Diamond Accordions are made by Horace J. Thibodeau who lives and works in Houston. He is on the list of builders under www.meloche.com. as linked from Zydecoach.com I don't know anyone who owns one, but it looks like a bargin to me. I wonder if he is related to Charles Thibodeau, a Cajun musician based here in Austin. I'll ask Charles next time I see him.
This one has been there for more than a year on the ebay shops part. Last year there was also a discussion about the maker, mr. Thibodeaux, right?
Nobody dares to buy it....
check out the "feedback" thing and you know if the seller is reliable.
BARGAIN? that particular accordion has been listed well over a year now. I would stick with a known builder like Marc Savoy or Jay MIller. you can get a brand new Savoy box for 1800
I take that back. the current prices listed on savoymusiccenter.com are 1895 and 2200 dollars, depending on the model. still, 1895 is a bargain considering savoy music center has been in business for 41 years at its current location.
it would be nice to see large close ups of the box, as details would tell a more " telling" story, I mean the same seller, show some coins magnified to the max, why not the accordion?.
Ok, I agree. More info needed": somebody who knows more, who has seen one, played one, or even owns one. Better photos too. And $100 for shipping???? Excessive. I have no idea if this is the "same" box or a generic ad. You are right, a basic Savoy box is $1850, but thats for plain walnut. $2400 for the fancier boxes.
But every builder has to start somewhere. Maybe if he charged $1200 or less he might sell some and begin to build a reputation, but if it is a legitimate, well built box, then $1650 would be a fair price. I would like to try one out first, though.
He does say it has Binci Reeds. You think he is lying?
You think it is a scam? Why would someone put so much obvious care into building an accordion, great inlay, fine woods, first class hardware, with Binci reeds if he is making a piece of junk that isn't worth buying?
Give him a break! Just because the same ad has been up for a year doesn't mean he hasn't sold one. So maybe he isn't a marketing genius, most artists are not.
Out of curiosity, I emailed them and asked for more pictures of the DIAMOND and they have been reluctant to do so. Any brand of italian reeds are top of the line. What I am saying is why pay 1600 for an unknown builders accordion when you can buy an ACADIAN, for 1895. The ACADIAN is in its 45th of production.
I understand that and agree. I don't think it is Mr Thibodeaux selling the box anyway. It seems to be some guy who sells coins mostly. Probably got on trade or something. Maybe the box is worth it, but without more information...not a risk most people would take.
If Horace Thibodeaux or anyone who knows him reads this, it would be nice to hear something directly from him and some testimonials. We can always use another good box builder.
Hello, I am Horace Thibodeaux, accordion builder, Houston, Texas (originally from Eunice, La.), did you have a question re one of my accordions??
Thanks,
Diamond Accordions
Thib
Are you still building accordions? And if so, what are your prices and if you have any photos of accordions that you have built....that would be great! Please upload the photos on here so we can see some of your accordions.
Any brand of italian reeds are top of the line? No, that is not true. Typically, each brand of Italian reeds comes in 3 grades, in decreasing levels of quality and price: #1 - hand made, #2 - hand finished (or "like hand made"), #3 commercial. There are different names applied, such as "a mano" for #1, and "tipo a mano" for #2, and so on, but the general rule applies.
And there are also the distinctions between brands which are often debated. This appears to be largely subjective, but you will hear statements made about Binci's being better than Salpa's or vice versa. It may be the case that some brands are inherently superior or inferior to other brands, as is true of any other kind of product. But I am not sufficiently knowledgable on the subject to say.
The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week
