Check the second link

White 12 bass.

I owned a Castagnari G/C 12 bass hand carved wood body...hand made reeds, expensive...


There is a 2 row 5 switch all swithes with different functions

At Smythe's Accordeons in Berekley Calif at $1595

That's the box I'm looking at. Trying to find comparison data to it.

I didn't try all the switches, just wanted to hear that low bank with the mids to compare it against the Erica.

I glanced at the switches, saw the dot nomenclature, but only just glanced at the top two registers. It could be anything on there. I can stop back by and look at it. I also picked up an instrument name on one register, again just glanced. Could have been Violin, for all I know.

I really want a 3 row LMM. I should probably wait.

It's a bit wet tuned.. around 15 cents in the middle of the keyboard..

That's only a tiny bit away from a Hohner tremolo.

But you do have a "bandoneon" setting that gives you the low reed and one middle without the tremolo.


Ask Smythe about the reed quality.. he's a straight shooter.. and has decent warranties on used.

I know Kimric. I've haunted his shop for years. Just want to make sure I'm not overpaying.

But, I really need a triple row.

Dwight, what is your budget?
I have a FBbEb 9 switch Castiglioni in very nice shape that Andre has been threatening to buy from me for the past two years, but he never comes up with the money.(always, next month) :)

In reality, a 3 row has only one note not found on a two row.

And the Gabb has the 12 basses.

Santiago Jimenez is my favorite Tex Mex player.. .. the majority of his playing is on a 2 row.

I am not a Gabbanelli fan. Grossly over rated, over priced and modest quality,including marginal reeds.

Just be sure you want it $1600 is a lot of dough.

I agree about Gabs being overrated. However, the extra row offers some easier fingering sometimes than trying to work it out on a two row.

Cedric Watson plays an Erica.

I'd have a hot-rodded Hohner before a Gabbanelli 2 row.

I have owned somewhere around 10 Hohner two rows, as many single rows ( currently 3) and 8 Three rows.

I went back to his shop today to try it. It didn't sound as ragged as I remembered, but the low bank was muted somewhat.

He had me try some of the Weltmeister piano accordions, with stock reeds, LMM, and they sounded much clearer and defined. And that's saying a lot bad for the Gabby if it sounds worse than stock Welty reeds. Of course, I was comparing new Welty to used Gabby.

He said getting a Welty 3 row, with the bass bank replaced out for handmade reeds would give me the most bang for the buck.

I just wish I was somewhere where I could try units off the shelf and compare: Welty, Baffetti, Gabbanelli. Guess I'd have to fly to Texas.

Of the brands mentioned, Baffetti would be my choice.

Let me do a bit of sniffing around.

Also go to melodeon.net to the forum then to Buy and Sell.

Also suggest you contact "Karlos" at karlitos way.. he's got a web site down in Tejas.. he deals in boxes... straight shooter
He has posted here a few times in the past..

Give him a call tell, him El Jefe from Oregon sent ya.