Jenny you sure like nice accordions! I think Scandalli are really lovely too. The Intense cherry wood accordion is gorgeous.
Now, forgive me for taking the
liberty of making an alternative suggestion, but I can't resist it. If I lived in the USA and could visit LB store I would choose this accordion in a heartbeat!
Scandalli BJP442
41 keys (19mm) so the size is COMPACT
Double cassotto
Standard 120 bass PLUS Quint free bass converter - so you can switch between Stradella bass or 3 octaves of free bass in the same Stradella formation (Octave 1 on counter bass & fundamental basses, Octave 2 on major & minor basses, Octave 3 on 7th & dim basses).
Type: Piano Accordion Converter Reeds: 4/4 LMMH (A442hz +0 cents) Treble: 41 Keys, 18.5(47cm) Key to Key, 13+3C Registers Bass: 120 Bass Buttons, 6 Registers Weight: 27.5lbs / 12.5kg Features: Quint Converter, Dry Concert Tuning, Palm/Chin Switches
www.libertybellows.com
All you then need to do is pick up a copy of a few Palmer & Hughes books:
I just ordered my copies last week from Busso Music/Ernest Deffner in America:
Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Book of Instruction
Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Selections Book 1
Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Selections Book 2
It's almost like two instruments for the price of one. A traditional Stradella bass accordion AND a compact free bass accordion. You can develop your Stradella skills by practising *Quint (because they are essentially the same system) and learn a new skill in the acquisition of free bass technique.
*which is actually an American/Italian-American invention. Just sayin'