I don't feel right if I play cajun music on a Chinese made box, or Weltmeister, or Castagnari Max,or Hohner HA114 or whatever else one row manufactured boxes there is in the world.
At my last count 10.
Even if these different boxes are tuned Cajun.
But I would make an exception for the HA114.
the others dont look authentic, dont fit the mold, or the mood.
Just the same, if you want or anybody else for that matter wants to play folk music using a fiddle , they will.
Not a Violin mind you
Violins are for a different type of Music, not Folk.
What I'm saying is that every genre of music has for it's interpretation a particular style of instrument(s) tuned and made for that genre.
I find it difficult to associate Cajun accordion music with none other then LA made instruments.
And you know, if anyone is commited enough to play accordion cajun music, even with limited funds, they will find a way to purchase an instrument.
I just can't buy the ever surfacing argument that for some, money is to tight to purchase whatever they need to play a certain type of music.
I mean, they drive, they buy beer, fishing equipment, computer programs, games , stereos, cars, guns and so on.
Anyone who want to play Accordion Cajun Music and are serious about it, should buy an LA made box, period.
And for the few with real limited funds, then they unfortunatly will have to wait until they have saved enough.
And again I really encourage if it's at all possible to try an instrument before laying a lot of money on it, as you might found out that you dont like it.
Not arguing with you, just a coup[le observations. Prior to Sydney Brown, nobody played an La box. I play out a lot, and would only consider using an Ariette is I was going to light it on fire during the last song. Once I knew I was Hell bent on the accordion, I upgraded. But having said that, I don't think it matters if you perform on stage every night, or sit in the living room knocking out tunes, we all have our version of getting serious.
Fiddle vs violin. Actually they do mean the same thing. The terms come from two family groups that identify the same instrument. Violin - Italian for little Viol, and fiddle from one of the Nordic languages (forget which one), tne decentant of the fidel. Over time, the terms became identified as specific to cetain music genres, not unlike Xerox became interchangable with phoyocopying. It's one of those things that if you say something wrong long enough, it must be true. One of my flaws is being obsessed by this kind of thing. People often misuse podium. You stand on a podium, you stand behind a lecturn. It's a losing battle. Oh well.
There's a story about a musician who filed a lawsuit for slander back in the 18oo's. Somebody wrote: the fiddler is a scoundrel. He sued for being called a fiddler.
Steve
I understand your point Steve but I am with Claude on this one. Early on I worked for minimum wages but pinched pennies to get what I wanted. A Louisiana made accordion.
I admire your pedantry, Steve - I've been similarly accused.
I agree with Claude re. accordions, but it didn't stop me wasting time and money going through the cheapo's. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.
Someone told me the difference between a fiddle and a violin is that you can spill beer on a fiddle!