Serenelli CBA

[KiwiSqueezer]

Hello folks, please would someone help me find out more about this CBA that has just popped up? CBAs seem to be very rare in New Zealand, so if this looks useful, I should think seriously about it...




It's clearly a C-system treble keyboard, apparently with four sets of treble reeds. The treble switches have me puzzled though: presumably LMMH, but their labelling doesn't suggest a MM 'musette' option. Does this suggest there might be one M set in a tone chamber? Or is it something entirely different?

It's very obviously seen better days, and the bass switches' plating and other brightwork has suffered. No doubt there will also be some internal corrosion. No useful information will be available before sale. It will, unfortunately, be a matter of buying unseen and untestable, if I'm courageous or foolish enough. Note, I do understand the risks and have some experience of the chaos that can be found inside neglected boxes.

Any suggestions about age? I'm guessing '50s - '60s, but (shudder), could it be an Oriental knock-off? Does it have the appearance of having once been a reasonable-quality instrument? And the impossible question - how much $$ should one risk, given that CBAs don't become available here very frequently at all?

 

[debra]

Clearly an old box (indeed maybe 1960's or older, and the corrosion on the bass registers are a first sign it may not be in good condition.
In those days register markings were sometimes though of as decorations more than indicators, so who knows... this may be a three voice instrument or perhaps a four voice instrument. You cannot really tell from the dots on the treble registers.
Serenelli was a reasonably good brand. They made the first generation Giulietti accordions, the ones with the black treble clef on the grille. (Later Giulietti had Zero Sette produce his accordions because he wanted better quality than what Serenelli could deliver.)
If you can do accordion repairs and tuning and have the tools and materials this accordion can be a good choice. If you are hoping for an accordion that is ready to play and in good condition... you might be in for a disappointment. But to have a better idea you need to get pictures of the inside, and a video of it being played *slowly* in all registers.

 

[Ffingers]

Tell the vendor that it is worth NZ$500 in playable condition then offer to bring it up to playable for $800

 

[losthobos]

If you're happy to import I may well have a LM lightweight 96bass Ballone Burinni CBA that is coming up for sale...no need to worry about condition...as is excellent...
If the thread What a friend we have in Gsus is still on here you can hear it...
Hope that's helpful
Terry