I have been thinking about buying a 9-button. Can anyone tell me the history of the 9-button? Is it strictly a cajun invention? Also, does it have as much power as the 10-button? Any run-out problems since there is less bellow volume than the 10-button?

I have a 9 button in "D" and it is louder than my other boxes, which are 10 button. I think it is more efficient because I have to use the air button less than when I play my 10 button boxes. Some of the more advanced players use the #1 button on some tunes and you wont have that capability with the 9 button box. I've seen Garrett "Possum" Judice play countless times and he is all over the #1 button but he doesn't play strictly traditional cajun either. Several others who post here also have 9 button boxes (see pic of CGE's above). I'm sure they know more of the history etc... I do see a lot of players with them although not used as thier primary boxes. Garret Judice has 10 button "C" & "D" and a 9 button in "G".

So do any Cajun players make their button one push an A or do most of you keep it a G? Seems like it has very little use unless you can play the low A octave. I have a new 10 button Bon Cajun and I am thinking about asking Larry to replace the #1 reed but I do not want to offend him. Does anybody else do this that likes the authentic Cajun sound, or is this just not done?

Hal

i strongly advocate making it an A.

i don;t really play cajun though.

the thing is, if you really need a low G on the
pull, it;s on the left hand anyway.

that low A is more useful than a 3rd low G
[counting the #2 push]

i use it all the time but
a. i play zydeco [though no other
players seem to have this at all -
i just like being able to play things
in the low octave as a variation - and
having the low A is indispensable for that]
and
b. i try to use it, because i like it, which
is why i have it

wle.

oops, that should have been button one pull, not push, of course, for the A

There are different types of nine-button accordions. What most people see these days is one that is shorter than a ten-button accordion and a little wider. The other type is mostly associated with accordion builder, John Hebert. Mr. Hebert built a regular sized accordion, but just left off the top button. One of the first accordions I learned to play on was an "Hebert." There aren't many around, but I think that Jamie Berzas still plays one regularly.

As for volume and such, I think the same factors that create noticeable differences in accordions from the same builder also stand true here. I'm sure there are some scientific equations to calculate the difference in air volume and pressure created by the different bellows sizes, but personally, I have not noticed any big difference.

Hi,
sorry to dredge up the past....

(not really)

was wondering about 9 button cajun boxes....
specifically the time period that John E Hebert was building boxes....

and is it 'normal' or 'customary' for a 9 button to be a little higher priced than an equalivent 10 button?

thanks y'all

I guess paying more for less seems logical for me if it's a specially built instrument, more work & designing things differently.

As for button one pull on a C instrument .. i prefer a 4th, so F instead of G, you can play partly an F major chord for backing up songs & soloists. Example:



- Nout