"TAM" is an abbreviation for a type of premium or supposedly premium reed a bit upgraded over "Export" or "Durall" or "Super Durall" reeds (which in the nomenclature of some, are themselves considered better quality than mere "
macchina" reeds.) TAM is short for
tipo a mano, or "hand-type" reeds. TAM/
tipo a mano are also known as "hand-finished" reeds. Not all TAM reeds are created equal, there are different TAMS by different reed makers. And there's debate out there as to how much if any better response or performance they give over competently produced and installed, well-voiced Super Durall reeds, but that's another story. But everything else being equal, TAM might give a bit brighter, more vibrant tone, and a bit faster, easier response.
Above TAM are so-called true handmade or
a mano reeds, sometimes abbreviated AM. (And beyond that are various exotica marketed as rarefied super-premium variants of
a mano stuff, that I consider kind of an eye-roller but haven't paid much attention to and know little about.) Sometimes dealers do not distinguish TAM from
a mano in a a transparent or clear manner
. A spec note of "handmade reeds," might mean either one unless you are able to nail it down.
In Bugari product parlance, their "Juniorfisa" models are what for Bugari might be seen as student or folk/stroller boxes, and have Super Durall reeds. They are actually sturdy, big-voiced smaller sizes for Bugari without
cassotto or any of that stuff (but they are not small, mind you). The Bugari "Championfisa" line are those same Juniorfisa models, but augmented with TAM reeds. There's a "Seniorfisa" line above that, and above that you get into the higher-end stuff that Bugari is actually most known for. Tone chambers, freebass, many many reed banks,
a mano reeds, etc.
The gent at carnegie-accordions.com has been selling Juniorfisa/Championfisa accordions simply with a note that they are outfitted with TAM. He's not using the term "Championfisa," he just gives the model number and size and notes they have TAM reeds. Which is probably sensible, because those terms are ridiculous and confusing to shoppers. That's all I was referring to. I believe he also sells higher-end Bugari models as well as Bugari-made customizable accordions under a proprietary badge of his, kind of like what Petosa does. And, as noted here, digital stuff.
