Where should I look for good-condition, yet decently priced/cheap accordions?

[MangoBorks]

Hey there…I hope this is the right place to post this! I’m a teenager completely enamoured with accordions for a multitude of reasons, many childhood-derived. I love folk music (Celtic in particular), and I adore that buzzy, warm sound—I figured it would compliment by guitar/vocals and that of my best friend’s, too—but I wasn’t going to gamble on the chance of befriending an accordionist, no: I decided I’d be that person for myself.

Buuuuuut I made the mistake getting an older one in not-so-great condition (from Facebook Marketplace). Problems keep arising—and I understand that accordions are delicate, but I doubt this much so—and it’s just not playable anymore. However, I learned a lot more about music in the time of practicing I had, and I learned that I really enjoy playing and I’d like to continue! My family’s certainly not wealthy—so I don’t want to keep putting money into fixing mine—especially when I could possibly get a better one for the same cost. I also have a much better idea on what to look for, and what I prefer.

So, here’s the deal without the ramble: if anyone knows any resources to find a used, yet reliable/in tune and decently priced accordion for a little Atlantic-Canadian gal like myself that would be lovely! I’m looking for a piano accordion (I understand a keyboard) that’s relatively small like I am (12-48 bass I’d say, I also prefer the sound of the littler ones).
Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks+have a nice day!

 

[Simon Max]

Hi Mango,
I'm not too familiar with the Canadian scene. JerryP is. I hope he'll be able to point you in the right direction.
Maybe there is a neighbourhood advertisement booklet, that you can advertise or look for someone looking to find a new home for an old accordion.

 

[Tom]

Welcome Mango!

I would suggest you put an ad in your local paper, Facebook or Craigslist. “Accordion wanted.” But don’t put your address or leave your car unlocked, you’ll end up with more than you need…. Just kidding’. Good luck!

 

[Dingo40]

Gold is where you find it!

 

[Scuromondo]

Have you tried Accordions Canada?

Reconditioned Piano Accordions

These refurbished piano accordions have been cleaned, adjusted, tuned and are backed by a 6 month warranty. If you require any information about straps and cases or have additional inquiries, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

accordionscanada.com

I do not have any personal experience purchasing from Accordions Canada, but I know they are a legitimate business and they have been around for awhile.

I would definitely would recommend against purchasing anything from Etsy or eBay, especially an international purchase. They are very risky, especially for a beginner who does not have any experience purchasing an accordion.

 

[SteveBox]

I am not familiar with Accordions Canada, but I took a look at their website. Unfortunately, all of the used "Made in Germany" 48 and 72 bass vintage Hohner accordions are sold out. These are the 32 to 72 bass Student and Concerto models from the 60s and 70s and maybe 80s that Hohner does not make any more. A lot of people recommend these as good small-size accordions and say they are much better than the newer "Bravo" or "Hohnica" Chinese made accordions that Hohner sells today.

Not only Hohner, but other brands of used European made accordions that have been well maintained should also be a good choice. It is best to buy one from a reputable accordion business that has reconditioned it and guarantees it. Beware of an instrument that is "too vintage" unless it has been properly maintained, as very old accordions can look nice on the outside, but be in poor shape internally and require a lot of repairs.

Any low cost new accordion is almost certainly Chinese made. The quality of these can vary a lot, so if you buy one, it is best to do so from a reputable accordion dealer that has checked it over, fixed any problems, and guarantees it. If you buy from a general music retailer, they probably know little about accordions and will not have quality checked it.

Liberty Bellows has these small vintage used Hohners in stock, with a demo video of each one:

Concerto I 48-bass
Student IVM 32-bass
Starlet 40-bass

See what Sandy Brechin can do with a small 48 bass Hohner accordion:

 

[tcabot]

I would avoid anything from etsy, especially international shipping when you cannot return with ease.

99% of accordions sold there are overpriced clapped-out boxes & with soviet stuff, half of them were not even playable when they left the factory.
And soviet piano accordions have always been so bad...Don't get me started.

Avoid like plague.

Very, very occasionally, you get a vintage Soviet box worth restoring - a bayan or a melodeon, never a PA, and only about 10% of those ads are at a semi-reasonable price.

Your best bet is to find an experienced local accordionist and ask him to come along with you and test a few boxes in person. Buy from players or independent repairmen/fettlers who care about the instruments, not attic clearances or dodgy dealer shops who only care about commission.

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Hello! I agree with staying away from etsy! I was once an accordion obsessed teenager - now an accordion obsessed 20 year old - and from my experience the best thing to do is scour second hand sites like eBay, Marketplace and Gumtree, and try to get to play the instrument before buying it. I've ended up with some absolute gems, including a wonderful little Excelsior piano accordion, my most professional box which is a 1930s top-of-the-range Frontalini, and an absolutely delightful Hohner one row, all for what I would call bargain prices. Yeah, essentially what I'd recommend is looking on second hand websites, and playing the instrument before you buy it - or at least seeing a video of it being played, and (crucially) photos of the inside. Avoid anything with "Made in Saxony" stamped in small letters on the front...!

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Oh, and the other bit of advice, as has already been said, is to get something made in either Germany or Italy. On the German side, Weltmeister, Royal Standard, Horch etc. are all of the same okayness, but it's Hohner that you really want to go for. On the Italian side, pretty much anything is good-to-amazing , but make sure you're not fooled by an Italian-sounding name on a German or Chinese box! If you're looking specifically for a 12-48 bass instrument then I'd imagine you'll end up getting a German one. The Hohner Student is the obvious choice - common, affordable, and near-indestructible - but don't rule out getting a larger size if one becomes available. As any accordionist knows, the best number of accordions to have is one more than you have at the moment. Plus, depending on what Celtic stuff you want to play, 48 bass might be too limiting. If you're mostly in D, G, and A major then it's fine, but if you start to cross into E and B minor then you pretty quickly begin to run out of chords! That's what I found with my Excelsior - I bought it as a compact folk box and promptly discovered that the B that it was missing made it really hard to play the E minor tunes that all my friends were playing! At some point, I'll take it to a repairer and get them to move all the reeds along one step, and sacrifice my Eb for a B, but that's another story.
If you're lucky, you might find a 25 key 60 bass box - the same size as a 48 bass but with chords and basses for all 12 keys - but otherwise, as a first instrument, a nice, reliable Hohner with 12, 32, 40 or 48 bass will do you very nicely : )

P.S. don't tell certain other members I said this, but a 12 bass box can be very good for folk music (same bass range as a standard 2 row button accordion/melodeon), and if you come across a cheap good one then they're always worth a go, particularly if you tape off the thirds...!

 

[debra]

Your search should really be for a reliable honest accordion store+repairer. Good deals can be found on-line for people who are skilled in accordion repair. Accordions without flaws and in tune are very rare on any on-line sale platform. Get in touch with other people who play the accordion in your area. They will be the best source to find a helpful store. Older accordions can be pretty good, especially in quality for a reasonable price. New accordions are generally also good, provided they are not made in China. In the range you are looking for anything called Hohner, Parrot, Baile, Scarlatti, Golden Cup... are all rubbish. Do a search on this forum for the Chinese Manufacturer list. You will find hundreds of brand names all of which you should avoid.
Buying an accordion is a quest with many traps and pitfalls. You already fell into one trap. Best not to repeat that.

 

[Alans]

If you are in Canada it’s best to shop in Canada,as soon as you go outside the country the money exchange will be brutal.

There are two reputable dealers in Canada who I believe ship everywhere. They will charge you in Canadian dollars and neither of them will cheat you. The one I am most familiar with is Tempo Trend in Victoria B.C. If you call and speak to the owner he will ask you what you are looking for and your size because that can affect what will be suitable for you The other dealer is Keith Andersen in Ontario. I have dealt with both of them and they are happy to let you know what they have and what would be appropriate for your current needs.

Asking for a ‘cheap’ accordion is a non-starter. I would introduce myself as a beginner and say I’m looking for an entry level instrument. No dealer would say they sell anything cheap-perhaps lower cost is more appropriate. Don’t be shy when reaching out to them. They are both very passionate accordion dealers and apart from having to make a living they are both extremely passionate musicians themselves.

Liberty Bellows is a great site to see videos of what is out there but your costs will increase enormously as they of course sell in U.S. dollars. Neither Keith nor Tempo Trend have an online presence which they don’t want/ need.

I have purchased cheap accordions and they were disasters. Avoid Facebook and Etsy. I bought an instrument on Etsy from the Ukraine and I couldn’t even open the bellows. Stick to reputable dealers and stick to Canada -it’s the best way to keep your costs lower and safe.
Please let us know what happens.

Good luck.

 

[MangoBorks]

Oh, and the other bit of advice, as has already been said, is to get something made in either Germany or Italy. On the German side, Weltmeister, Royal Standard, Horch etc. are all of the same okayness, but it's Hohner that you really want to go for. On the Italian side, pretty much anything is good-to-amazing , but make sure you're not fooled by an Italian-sounding name on a German or Chinese box! If you're looking specifically for a 12-48 bass instrument then I'd imagine you'll end up getting a German one. The Hohner Student is the obvious choice - common, affordable, and near-indestructible - but don't rule out getting a larger size if one becomes available. As any accordionist knows, the best number of accordions to have is one more than you have at the moment. Plus, depending on what Celtic stuff you want to play, 48 bass might be too limiting. If you're mostly in D, G, and A major then it's fine, but if you start to cross into E and B minor then you pretty quickly begin to run out of chords! That's what I found with my Excelsior - I bought it as a compact folk box and promptly discovered that the B that it was missing made it really hard to play the E minor tunes that all my friends were playing! At some point, I'll take it to a repairer and get them to move all the reeds along one step, and sacrifice my Eb for a B, but that's another story.
If you're lucky, you might find a 25 key 60 bass box - the same size as a 48 bass but with chords and basses for all 12 keys - but otherwise, as a first instrument, a nice, reliable Hohner with 12, 32, 40 or 48 bass will do you very nicely : )

P.S. don't tell certain other members I said this, but a 12 bass box can be very good for folk music (same bass range as a standard 2 row button accordion/melodeon), and if you come across a cheap good one then they're always worth a go, particularly if you tape off the thirds...!

Oh I believe I’ve seen you on Youtube! I found it interesting about your 48 bass accordion—mine I didn’t find limiting, I could play in any key (set up in 4 rows of 12; bass, counter-bass, major chord and minor chord). And it was Italian made as well—just old, I suppose—the bellows aren’t very tight and it’s a little out of tune. And a new problem’s arisen where a few treble keys are playing on their own: those ones are stuck up and the ones beside can’t be pressed easily. So it breaks my heart but it really can’t be played anymore and I assume it’s not worth it to get it repaired—which is what prompted me to come here! So nonetheless I really appreciate the details and information you gave me—I’ll certainly keep note of it—and your videos/playing is lovely from what I’ve seen/know.

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Oh I believe I’ve seen you on Youtube! I found it interesting about your 48 bass accordion—mine I didn’t find limiting, I could play in any key (set up in 4 rows of 12; bass, counter-bass, major chord and minor chord). And it was Italian made as well—just old, I suppose—the bellows aren’t very tight and it’s a little out of tune. And a new problem’s arisen where a few treble keys are playing on their own: those ones are stuck up and the ones beside can’t be pressed easily. So it breaks my heart but it really can’t be played anymore and I assume it’s not worth it to get it repaired—which is what prompted me to come here! So nonetheless I really appreciate the details and information you gave me—I’ll certainly keep note of it—and your videos/playing is lovely from what I’ve seen/know.

Aha, I see! I was thinking of the modern 48 bass system with 6 rows of four, and I hadn't considered the old 4x12 setup. If you post a couple of pictures of the keyboard problems then we might be able to help - some repair jobs should only really be done by professionals, but lots of them can be done with some simple tools and a bit of patience. It could be an issue with warped keys, in which case you could carefully sand down the side where it's stuck to free it up, or it could be a pallet problem, which would involve taking the grille off to inspect the action.
Also yes, I post videos on Youtube every now and again - I'm glad you like them!