The first year I had my HA-114, I routinely opened and closed the stops each time I used it. They weren't particularly tight in the first place, but they got so loose that they did slide closed by themselves. I fixed them by cutting plastic shims from a milk jug and slid them in place. I used plastic because I thought it would hold up well, and also be smooth enough not to bind. 15 years later, the repair is still going strong.

-David

In your case you have to close some registers and open others to play in the different keys. Others who play other brand accordions don't have to do that and gain nothing by doing so unless the song calls for it. Don't mean to say anything bad about one or the other. They are all good.

In my opinion closing the lower read bank makes the accordion sound more "Irish". It is an interesting sound but I much prefer the full sound of all the stops open.

I also prefer having the read bank open in the down position. Gravity is on your side and they are less likely to bend if dropped.

RPr

Hey there Hal,
Yep, my first accorion was an arriette as well.
I know what you meen, and, I did the same thing myself messing around with the knobs and all... experimenting with sound and instrument.

While I have three of Larrys accordions, it's pretty much the same message ... "don't close off a bank of reeds, play it wide open" as a rule of thumb.

I once held some pretty dandy venues that would place master artists on stage performing. I brought out a guy name Jesse Lege' and let him cut loose on the California scene with Edward Poullard on fiddle and a band that was A #1. They tore it up musically and played like a bat out of you know what.

Jesse took my "D" accodion (which I let him use)and he used it on his gigs. I watched from the sound board and I cringed when he partially closed off a bank of reeds for a wetter sound while playing "Zydeco Sont Pas Sale'" Now, Jesse plays harder than I do (by far and much much better I might add) and I watched and I wondered just what I would wind up with (stressed reeds?)afterwards, as a result.

That accordion was never damaged, which sorta a tells me couple things.... it is durable and it is built to take a beating musically... and... I surely must play much lighter that most folks.

Most master players know how to play off that air button so as not to damage the reeds with harsh excessive back pressure... or excess air crossing the reeds that are played.

So much of the ton of little things that go into grasping the accordion and mastering it, depends on what ya play and how hard you tend to play it when ya do play it. Make sense??

Sence then, yeah I have farted around with closing off reed banks (one row of reeds that is)and this and that, but realizing that I do play softer than most and always accoustically... although, I have amps and mics ets. that could shatter glass. I think it is a matter of how hard you push it and also mastering that air button. Goofing around looking for the right sound, has caused me to have Jude Moreau take and re-tune my favorite C box semi wet for a sound that I simply favor. I think that is much better than partly closing off a reed bank to get certain sounds out of something that has a traditional tuning. P.S. You are normal

Nonc D

I could be wrong but I don't ever remember any real masters of the accordion partially closing off the reeds on any bank. They either played wide open or just the low reeds closed and then just for a very few songs. Now having one bank of middle reeds tuned a little off is something more and more are doing.

I have an old Aldus Roger record and on the back cover is a picture of he and his Sterling. He has I think the second or third stop pushed in. I assumed it was to take out some of the German tuning sound. I sometimes push in the low bank on my 114 just because I like the change and I fine it plays a little easier, uses less air.