Hello, I'm new here and the reason I ended up over here is I just got an elcheapo Chinese-made Morrelli ten button. I have NO idea how to play this thing yet, but it seems a good one to start off with. If I do manage to teach my old brain how to play, I may indeed find something a little nicer.
Rosie Ledet's gonna be playing down here this week and I'm gonna sit up real close and try to absorb something by osmosis, but I'm not sure if this accordion is tuned to zydeco or cajun style. How can I tell? It's in the "D" key, has four stops and two bass chord buttons. I play guitar somewhat and use alternate tunings. Do button accordions have alternate tunings as well?
Hmmm...Yas, it's lotta questions from the new guy, and probably should be in another thread but it's brand new world for me and I sure do want to learn.

David, I think there's a fierce competition from France (and other west european countries) where one can find good builders. Also the quality of Italian builders is not always good. And the prices of the top of the range (castagnari) are quite high.

Most European diatonic accordion players I met (and that's quite a lot!) don't play Chinese instruments (yet). And the ones that find themseves worth a better one than a beginners' hohner like a handmade (or a castagnari for the same price) .

People still want to have quality, so after they decide to continue playing they sell their cheap one and buy a good one. Like the cajun accordion players do!


Gus