Always wanted to learn to play the accordion and sometime after jan 1 I may have the opportunity (Read: funds) to purchase one. I don't need anything fancy with exotic wood/inlays/etc. just a good quality accordion to learn on. I've read about the caveats with buying so while I haven't ruled them out completely, I'd probably lean a little towards new...BUT, I'm looking for advice What would recommend and with that recommendation, what price range am I looking at?

If you don't feel right about pushing yours or someone elses brand publicly here on the forum, feel free to email me at swampworks @ cox (dot) net

Hey Guidry, I just want to forewarn you that a guy named Randy4U is going to soon show up pushing MARTIN and only MARTIN very hard, and will probably throw in some crude comments for good measure. We've been on this message board for years and that is just what happens on here, unfortunately...

Anyway, on to your questions. The best accordions for playing cajun music with are handmade boxes. Most quality builders are in South Louisiana but there are a few in Texas that make excellent boxes too like Bryan LaFleur, Jude Moreau and Ed Poullard. There are a few builders here in South Louisiana who make boxes that I don't really care for and would stay away from. You might be able to find someone who would make you a decent box for $1,600 but $1,900 is more realistic. From there, prices can go all the way up to $3,000 (maybe even higher in some cases), depending on the builder and if you are using exotic woods. You are going to pay more for MARTINs, ACADIANs and FALCONs (if Randy Falcon is still building) because these builders have been building a long time and have built a name and reputation over the years that have created a high demand.

There are used boxes too if you look around. Ed and Jude make great accordions. Larry Miller made wonderful accordions -- "Bon Tee Cajun" and "Bon Cajun." Marc's Acadian boxes have a unique sound that I really like.

I've owned 15 accordions from an old Sterling to all the well known crafters. You might also find lesser known builders that also make a good instrument. But I recommend the brands above because they are made by decent folks and the accordions sound great.

By all means, get a good used handmade LA/TX box if you can. Some of the members on this forum have good quality boxes for sale. If you can't locate a satisfactory used box and can't afford a new one then consider the Gabbanelli Cajun King and the Weltmeister Cajun. Both go for around $1000 to $1300 and are of decent quality for the price. What ever you get, make sure it is in C or D. A good way to learn to play Cajun accordion is with Big Nick's instructional DVDs. You will find them well produced and very easy to follow. Nick is a good teacher and he will teach you to use the basses right away. I have used these DVDs and highly recommend them. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Good idea!

I would strongly recommend
Jude Moreau
Brian LaFleur
John Doucet
Hohner HA 114 retuned and tweeked. I really like Hohners.. I have powned over 50 accordeons... I currently own Castagnari hand made in Italy, my GGF's 1800 2 1/2 row and 3 Hohners: an HA 112, an HA 113 and an HA114.
Fast , light, cheap, fun, and rarley lose value if purchased used.. parts and service readily available.

I would not recommend a Gabbanelli. They are NOTHING like a "Cajun" box. The reed blocks are all standups and the quality is lower than is indicated by the price. They are also quiet. $500 would be about right.. and their "Cajun" tuning is not "Cajun" tuning.

Weltmeister is fine.. but again, some short cutting in quality. They also come branded Regal and Gallota. Less than $800 would be about right. I played one for years.

As suggested, some will tout extoll the virtues of the MArtin or the Acandain.

Both have butt jointed chassis's ( a cheap expeditious way to build the frames) The Acadians are tuned Savoy's way and not tuned as are other "Cajun" tuned boxes.

Considered used but, know thy seller.

The thing I love most about Acadians are their tuning. Such a sweet pretty sound for cajun music.

We used to have pitched battles on this very subject on the original board. Personally I prefer the look of butt joints on a Cajun accordion. And as a former finish carpenter I can tell you an angle joint isn't any harder to make once you have your tools set up.

The butt arguments were always silly. The strength of the corner for most builders comes from the glue block on the inside, not the outside corner. Everyone has different preferences based on sound and feel, that's what should guide a purchase when money is not the main concern. Those that do butt joints do so because it's quick, and they'd rather concern themselves with something else. Those that miter do it just because they take pride in a nice miter, not because it serves any particular purpose.

Miters are for bishops! ;- )

Thanks for all the replies, guys. I'll try to keep them all in mind. I definitely will be buying one made in LA

Guidry, if you're interested, I have 2 for sale, one a Weltmeister that would be a good starter box ($800), and the other one of my handmades ($2000), both in C.

If you are in Louisiana or plan to visit Louisiana and want to play different brands, you are welcome to come and play some of my accordions.
Acadian, Martin, Bon Cajun, Choupique and even a Sidney Brown.
Kent

I worked my way up the ladder starting at cheap, and then moving up to bargain, and so on. 4 accordions later, the accumulated losses that I took would have fully paid for the two Acadians that I now own. We are too soon old and too late smart.

Caveat: If you go with the best, you won't be able to lay any blame on the instrument. :-)

As J M stated buy the best from the start its a M A R T I N

-LLL- You are such a comic...

"The butt arguments were always silly. The strength of the corner for most builders comes from the glue block on the inside, not the outside corner. Everyone has different preferences based on sound and feel, that's what should guide a purchase when money is not the main concern. Those that do butt joints do so because it's quick, and they'd rather concern themselves with something else. Those that miter do it just because they take pride in a nice miter, not because it serves any "(purpose) "

Butt joints are a cheap expedient and a lazy way to work. Pride being the operative word as well as respect for the project, the materials, and the customer. "Respect" being the operative woprd of a true professional.

Butt joints allow ingress and egress of moisture and have a smaller surface gluing arear and have a short grain against a long grain..the weakest of all joints...
something you will never see from a professional wood worker... except of course American house framers where they can cover their "work".

You will not see a butt joint in Japanese joinery.


Mitres, not miters, are for bishops.

Having a bit of trouble taking a joke Casta? Right over yer head mate? And what would you know about Japanese joinery? The Taisho-era Tansu in my bedroom -- valued at $5000 and a beautiful piece has all sorts of "butt" joints in iit. So does the ki hibachi which is not a piece of junk either.

As I recall Martin, Point Noir, Acadian, Bon Cajun and some others whose names escape me all feature butt joints. It's a Cajun tradition, just like it's a tradition for tight asses to scream bloody murder about those dreaded b-u-t-t joints. I remember you all well...

If you knew anything about Japan, the Japanese and what is and what is not admired you would know that the most prized bowls for the Japanese Tea Ceremony are often crudely made by Korean potters. You would know that exquisite "crudeness" is part of some of Japanese arts and crafts.

I have no dog in the Bishop Mitre/Fat Butt joints. How does the box sound? That's all I care about. To me, getting upset about what other people like shows an incredible narrowness in the posterior but YMMV...

As far as American "framers" covering their work, what a curious comment. Of course they cover the framing. It's called sheathing and siding, plaster and wood trim. Have a nice day...

Still at this Jeff-san? Sheesh. -L-

Hey, what about Jacksonville over by Medford? I'm thinking that's a great place to retire. Do you get over to Medford much? I need to find a place to land after I retire in three years...