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How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Folks, the below Savoy feud thing made me think of something. When I was a younger man, my Grandpa and his brother, my Great Uncle, were both accordion players. In my 20's when I became interested in playing Cajun accordion, I'd go visit them and ask them to play their accordion for me. Now these men spoke fluent Cajun French and were both Cajun to the bone! They lived the Cajun existence because that's all they knew.

Getting to my point...when both these men passed away, I was interested in asking for their accordions, but never got the chance. They were scooped up by non playing family members that had rights to them. Guess how many accordions these old men had each???? You may not believe it, but they each had ONLY ONE! My Grandpa had a wore out black "Sidney Brown" and my Great Uncle had a little better shape black "Regal". But at the end of their lives after having played since they were 7-10 years old, they only saw fit to have ONE ACCORDION!!! PawPaw had a "C". GranNonc had a "D", and that was it.

While they were still alive and able to play, they would sometimes hand their accordions to me and tell me to play, and I had the hardest time because they seemed all loose and air seemed to be leaking out everywhere. My newer "Teche" accordion felt much better to me, but too heavy. Now don't you know, when those old accordions got back into those old men's hands, they literally make them smoke! Very impressive, awesome to watch accordion playing with an attitude. You couldn't help but smile as you'd watch them play and move and make that accordion "talk sassy".

So why, as Cajun accordion players, do we "hopefuls" feel the need to have so many accordions in our possession? Why in the hell are we so willing to spend so much money on these boxes. For Example, (Sorry Jim, I just have to)Jim Petijon must have a minimum of 10-15 accordions. What is that?!! He uses up his pension on the dam things!? Why is he not satisfied with just one or two? I myself am guilty of the same, but not as much as he. I bought 5 accordions so far in life. Now I only have two ("C" and "D") and I think I've found the two that I'd like to keep till my death. But what the hell is causing us to spend so much money on these Cajun built boxes? Any honest comments would be welcome. Tell us what you think, but please, do not say you bought 7 accordions to be able to cover the whole musical scale or have all the keys so you can play on the bandstand. That is a different kind of stupidity. I'm talking about the "non professional" accordion player Cajun or non Cajun. Eventually, I'll give my own opinion as to why I think this happens. And that information might change your whole outlook and help you to calm down your spending a lot and find the accordion you're looking for. Bon soir mes amis et bon chanse!

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Q) How many accordions does it take?

A) One more!

OK, sorry.

You raise a good question, and it is no doubt true that many of us have an embarrassment of riches.

I got no answers. I do have way too many accordions though!

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

I only own two both Martins of course C and Bb

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Thanks for the story about your granddad and his brother :-)
It's lovely.
I have 4 accordions now, but still play one at a time.
I own a Falcon(D), Junior Martin(C and Bb)and a Castagnari(D)
I have the C and the D to use in the band, because for some songs the C or the D fits better for singing.
I bought the Bb because I love the lower sound of it and I'm affraid tat greedyness also plays a roll in it.
I have these brands because this were the accordions I could buy here in Europe and I love to play on them all.
If it was an accordion from another brand I probably bought that one.
I only bought the Castagnari new and the others were all used by somebody else.
The accordions I have now is just enough for now, but about a year ago I may play on a Acadian(low A), that was also such a pleasure (sound and playability) and there was that greedy feeling again.
I think that the beauty of the accordions is a reason too to buy the next one and of course the financial possibility to do it.
But for now I'm very satisfied with the instruments I own and feeling rich wit it


Yes, big reason to have more than one is to play in other keys.

The desire or necessity to play in different keys is a VERY good reason to have more than one accordion.

That is absolutely what led me to having several.

The first I bought was an inexpensive Hohner HA-114, in the key of C.

The next year, I bought an Acadian in D.

A few years later, I was playing more Zydeco, and having one in Bb is very helpful. Aside from being very commonly used in Zydeco, it also fits my singing better, which is a HUGE consideration.

A few years after that, I bought a Larry Miller accordion in A. That was driven by the idea of the different sound, but also to fit my voice even better. In the end, it was sort of a mistake to buy this one, as I didn't use it much at all.

Following that, I bought another Acadian, this time in C, to replace the inadequate Hohner. This one is my best and most favorite accordion. It is beautiful and sounds wonderful.

Last year, I bought a Castignari in G. It is quite wonderful. But I have not had the time to integrate it into my playing much yet.

Re: Yes, big reason to have more than one is to play in other keys.

If you want to play in more than one key...
Why not do as the Irish Trad players and get a 2 row B/C or C#/D ?

At worst 2 boxes.. one of each ?

Many Irish players have a B/C or a C#/D and a single row D.

Re: Yes, big reason to have more than one is to play in other keys.

If you want to play 1 row why not stick with 1 row play cajun and forget farting around, stand up blocks or not?
If you get chance of a Gabbi for a good price snap it up cus they won't be around forever and they're very well made.

Re: Yes, big reason to have more than one is to play in other keys.

It's a thought. I considered it long ago.

While it is chromatic, and theoretically could be played in any key, the fingering gymnastics required seemed way to complex to go that route. There is very little in the fingering patterns that carries over from one key to the next. It ends up being very awkward, in my opinion.

A simpler solution is a normal triple row diatonic. With that, it is like three accordions in one, with exactly the same fingering as you move from one row to the other. It's kind of like putting a capo on a guitar - you just play it exactly the way you would normally, but you're in a different key.

Another solution that I experimented with is the 5 row chromatic. For my purposes, the C system seemed better than the B system, and that ended up being true when I bought one.

It is a very well thought out system - once you learn the fingering for a certain lick or pattern of some kind, it you want it on a different chord or different key you just move your starting point. Very handy. This is how guitar players work. Since I was originally a guitar and bass player, I felt right at home.

In the end, for practical reasons, at gigs I have only ever used a diatonic triple in F/Bb/Eb and one or two Cajun accordions. Originally, it was just the Bb Master accordion, now I have a Bb and a C Bon Cajun. They get the job done.

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

To Meloderon, I know exactly what you're saying about putting your hands on an accordion that has a sound and playability that you notice right away. It pulls on you and even makes you're playing better. And you wonder to yourself why your other accordions don't have what this one has?! And it doesn't have to be a high priced name brand accordion that produces such a noticeable effect on you. It can be a cheap priced accordion with some high quality parts and high quality workmanship built by a person that knows what an accordion player will prefer and buy with great satisfaction afterwards. Remember..Sterlings once sold for $50-$80!! Imagine that. Now, for a rebuilt Sterling, they want $4000. Why, why, why!?? It may play and feel like crap (I've played a rebuilt Sterling and did not like it), but it's because of people that want to say they have a Sterling, that the price is driven to $4000. It's the nostalgia that it brings too. But in my experience, you can't buy nostalgia. It's a feeling that comes to you, not a material possession that you can own.

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Wow $4000 for a rebuilt Sterling?!?!?!?!? Yikes. But yeah, supply and demand. Supply is extremely low, so price goes way up if the demand is there.

I would like to point out that the same Sterling that cost $50 to $80 back in the day, if you adjusted for inflation would put it well over $1000 in todays dollars. Just sayin'

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

I know David. Inflation. Look at that word. Inflation. Did the Sterling inflate to a better accordion or grow in physical size? No, the idea that it got more valuable grew in size. To inflate is to expand right? Well its not our dollars that are expanding and becoming more versatile that's for sure. The prices of things are inflating, not the dollar. It's somebody's idea that the Sterling is worth more now than then. The amount of dollars it takes to purchase the Sterling has expanded. Because of somebody's wise idea and others willingness to agree to such an idea. What if the owner of the Sterling gets the bright idea to give it away to a deserving player? Does that act alone decrease the $4000 value of the Sterling. It does in my book.

I submit this idea. Let's say from now on.....THAT IT IS NOT THE ACCORDION THAT TURNS THE PLAYER INTO A LEGEND....But it is the player that turns the accordion into a legend if we're all willing to agree that's its a legend.

Such as in the case with Iry Lejeune's existing accordions, BB Kings guitar "Lucille", Paul McCartney's left handed base guitar. Marc Savoy's Acadian Brand.

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Me 2, a C and a D. D can be fine for playing other one row music from all over the world, like irish and Quebec ( My D plays slightly faster).

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Well, if I'm going on what I need vocally, like you, a C and D covers me and anyone I ever played with who sings. If I am going on my desire to own the work of certain makers, it's like six. It's not stupid. The accordion is a beautiful thing, worthy of being collected.

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

I own my great grandfathers 2 1/2 row D/G acc made around 1880.
I play it often
I have 3 early 1950s Hohners..
112 in A.. it is currently in pieces
113 in A
114 in C
I also have a Castagnari Melodeon in D

I have owned over 50 accordeons incluiding 14 Castagnaris and 20 Hohners and hand made Cajun boxes etc... and am decreasing the number I keep around.

As an aside..rather than have many accordeons in several keys the Irish gravitated toward 2 row 1/2 step boxes and commonly have 1 box either in B/C or C#/D. But they , too, are known to step out and buy 2 reed models, 3 reed models and buy flat keyed boxes ...or as with Joe Derraine( sp RIP) he played D/C#.

I know Irish players that have owned the same one and only accordion for 50 plus years. Then there are others who have collections, but still players not hoarders.

I am afflicted with BAS box acquisition syndrome but have toned it down I have been know to have had a dozen at one time.
When I got ill a few years back I offed 12 accordeons and all my building supplies. As the dumb phrase goes,, you do whatcha gotta do

I will keep my Castagnari D (because there is nothing that good currently produced, perhaps Beltuna) ) and am currently seeking a top quality 1/2 step box. At which point I will off my other Hohner one rows.

The 1/2 Step box I am considering.. actually 2.. range from $3500-8000 and worth it.. which is what I cannot say about some other accordeons.
Expensive yes, but considering the quality.. a bargain..

Look up :

Bertrand Gaillard
Brandoni Clover...
Or Castagnari Dinn III
and Briggs
These are all $3500-$8000
An instrument for a lifetime.
Folks in other cultures think that way.. I do.. I can't afford to be cheap

Again, unlike some accordeons, they are worth the money.

Speaking of Briggs.... 2 row 2 reeds.... one model.. that's it. Several years waiting time.. as is Gaillard.. not as bad as Briggs though.
Compare that to Acadian or Martin..
strictly speaking of

Design
Material
Workmanship

And before you accuse me of being some kinda rich guy..I worked my ass of over the last 50 plus years and did some right things.. and I have no debts and no expensive vices except bicycles and musical instruments and,.... my wife ! : )

I like the idea of only a couple accordeons.

http://briggsaccordions.com/home.html

http://www.gaillardaccordions.com/

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

This is a bit of a sore subject for me cus I've bought a few cheap accordions when really I should have bought a good LA made accordion in the first place!
Started on a C Welty which just about fell to bits due to heavy handedness and curiosity, then an amateur made one off cajun style in D with binci reeds but not great to play, followed by an old Hohner presswood 2 voice in Bb for zydeco experiment, then a German HA114 which is reliable, sounds great- but is still a bit rough to play, I also bought one of those old Hohner grand prix 1926 4 stoppers which is in pristine condition with a lovely action on the old style fingerboard but unfortunately the reeds are very quiet.
Nearly got the money together for a cajun box but needed to take the family on vacation so for some crazy reason bought a Gabbi King in G which I will say for the record is like having air con compared to the Hohners and the welty. A friend who has played English, Irish and shanty tunes on Castagnaris for years had a go and thought it was up there with them! I did tell him how much bad press they get among cajun players but he insisted that the quality was like the good Italian boxes- the bellows in particular, and I find it very comfortable to play and now my ears have adjusted- G is a great key, Keep thinkin I'll get the Hohner 114 reeds put in the Gabbi but I'll most likely keep it as it is as, it's fun and good enough for my purposes for now.
Hopefully one day I'll get a handmade LA box in C but now it's a hard to justify the expense, though I wouldn't have to if I'd just bought one in the first place!

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

To AJ...My D is a lacquered Black Gabbi King. With the higher quality reeds in it of course, and decked out with Cajun leather strapping instead of that stiff red crap they put on it. I had a Cajun Box builder order this King for me and he had some say as to the reeds that would be put in it by Gabbanelli. It cost me $850 back then when they were first introduced to Louisiana. That Gabbi King is hands down the best action, feel, and weight on any accordion I've owned. In fact, I had my Acadian reconfigured to match the button tension to match the Gabbi King. This Gabbi King is my "Tit Noir". I can play lick for lick and sound for sound against Nathan Abshire's recordings when he plays songs in the key of "D". The quentesential "Cajun" sound comes from this accordion. Thanks for the support for Gabbanelli King. I back you 100%. The reason people don't like the King is because of the manufactured metal stopper tops. I think they are so insecure with their playing that they think the material the stoppers are made of affects their overall presentation. They are afraid others will judge them and their accordion badly by the way the stoppers make the Gabbanelli King accordion look. By all means, they don't want to look like an uninformed novice with metal stoppers on a cheap beginner accordion!!

I'll pit me and my King any day against any player, but in person. And I'll beat most of them out. Not on video right Jim?

You guys have some pretty awesome responses to this topic. All of youz. I'm still contemplating my answers. Can't rush such a subject I think.

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Note that the Gabb Cajun King has stand up reed blocks.

I'll bet it has Cagnoni reeds.

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

And, Gabb does not make that box.

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

there is no reason to judge others that have more accordions than you think is necessary.

in any hobby/interest, there are always people with more money to spend than others.

so what's the problem?

take bicycle racing. you can spend $20,000 on a bike that makes you feel faster, even if it only takes you from 101st place to 93rd.

it's up to the person with the money, and or the person with a job to do and the need for tools to do it.

at least the accordions don't really lose their value.

in that sense, it isn't even ''spending''..

wle

Re: How Many Accordions Does It Take?

Different time, different place, different value system.

I have two.



Jamey Hall's most excellent Cajun Accordion Music Theory

Brett's all new Cajun Accordion Music Theory for all keys!

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