cousin Pietanesi, which also comes in that configuration. A number of very respectable Castelfi makers will do that 26 60 LMM or MM configuration, though you don't see them a ton. Beltuna offers a 26 60 MM. Roots/trad players love that spec and the UK/Scottish dealers frequently offered them for years by various makers before the pandemic. Bugari will do it, and whoever is or was producing under the Paolo Soprani mark also did them for years in a rainbow of color choices, have not seen a Paolo 26 60 since the pandemic but posted photos up thread of the back of a black one. Serenellini has done them too.

Really, have seen few 26 60s by anybody since the pandemic and the shortages hit Castelfi. When they appear they sell quickly. The prices by the various brands were roughly par--it's usually solid Super Durall type Italian reeds unless one upgrades or the dealer orders a batch with upgrades. Prices used to run mid-high $2Ks, but those days are long behind us. They now run well into the mid- $3Ks and will only go up.

 

[LibraryJoe]

Will you post the name of the seller, or IM me privately? Perhaps my opinion on several well known sellers is mistaken, and any pre-sale check by reputable shops are negligible.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Here is a Weltmeister Rubin MM, purchased used pristine over a decade ago from Allodi for around $900-$1K. I assume the prior owner put the nice cushioned snap-off badpad on it. But see the construction of the rear of the accordion. Welt does cover the bass buttons at the base of the back with a hard screw-out black metal or plastic panel. But the celluloid is continuous, intact, and pristine under the snap-off backpad. What looks like a cloudy area on the back is light reflection.

 

[OuijaBoard]

And here is a year-old $1199 Chinese Hohner MM. No backpad, you'd have to install your own. But here is the construction that would be underneath your backpad. It's blurry, but I think if you click to see the whole thing, the point is clear enough:

 

[Siegmund]

A CBA may well have an access hatch on the back side of the treble keyboard... but that certainly doesn't seem to be the explanation for your cut away celluloid.

I confess it's not a place I would have thought to look, inspecting a newly arrived instrument, until this thread happened. I will start looking in the future. (And also make a mental note that if I can't find matching material for a celluloid repair, stealing some from here and adding a backpad is an option to propose to an owner.)