All the boxes made in Italy have upright and removable reed blocks. This incluces the Gabs etc. However I don't see why that would reduce the volume of the box because the builders in Quebec use the same type reed blocks and their accordions are loud.
I've yet to find a European made Cajun box that compares in any way to an LA box. I know the builders here, I've seen them built.. there is just plain no comparison. I'll take an italian triple row any day..and an entry level Cajun box ( ahem.. I do suspect they are not built in Italy..and have heard some quotes on cost of building them.. and you can bet the profit margin is MUCH larger than on an LA box ).
As much as I love and defend italian accordions ( I've lived and worked with them here for 25 yrs. ).. they will never reach the quality of any of our LA / TX builders, even if the materials are Italian.. they are a different breed altogether.
I stand to be corrected I am sure.. but take any LA box and any Euro Cajun box and compare them ( not the price or wait, but the quality ).. and you will see that they do things differently in LA.
Italian boxes are strictly production line. Each LA box is different..but any is better than an Euro Cajun box.
Didn't mean to step into the middle of a p***ing match here, just trying to provide factual info on the question way up above of whether an accordion with the "Acadian" trademark also marked "Made in Italy" is actually connected to Marc Savoy. Mine is, can't vouch for anything beyond that.
Is my Martin a better box? In most ways, clearly yes. But the C Italian/Acadian has been a good instrument, and paid for itself many times over through gigs and teaching.
The adage that you do get what you pay for is oh so true in most cases and I am very much looking forward to buying my first LA box. My efforts with my Gabb will probably show when I do. I expect that the LA box will be a revelation in a year or so when my skills improve to a level where a hand made box will make a difference. In the mean time, I'm having a great time learning to play on my Gabb.
there are a few european cajun accordion builders, which make good accordions. But they are all different.(van der Leeuw, Eric Martin and don't forget our forum member from Finland (Crawfish; Although I never played one of his, but he can play on it like hell).
Even the Castagnari Max is being played (by Ron)well as a cajun instrument although I (since I had one myself) think it is better for Irish music. Plays fast, extremely responsive (good quality antonelli reeds) loud, but is a little too unstable. And there is more distance between the buttons (almost 10%).
I agree Gus. I was referring to economy and mid-range Cajun Euro models. The independent builders like Eric and Van der Leeuw.. I consider at least on par with LA builders. Yes, they are different.. not always what LA box players want.. tone, space, managebility, weight etc. I for one would never consider playing Cajun with a Castagnari but have alot of respect for them and the previously mentioned builders.
I am very happy 'swapping' my castagnari for the acadian I got from you. Talking about playing Cajun, of course. It's just much more fun, especially when playing on the knee with the thumbstrap only. Then weight doesn't matter, rather have a heavier and more stable one, is my opinion.
I am very happy with my two Castagnari Max.
They are both instruments of high quality and play very fine and also very loud.
The air-button is situated on another place, but I'm used to it and I have some trouble if I get a LA-box to play on.
The box is smaller than a LA-box, but the distances between the buttons are bigger!!! (Gus wrote)
Also the grip on the bass-side is bigger and not rounded.
Since they are tuned dry and cajun they sound a lot better.
The D-box plays lighter than my C-box.
I wonder if that's allways with a C and a D-box ?
When I'm lucky to play on a Savoy, Miller or Martin, I realize that the LA-boxes are different.
In the meantime, I keep on dreaming of having one myself.
I bought a D Acadian once... opened it up and was shocked to see " Re " written in Italian calligraphy inside. This Acadian, was much different than any I'd played or owned. I can't say it was Italian, and wouldn't support unproven claims of Italian Acadians..but I must admit the writing inside did come as a shock.
On a separate note: if you buy reedblocks for triple rows from Hohner, you'll see some pretty strange, non-native English calligraphy on the boxes indicating tone and serial numbers. My Chinese students write just like what I see on the boxes. The German calligraphy on the inspection tags is completely different.
. . . wanted to add, that I did not claim that Marc farmed out Acadians to Italy. I do know it has been a widespread rumour ( urban myth?? ) for many years now.
. . . I don't think it really matters. What would matter is if some Euro builder were cloning Acadians. If Marc did a deal with some builder, then, he must have known what he was doing.
proud collector/owner of two MARC SAVOY ACADIANS, ( one ten button, one nine button (lil red), one nine button BON CAJUN & one POINTE NOIR courtesy of larry( merci beaucoup mr. english )
The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week
