Wonderful Quandry - Which Maker should I choose for my “dream accordion?”

[TradMusicGeek]

I’m graduating soon with a Master’s Degree in Music in the UK. Longtime accordion afficinado. I have 9 accordions now - LMMM 96/37 Castigline, LMMH 120/41 Castigligone, 72/whatever Hohner Bravo II, a secondhand Bella (circa 1950), and five diatonic button boxes (G/C/F, F/B-flat/E-flat, Steiriche 3-row, Hohner Corona II, and a 1-row D Melodeon, oh yes, and a B/C Irish button box). No problem, right? I can basically play any style accordion I want. But, the piano accordions are all kind of …meh…. Good, but not really top of the line. They were all somewhat impulse purchases when I was starting out and didn’t know what I was doing, to be honest.

Here’s my quandry. I’ve been offered (by a very generous dear friend) the option of getting the accordion of my dreams as a graduation present, but I can’t figure out that what is. I’m not wanting to get into the $10K+ price range. The offer is generous, but I don’t want to take advantage of the person. Nice problem to have, right? I’m leaning to a triple musette Italian brand from Castelfidardo, as I find Italian workmanship to be unparallelled. Not dissing German or American, but I personally prefer Italian makers. I’m going to get a piano accordion, most likely a 37/96 due to weight, triple musette (12-15 cents), and I’m leaning into the following makers (in no particular order): Bugari, Beltuna, and Scandalli. I’m narrowed it down to these three makers due to availbility, cost, and variety of materials/options. Of the three, which do you think would be the best to consider? I’m going to Italy over the summer to make a final decision, hoping to visit a showroom or manufcturing center. I play mostly Italian, French Musette, Scottish/Irish music, if that helps. I don’t really play polkas (sorry, not my thing). I prefer lyrical, romantic tunes - think French street accordion or anything by di Capua. If pressed, I MAY get a 120/41, but I have some back issues and don’t see that as a viable option, although I really like a palm switch for the Master reed setting. (Edit: Absolutely NO MIDI accordions for me, not my thing. Also also, full size keys are a must, so the Air models (like Scandalli) are out due to my hand size (rather large)).

Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Ventura]

Well, by way of research, since they are in the UK and apparently a
prime dealer for Piermaria, perhaps you should spend a day or two
with them fleshing out your ideal accordion (and certainly Piermaria
would be competitive and obviously an authentic sound.. if you
find them worth pursuing, twist their arm into getting you a factory visit..)

Piermaria Piano

again in the French LMMM vein, and with some models featuring Reeds on Leather
rather than Wax, some very authentic accordions should be found at the
Serenellini factory, and they are happy to have visitors
(just outside CastleFi and Loreto, , down in the Valley between them)
cassotto Regina perhaps

Serenellini Accordions - 100% Made in Italy

Dal 1978 Serenellini realizza artigianalmente una vasta gamma di ottime fisarmoniche, in grado di soddisfare le esigenze dello studente e del professionista più esigente.

www.serenellini.com

either brand is capable of handing you a lifetime quality instrument

i make these suggestions as you mentioned
"French street accordion or anything by di Capua."
and while the brands you mentioned are certainly capable, the accordions
designed and built with the French Flavor are perhaps better rendered by
specialists who have devoted some effort into getting that right, rather than
generalists who can built many or every flavor of accordion there is..

 

[OuijaBoard]

You already have Bugari and Scandalli on your list, both can provide a lovely 37/96 LMMM that hopefully wouldn't presume too much on your kind friend's generosity. Fisitalia and Ottavianelli should be worth a look too.

Whoever had the license on the Paolo Soprani name as of the 10 or 12 years into the pandemic period made a very nice, good value product--if it's still the same producer they're worth a look. You'd want the "Professionale" or "Super Paolo" lines (there used to be a Studio or Junior or some other cheaper line that wasn't wholly done in Italy).

I see the distributor shop in Castelfi has just redone and spiffed up their website, perhaps that means things are starting to bustle again after a couple years without much new stock. Here are a couple of Paolo 37/96 LMMMs. Their shop'd prolly be worth a visit:



Here's a "Professionale," and they show others in different colors or wood, just didn't check all of 'em for LMMM vs LMMH:

Paolo Soprani mod. Professionale 37/96/4°/4°, col. OLIVE WOOD - Legno sfumato Nero

www.castelfidardomusica.it

This "Super" would be cassotto. Personally the "Professionale" models would be my preference for weight and price, but:

Paolo Soprani mod. Super Paolo 37/96/4° musette, col. BLACK - Nero

www.castelfidardomusica.it

 

[OuijaBoard]

I Signori at Castelfidardo Musica also stock Scandalli--I see more than one nice 37/96 LMMM here:

NEW ACCORDION

www.castelfidardomusica.it

 

[dak]

I’m going to get a piano accordion, most likely a 37/96 due to weight, triple musette (12-15 cents),

That's more of a French than an Italian specialty and more for a brilliant than smooth tone quality. Problem, of course, is that an excellent musette accordion is specifically catering for one style and is not the one accordion to replace all that you are looking for. If you have the ability, maybe check out some instruments from Cavagnolo or Maugein: not because they will be the one-fits-all but because you may consider crossing off "Musette" from what you want your main accordion to cater for and get a separate one for that.

2 accordions is still less than 9.

 

[OuijaBoard]

I see the OP's moniker has "Trad" in it. . Personally I prefer tremolo as delivered by Italian boxes for a spectrum of trad genres to the characteristic French Maugein or Cavagnolo sound. That preference for the Italian tremolo sound would go for MM or MMM. I'd even prefer the Hohner/Weltmeister tremolo, even for Paris musette. The French tremolo is very particularized, you really have to prefer that sound.