suggestions for a 3 row diatonic button accordion

[debsam21]

I currently play piano accordion professionally (Greek music). I wish to purchase a 3 row diatonic accordion for my own personal enjoyment - not used professionally. Does anyone have any suggestions as to manufacturer and model? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

 

[Matt Butcher]

Welcome to the forum. I would definitely be interested to hear more about your professional playing and your Greek music.

But as for the three row diatonic, it might be worth trying melodeon.net as you will be completely overwhelmed with replies. I think the first question might be what type of music you want to play on it, but there are players of all types of three row diatonics on there.

No harm in asking here as well, so: what type of music are you interested in playing on it?

 

[donn]

Same question here - Mexican and Tyrolean music come to mind, but they'd probably call for distinctly different instruments.

 

[bocsa]

Which 3 row type are you considering?

Tuned to ADG / GCF / FBbEb etc (sometimes referred to as 'quint' boxes)
or
Tuned BCC# (British Chromatic Accordion)

 

[TomBR]

It depends on the music you want to play, of course, and as a professional musician you clearly know what you're doing, but with great respect I'll mention a "known phenomenon" which is that players of other instruments coming to diatonic boxes for the first time are often keen to have as many notes as possible in the same direction of the bellows, and so assume they need a three row.....
Getting a bit further into the thing, they then find that this misses a large part of the point of a diatonic!

 

[dunlustin]

Just to add one more variable:
Many higher quality 3-rows are laid out with 2 main keys in 2 rows and a helper row described for example as G/C/acc where acc = "accidental" and fills in the gaps in # and b on the other 2 rows.
Also the number of bass/chords available on the Left hand will vary from 12 to 18.
Very "complete" instruments are heavier and less friendly when played in push/pull mode.
Melodeon.net will certainly have the expertise but as suggested above it may be a good idea to define more closely what you want. I know that's hard until you know what there is.
Many would answer you by saying to start with a good quality 2 row - lower price and a chance to work out what you want.
I started melodeon on a 3-row A/D/G, played it for 25 years and now think I would have been a better player if I had started with a 2 row.
Be advised - these days it is rare to meet a melodeon player who owns just one instrument.

 

[george garside]

Choice of a 3 row diatonic will to a very large extent be influenced by the type of music you Intend playing . Other factors are do you want a chromatic instrument ( eg British Chromatic (BCC#) which while loosely refered to as diatonic is also chromatic in a very practical sense. or a so called quint box that will have the wherewithal to playin other than the home keys but will not be chromatic. Also do you want 12 'melodeon' i.e. push/pull bases or stradella

You will find much more relevent info on melodeon .net or the button box forum as this forum predominantly caters for piano and continental chromatic boxes.

george

 

[debsam21]

I appreciate everyone's efforts to help me. I live in Texas, USA and certainly hear a lot of Tejano and Cajun music. I was thinking of a C/G/F configuration but I have only a cursory knowledge of how the button accordions work although I am quickly learning by way of the Internet. I want to be able to pick up the instrument and entertain myself - Italian, waltzes, old standard songs, improvise on chords - just have fun. Someone mentioned a two row accordion . It sounds interesting. I will try the Melodion website as was suggested by a few people. Again, thank you all for your help.

 

[Tom]

Hey Debsam,

I have the Hohner Corona II in G/C/F which seems pretty popular in Texas style musics. I agree with TomBR (why not?) about looking for a more standard scale ability on the diatonic. So, back to your question, though, I think the Hohner Corona II is a very nice three row button diatonic accordion, you can get the German version, or a cheaper Chinese version, depending on how much you want to spend. I can't say which is the better value as I have not tried the Chinese version. And being that you are in Texas there are probably lots of used ones around if you just want to try it out. I think that the real Texas professionals go with an Italian model after a while, like a Gabbanelli.

So, yeah, based on your playing, if you are looking for the diatonic experience, the Hohners are good, you can get them in the 2 row also. I also have a Della Noce 1.5 row for the Italian music, which I love too, the layout is a little different from the Hohner, more set up for Italian music than general tex- mex folk, etc.

The real question most of us are dying to know though is more about professional Greek accordion music in Texas....so, if you could enlighten us if you so desire....thank you and good luck, Tom

 

[Jim the box]

I wish to purchase a 3 row diatonic accordion for my own personal enjoyment - not used professionally. Does anyone have any suggestions as to manufacturer and model? I wou

I tried a B/C diatonic box several years age but after the PA had trouble with the push pull part (I knew that the notes were in there somewhere but I could not ever find them), I opted instead for a continental chromic box.
The stradella bass and bellows are the same, all you have to do is learn the right hand :tup:

 

[george garside]

there are keyboard charts on melnet for all diatonic systems which may help in making a decision


george

 

[dunlustin]

debsam, thats helpful info
See if you like this? Its a Hohner Panther - the cheapest decent 3-row and a very playable box

DaddyLong Les is playing the posh version which is a lot more money:

On DLLs site there is an extensive blog on learning to play the (2row) melodeon which you might find helpful.
From memory he plays one tuned in D/G - very English.
Semitone tuning (B/C etc) is available but tends not to be widespread outside of Irish (Scottish) music.

 

[Russ]

A <SIZE size="150">Hohner Panther of course

This is a great starting 3 row, good sound and decent quality, and you cant go wrong for the price (about 400 US new).
I do not believe there is a better beginners three row for this price out there.
If I am wrong someone tell me The make model and cost!