Upgrade regret?

[Technical]

Hi all. I started playing accordion about 5 mopnths ago and loving it. Started with a 'Studio' 72 bass off ebay for a good price which is decent condition, more than enough for me to learn and enjoy. I particularly love it's violin setting as it's the sound I always love ands think of when I think of accordion.

I was offered a 120 bass Scandalli accordion which is clearly of a higher caliber and quality than my first and I was offered it at what I think is a good price. I got it home to realise that it probably needs some work, I know a few of the notes don't sound correctly. My biggest dilema though is that I thought I'd fall in love with it because it offers more range, feels premium to play, fuller bass etc. but I haven't. I think the issue with notes has tainted it for me but I also feel like the treble doesn't sound as good as the cheaper one I have somehow. I'm not sure if it's because it sounds more full and loud when I play. Maybe it's because I'm use to the sound of the first because I've played it much longer or the fact it doesn't have violin (might be why it doesn't sound as full to me?). I just can't tell what the issue is with it for me...

I'm still on the fence with what to do with it but I feel gutted I haven't fallen in love with it as I thought I would, basically like my first but better.

Forgive the poor phone recording and playing, it was just something quick on a piece I was learning, for comparison:

Has anyone had a similar experience of just not falling in love with an instrument like you expected to, especially when you think you are upgrading?

Photos below for interest.

 

[Dingo40]

Has anyone had a similar experience

OK, OK, just sit down, take a good grip of the edge of the table, a few deep breaths a sip of tea and try to keep calm: no harm done!
The two instruments are both 3 voices: the Studio is LMM, the Scandalli (Polifonico) LMH, so that's a big difference right there.
Being by different makers also makes a big difference in sound.
OK, I understand you still have both of them?
If so, treat this as an opportunity to increase your accordion knowledge!
As they say, when you have lemons, make lemonade!
Play your tunes using each accordion in turn on alternate days thus expanding your appreciation of each one's advantages and disadvantages and building a platform for judging future accordion acquisition options.
As the poet (Rudyard Kipling) said,
"What know they of England who only England know?"
Most members here have several accordions each and would prefer one over another for different reasons (horses for courses).
(See post by JerryPH, here:

M

Thread 'curious about this old scandalli with exterior valves..'

Nov 9, 2024

any info on this interesting little instrument?
thanks!!

• Marije
• Replies: 8
• Forum: Accordion Makes & Models

The various tuning issues will keep for another day.
Nothing's lost and plenty to gain: go for it!

 

[oldbayan]

You seem to prefer the musette sound of the smaller accordion, as noted by Dingo40! Nothing wrong with the Scandalli. This is not an "upgrade" but rather an extension of your accordion collection. Now you know that you prefer the musette sound to octaves, so if you ever acquire another instrument, make sure it has two M reeds. Or three. Big boxes often have LMMH which would cover what both of your accordions do.

 

[Rosie C]

Accordions do vary. I part-ex'd my first accordion - a little 12-bass Scarlatti towards a 72 bass Hohner, and while the Hohner is clearly the superior instrument, I still miss the little one. But the more I play the Hohner the more I like it!

 

[SteveBox]

the Scandalli (Polifonico) is LMH

I agree with what the others have said. They both sound nice, just different. I have two additional observations:

In the video of the Scandalli, it appears by the dots on the selected register that the reeds being played are MMH. However, none of the other registers have two M's and this does sound more like MH. So I suspect this register switch is mislabeled.

Also, it appears you have the sordina "hubcaps" closed. If you open these, it will change the sound, making it louder with more overtones. Maybe you will like that better.

 

[ColoRodney]

Lots of good ideas here. My first decent accordion was a new Petosa 96 bass that I bought back in the 1980s. Periodically I have tried other accordions, mostly used, and mostly found them wanting and sold them again. I have a 48 bass LMM accordion that I call my “stunt accordion,” since I take it on more risky gigs (Morris ales or camping trips) and have decided that having a nice instrument for those events is worth the risk that something happens to it. My new Serenellini is a joy to play, and is closer to A440. But often that first Petosa is still the best choice for a particular gig.

 

[OuijaBoard]

I returned to unisonorics after realizing that not liking big accordions doesn't mean it's bisonorics or nothing. The small PA/CBA lifestyle is like getting out of jail!

 

[Technical]

Thanks everyone, lots of good points.

I have another post somewhere else where we discussed the odd MMH marking. I definitley have learned alot in the differences from acquiring the second one. I'd definitley be looking out for a LMMH if I ever got another one.

As you have said, I will probably grow to appreciate it more and not be so critical in time but it's good to hear other perspectives, hence this post.

 

[debra]

Hi all. I started playing accordion about 5 mopnths ago and loving it. Started with a 'Studio' 72 bass off ebay for a good price which is decent condition, more than enough for me to learn and enjoy. I particularly love it's violin setting as it's the sound I always love ands think of when I think of accordion.
...

From the video it's clear that your new accordion has potential to make you very happy but it really needs to be treated by a professional repairer first. The tuning is really bad and some reeds do not sound at all. You bought a "potential" upgrade, but you should take into account that every used accordion you buy from anyone will need repair and tuning first (unless you buy it from a repairer who just did the work).

 

[Technical]

From the video it's clear that your new accordion has potential to make you very happy but it really needs to be treated by a professional repairer first. The tuning is really bad and some reeds do not sound at all. You bought a "potential" upgrade, but you should take into account that every used accordion you buy from anyone will need repair and tuning first (unless you buy it from a repairer who just did the work).

I agree although my untrained ear can't necessarily understand to what extent it needs work/will improve. The odd specific note is obvious to me but I suspect there is more to it than that.

 

[saundersbp]

I think it depends on the music you are playing. For the Tiersen Valse des monsters in that clip (a very distinctive genre) the more beaten up the accordion the better. It suits the earthy nature of the music much better!

 

[Technical]

I think it depends on the music you are playing. For the Tiersen Valse des monsters in that clip (a very distinctive genre) the more beaten up the accordion the better. It suits the earthy nature of the music much better!

So a touch up but not too much

 

[Squeezeplay]

OK, OK, just sit down, take a good grip of the edge of the table, a few deep breaths a sip of tea and try to keep calm: no harm done!
The two instruments are both 3 voices: the Studio is LMM, the Scandalli (Polifonico) LMH, so that's a big difference right there.
Being by different makers also makes a big difference in sound.
OK, I understand you still have both of them?
If so, treat this as an opportunity to increase your accordion knowledge!
As they say, when you have lemons, make lemonade!
Play your tunes using each accordion in turn on alternate days thus expanding your appreciation of each one's advantages and disadvantages and building a platform for judging future accordion acquisition options.
As the poet (Rudyard Kipling) said,
"What know they of England who only England know?"
Most members here have several accordions each and would prefer one over another for different reasons (horses for courses).
(See post by JerryPH, here:

M

Thread 'curious about this old scandalli with exterior valves..'

Nov 9, 2024

any info on this interesting little instrument?
thanks!!

• Marije
• Replies: 8
• Forum: Accordion Makes & Models

The various tuning issues will keep for another day.
Nothing's lost and plenty to gain: go for it!

Looking closely, I think it’s LMMH. The two M reeds are tuned quite close to each other….Its a good box….just tuned differently than your Hohner, which is likely about fifteen cents apart on the two M reeds. I have both types myself. For most things I too prefer the wetter tuning like your Hohner. But for some types of music, especially polka, I prefer my dry tuned box. And it seems much more powerful.

 

[Dingo40]

Looking closely, I think it’s LMMH.

Perhaps so, but with only effectively seven coupler switches ( the first two and the last two being repeated) and no visible LMMH master switch? No MM coupler?
Is there a "palm switch"?
I may be wrong, but I can't see it?

 

[JudyKimp]

I do see why you like your Studio - it does have quite a sweet sound. Lucky you - two really nice accordions.

 

[Technical]

Perhaps so, but with only effectively seven coupler switches ( the first two and the last two being repeated) and no visible LMMH master switch? No MM coupler?
Is there a "palm switch"?
I may be wrong, but I can't see it?

Yes there is a palm switch but as you say not alot of couplers and no MM. It is heavy but it's something I want to ask when I get it repaired out of interest.

 

[Technical]

I have been playing more including with caps open (I usually leave them shut to take the edge off the sound as I usually play at night) and I think it is the tuning issues which are bugging me, not the instrument itself. Don't get me wrong the studio is not exactly perfectly tuned but it's less noticeable to me.

 

[Dingo40]

Yes there is a palm switch

A palm switch of itself does not indicate a fourth voice.
One of my own PAs (a Giulietti 41/120 LMH) has a " master" (LMH) palm switch, even though it has only three voices.

 

[Dingo40]

It is heavy

There's been a growing trend for making ever lighter accordions over recent decades .
However, there used to be a saying, the heavier the accordion the better!
There's still some truth in that!

 

[JerryPH]

Yes there is a palm switch but as you say not alot of couplers and no MM. It is heavy but it's something I want to ask when I get it repaired out of interest.

The Brevetto may indeed be heavier than your Hohner, but compared to other 41/120’s, it is very light. I can tell you without a doubt that of my collection, the Scandalli is the 2nd lightest 41/120 and only 1 pound heavier than my Mundiger, which that accordion is a 3/4 (not a 4/4) and smaller by a good amount (lady sized keyboard vs the full sized keyboard and body). You will seriously be hard pressed to find anything lighter without spending 5-figures in US cash.

Looking at your registers, I get the feeling yours is a 3/4, a different combination from mine, and probably even lighter than mine if missing a reed block and associated hardware.

Want weight? Try a nice 33lb Hohner Morino VI N for 2 hours, let’s hope you are in shape… lol

All that said, if you are not happy with it, then you are not happy. Not all accordions are the perfect fit for you. I have a broad style of playing and therefore am blessed to have accordions specific to each style. If I want French musette, the Beltuna is my choice. If I want a steiriche feel, my Antico is the choice, if I want classical, my Hohner FB36, Morino VI N or Gola are the choices, if I want traditional Czech, the Scandalli will be my choice… but any accordion can play any style, if you want to.