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Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Welcome to the forum Bob.

I'm also in the UK and have 4 Cajun boxes I've bought over the last 15 years. 2 new ones imported from builders in Louisiana, and 2 Louisiana boxes bought 2nd hand from Glenn (a forum regular) who lives in Italy.

I won't attempt to explain about tuning, there are far wiser people on the forum but as far as I know most builders offer mail order.

Some of the better known builders include Marc Savoy (his daughter writes on the forum quite often)

Bon Cajun (made until lately by Larry Miller, but now made by his grandson Jay.

And Jumior Martin (not Eric Martin who is a French builder)

All three of these have websites and can be easily tracked down. I own boxes by all three and all are fine pieces of work and I'm sure offer mail order.

Jude Moreau is another builder who writes on the forum sometimes so I'm sure someone on the forum will be able to provide contact details.

Prices can vary a bit so it's worth checking with a couple of builders, but the weak dollar does make it a really good time to buy. (Import duty and VAT add about 21% to the shipped price)

My personal favourite is my Bon Cajun by Larry Miller so I would recommend Jay as a builder to contact.

Good luck.

Re: Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Cheers for the help, whereabouts are you? I'm in Sussex

Bob

Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Welcome to the forum Bob. I recently joined this forum too. I live in Lafayette, La. There are several accordion makers in the area, some of which have been mentioned. Someone else will post soon telling you all about them. How is everything in Angleterre?

Re: Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Thanks for your welcome, angleterre is wet and windy, summers on the way!!

Bob

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Welcome to the forum Bob. I recently joined this forum too. I live in Lafayette, La. There are several accordion makers in the area, some of which have been mentioned. Someone else will post soon telling you all about them. How is everything in Angleterre?

Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

The main difference is sound has less to do with the tuning and more to do with the number of reeds per note, and the pitch (octave) of the reeds.

Traditionally, Cajun accordions have 1 low reed, two middle reeds and one high reed per note played.

Many Italian, English, and French accordions have completely different reed configurations.

...and yes, tuning does make a difference, but not as much as the reed configuration.

I hope that helped to answer your question.

DP

Re: Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

The reed configuration in a Castagnari Max is the same as in a LA made Cajun accordeon. Also 1 low, two middle and one high. The positioning of the reeds is different. They are mounted in two reedblocks and are all standing up. In a LA box there are two reed lines standing up and two are lying.
MAX |||| and LA box _||_.
Maybe is this the reason for another sound.
Maybe is the size of the reeds different for the same note in a Castagnari Max.
The Castagnari's I have, are Cajun Tuned as far as I know(some reeds a litlle lower), but they sound different as a LA made.
They are smaller, but they have much volume.
They play not bad at all.
But I keep on dreaming!

Re: Re: Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Thanks, so do I!!

Bob

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

The reed configuration in a Castagnari Max is the same as in a LA made Cajun accordeon. Also 1 low, two middle and one high. The positioning of the reeds is different. They are mounted in two reedblocks and are all standing up. In a LA box there are two reed lines standing up and two are lying.
MAX |||| and LA box _||_.
Maybe is this the reason for another sound.
Maybe is the size of the reeds different for the same note in a Castagnari Max.
The Castagnari's I have, are Cajun Tuned as far as I know(some reeds a litlle lower), but they sound different as a LA made.
They are smaller, but they have much volume.
They play not bad at all.
But I keep on dreaming!

Re: Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Thanks

Bob

Re: Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Thanks for help

Bob

Re: Re: Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

Bob, I'm up in Lancashire.

If you ever make it up this way you are welcome to come and try out my various boxes.

I can only speak the accordions I have, but different builders boxes do have a slightly different feel and sound.

Re: Castagnaris and Mail Order

I met some people this weekend who organised the melodeon building workshop in East Anglia, they showed me some pictures, very nice.
they told me one of the attenders (Reese ?)
built himself a Cajun accordion, and was planning on
building some more.

Wilfred



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