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!

BJ

Fiddle, Violin. One and the same. How it is played makes the distinction. If names matter, then it is a Melodeon and not an Accordion.