I received my new Savoy accordion this Monday and it's a real beauty.
Pics here: http://flickr.com/photos/docmarshalls/
Video of me playing the sucker:
http://www.docmarshalls.com/newaccordion.MOV
It's an A box made of 150 year-old red pine from Marc's property. The end plates are a little plainer than I anticipated, but I really love the grain in the rest of the box, particularly in the frame and on the back of the keyboard. Oh, and I DID finally get metal buttons!
I'm sorta having buyer's remorse as far as the key is concerned. I think that a D would have been a much better choice for traditional Cajun. The dry/Cajun tuned A sound is a bit of challenge for the straight non-zydeco stuff.
I guess I always wanted a different-sounding box. Also, I enjoy writing songs in the key of E. I remember a great Zachary Richard song called "La Ballade de Howard Hebert" which used an A box.
It's a great sound for waltzes. On the faster Cajun stuff, you have to be careful not to linger too long on the low end of the keyboard...you don't want it to sound too muffled.
All in all, though, I really love this box. It's an absolute joy to play, and I think that's one of the strengths of Savoy's boxes: they're sturdy in your hands amazingly responsive.
Nice looking box. I noticed the frames didn't have the usual routing - did ask for that? Love to see it in person. Get in the city often, but have to wait for the Dukes of Oxford sherrif to be napping first. Had my Bon Cajun A for about a year, and love it.
Steve
Nick: I read about your happiness on receiving your new accordion from Mark. I reminded me of when I got mine about 10 years ago. I went to the Doc Marshalls website and checked out your MP3's, very nice ballad and two step. I guess I'll have to buy your CD to hear you play some more.
My wife I play in a cajun band in Seattle: Swampsoul.
Our tunes tend to be more blues influenced that yours (the two tunes I heard). I play a C (Mark's) and a Bb (German made) accordion.
Keep playing, its a blast!