Welcome to old and new friends who are interested in discussing Cajun and other diatonic accordions, along with some occasional lagniappe....



CAJUN ACCORDION DISCUSSION GROUP

 

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Greg ... what a site!

The part that worries me is not so much putting the thing together, it is making it sound like something after it is put together. I like making my own things, whether it is furniture, beer, ammunition, or whatever, and am obsessed with keeping old traditions alive. I am willing to accept the fact that mine will probabably not sound as good as the handmades you guys spent good money on, but it will be mine, and hopefully I can at least get it sounding better than my Hohner.

I have seen nothing resembling any hording of information. EVERYONE I have talked to spent much more time with me than I would ever have expected, and I hope to pass that on someday. And I'll let you know how nuts it was to spend several hundred dollars on parts to try something like this.

Cash, check or credit card.... have the dough ready to go

Ti Lou... Price is the message, absolutly (what you're willing to pay).
And yes, for any first time buyers, they need to understand what a hand made accordion represents, when it comes to building these contraptions. We're not talking about builders "getting rich" off'a the creation of these things, though they (handmade accordions) are pricey as a standard off the shelf item... Perhaps as a reason that there are bargin hunters always asking and always looking to snag em up.

No matter what level of craftsman a builder may be, there is mega time put into the building of any handmade (I believe this to be true). All said and done, I would estimate they only make 8 or 9 bucks per man hour (if that) period.
If say I wanted a gob of hoots and whistles... there is that much more time (and perhaps materials) involved, just add $$.

I understand money in these times are tight for the vast majority... bargin hunting for a new accordion to avoide price, is what sometimes prompts the sales of Non-Handmade products like that Chinese box and more... these are not in the same league of instrumets which the time consuming handmade represents. But they are a pacifier.

Naturally, it would seem reasonable to get a cheap-o accordion to pacify the time, while saving your money month after month, till ya got the kinda dough that it's gonna take to get that primo handmade, your way.
If say I shell out that kind'a dough and I get that kind'a prize ... you can very well bet that Ms. Linda is gonna be telling me "mister man, you best stick with it and get good on that thing, for that kinda money!" Oh what'a price I had to pay for loving you! hummmmm sounds like a song, eh?

For those just coming into this thing, I would make dang sure you are ready for commiting to the process of all things French music including the cultural aspects, otherwise ya may be better off playing a nose flute or a kazoo, something far cheaper. Also be ready to invest a lot of months and years to learning and not just the music.... it is not an over night, just add water routine achievement. Yes sir Ti Lou (and others) you are right, it is the price.. and more.

Nonc D

Re: Cash, check or credit card.... have the dough ready to go

I am glad to hear that several people are trying to, and by the way pretty sucessfuly, build cajun style accordions. If nothing else, a better understanding of what goes into building one may prove invalueable.
Everyone will benifit.

Re: Contacted Builders...Now what

I appreciate the feedback.

Everyone realizes that a good instrument costs money.

Based upon price one can obtain a certain caliber of instrument, but how much you want to further dress up the instrument is what ups the price. And obviously one shouldn't make such a purchase if not serious about it. I'm not trying to "bargain shop" (to an extent)

So suppose that price is not an issue, and we can assume that these builders have a standard "make", and we can pick out extras if we choose. This will be our price we are willing to pay, and no doubt the builders deserve to be paid.

Re: Contacted Builders...Now what

Not sure you all have grasped what I'm trying to get at here.

What I'm trying to better assess is how you all have purchased your accordions; is it the norm to aquire these instruments thru phone calls and ebay descriptions vs. seeing them in person prior to buying?

What is your take on the smaller builders, or do most of you too play only the big name brands?

And how happy are you with the builders artistic sense and style when you finally see it vs. how you imagined it to be?

For example, when I've narrowed a specific guitar make that I want to buy from a shop I can choose a individual one from the bunch, maybe based on the how cool the wood grain looks in one, or maybe a certain color scheme looks cooler in person than what I would have imagined from just a picture alone.

I've seen 3 bands within the past week, and talked with all of their accordion players about how they had acquired their instruments, and all played Bon Cajuns mostly, also saw a Master, and an Acadian. All instruments looked very pretty, and didn't have all the fancy trimmings either. All of the players had also gone thru Larry Miller directly for both new and used. Most had also never purchased their instruments in person either.

I'm thinking of giving the smaller builder my order for the reason that his look great, and got good reviews on sound and playability, but mostly because there is the possiblitiy that he really does put out a great product for the cost. I think too, that I will be pleased with what the builder ultimately turns out.

Really I haven't seen an authentic accordion that I could say I wouldn't want myself. They've all look cool to me. And I have a good feel for what a good instrument resembles and represents. Gotta respect owning one of these prizes, and I will.

Name brands are reliable and you know what to expect, sure. But maybe the smaller builder will be the future "Master" craftsman that everyone craves. Then I'll have had bought his when the gettin was good.

What'da y'all think?

Re: Re: Contacted Builders...Now what

I see nothing wrong with going through a smaller builder. I do think that many smaller builders provide a more personalized attention to your needs ... before and after the fact. That would include future tuning (if need be) any repairs due to your potential damage (if need be). They will give you time to discuss their creation during and after the finished product.

I think the "name game" is pretty well a mis-nomer (in my estimation).
There are brands out there that few have heard of, and remain a fine instrument. The other side of this is; You will need to do a bunch of research to determine exactly what all the hoots and whistles represent when it comes to a commissioned accordion.
If it is your first accordion... go with your builders suggestion... when you learn your instrument (and it will be very very suitable for learning)and begin to contemplate another accordion (perhaps differant key) this is the time you can get down to the cats whisker about details for what you want.

My first accordion is like my first love... I like it and will not turn loose of it for what it is, BUT I now have another accordion that I much more prefer to play (same key) as it is my ultimate "I Want in the Key of C." Oh I still give my walnut C (first one) it's share of playing still, but I gravitate to the other one as my primo. I just dont think you will go wrong regardless if it is "a name game accordion" or one from a lesser known/smaller builder.

Incidentally, my primo C accordion is one built by a man few have heard of out of Lake Charles... afterwards I had Jude place some of his magic into special tuning and spring tension/adjustment. So there is a glimpse of some of the variations for the before/after on this accordion thing-a-ma-jig.



Jamey Hall's most excellent Cajun Accordion Music Theory

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

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