Reed Identification

[colinm]

Does anyone know what this S on the reeds of my Vignoni double cassotto means

 

[Ventura]

for the time period Vig was in business, one would think, simply,
"Salpa"

 

[debra]

I was thinking Voci Armoniche (which already existed as successor of Salpa and Antonelli when Vignoni was still in business.

 

[colinm]

Paul, Ventura,
Would it indicate that they were good quality reeds ? Or is that just wishful thinking ?

 

[colinm]

I was thinking Voci Armoniche (which already existed as successor of Salpa and Antonelli when Vignoni was still in business.

Yes I think I can see a small va on the plate

 

[Ventura]

oh, you have not played this one yet and are thinking about buying it ?

first, this accordion was not made during the golden era,
so it has modern reeds from modern reedmakers

any reed that carries a brand name presumably is something they
are proud of

any brand name, in or our of a consortium is likely to make many
different quality levels of reed

specific top shelf reeds are usually marketed with some exclusive
identifier or model name within the brand

the accordion maker may or may not specify what the default reeds
are in a specific model

in this reed, if it does carry both brands (Salpa and VA)
Then a logical conclusion would be these reeds were part
of Salpa warehoused stock when they were merged/acquired
into/by VA and were then double marked to note the new ownership

only they would know for sure dates and quality levels,
except of course anyone playing that accordion should be able to tell
if they are just nice Salpa reeds or awesome Salpa reeds

 

[colinm]

oh, you have not played this one yet and are thinking about buying it ?

first, this accordion was not made during the golden era,
so it has modern reeds from modern reedmakers

any reed that carries a brand name presumably is something they
are proud of

any brand name, in or our of a consortium is likely to make many
different quality levels of reed

specific top shelf reeds are usually marketed with some exclusive
identifier or model name within the brand

the accordion maker may or may not specify what the default reeds
are in a specific model

in this reed, if it does carry both brands (Salpa and VA)
Then a logical conclusion would be these reeds were part
of Salpa warehoused stock when they were merged/acquired
into/by VA and were then double marked to note the new ownership

only they would know for sure dates and quality levels,
except of course anyone playing that accordion should be able to tell
if they are just nice Salpa reeds or awesome Salpa reeds

Thanks Ventura, yes I do have the accordion.

 

[Ventura]

well then

how do those reeds feel and sound to you ?

trust your instincts !

if you need an idea, try this.. solo M reed on the
lower half of the keyboard in any key you like,
and doing this on the pull only for now, and no bass,
just on the treble

play Freres Jacque, BUT

allow the bellows to completely stop between each note..
be gentle with each slight pull as you press each note

this should give you a sense of where the threshold is
for those reeds

go from single melody note to simple 2 and 3 note chords
for the melody line.. continue with allowing the bellows to fully
stop between each note

now, with twice as much air demand for each note, how
does the threshold change, if at all ?

was this easy to do or did you have to work to play the song ?

great reeds respond so easily to a gentle pull that this should feel effortless

was the tone pure to your ears ?

now one to feel for crescendo..

sur les Pont de Avignon, on the bridge of Avingnon,
a simple melody with dut dut duhhhhhhhhhhh motion repeated

try to continue the technique allowing the bellows to completely stop
between each note, now on those duhhhhhhhh notes
pull with rising strength and allow the reed to develop it's volume
and timbre and allow your ear to compare vs: the quick notes

as the longer notes developed to that rising pull, the volume
and tone hopefully made you think "WoW"