The "grooves" in the frame of my Gabb "Cajun King" don't go under the corner hardware. They STOP short...alas no mitred corners though.

John, the fact that your box has unmitred corners,certainly won't affect it's playability.

But you'll notice them, not beeing miterred, when and if you play, practice that is in front of a mirror .

You've got a pretty decent box there, so mitters or not enjoy it.

Claude.

IMHO! I always found that those groves cut into the outside frames take away from the look of the fine figured wood that may be used to build the accordion. Especially if you are book matching the wood across the frames all around like John Roger does. Then like Claude says, those corners are just sitting up there with spaces where the groves are. Now I'll bet that if you paid $9000 for an accordion you could really get some fine instrument.

It sure is a nice looking box and probably plays great. In years to come after you have built your tenth box or more, I bet you will look back and notice several things that you improved over time.

When people buy an LA box from an established maker they are tapping into the decades of "Cajun accordion" traditions. It is kind of like real "Amish" products were I live.

Good luck with you projects.

You're post was a sure fire way to stir things up a bit! But, a serious querstion. How do you see your accordion as better? Are you talking playabitly, tone, and how do you define all that? Are you talking asthetics? Have you made what you consider improvements, and if so, what are they?
Steve

C'mon, guys, cut the guy some slack.
I don't really think he is trying to knock LA made boxes.
(I think the English phrasing may have been a bit off.)

The point really is that I think we all agree that a skilled craftsman with the right tools and parts can build an excellent box anywhere in the world.

Sparling wine made in Napa using the "Champagne" method can be every bit as good as sparkling wine made in Champagne. (You can't legally call it Champagne), but I think you get the point.

DP

could be a language barrier. to be fair to him, I think he needs a visit to savoy music center at 9 a.m. on saturday when school is in. let him play his box and compare to the LA boxes.

Amen!

I thought the point in all this was Cajun music. Who cares where the instruments are made. Did anyone care when German boxes were all that were available? Does anyone mind that the fiddles are made worldwide?
Take your blinders OFF!


"You gots to be who you is"

I agree with what you're saying, always thought it interesting that when instruments are in short supply, you use what you've got. In the old days, that meant German accordions (and fiddles, too). Now you've got some really nice accordions out od La, and there does seem to be a tendency to dismiss anything not made in La. Granted, there's a lot of less than nice boxes out there, but there is no legitimate reason a good cajun style accordion can't be made outside La. Sometimes the highway is scattered with self imposeed speedbumps and potholes. I wasn't busting on the guy, but since the claim was a better accordion, I wanted to give him a chance to say why. Who knows, maybe he's come up with some improvement no one's thought of!
Maybe I'm wrong here, but I think the scope of this board is not just Cajun music, but accordions themselves, a pinch of zydeco and other styles, all played on "Cajun Accordion'. As long as nodody's really trashing anyone, and things stay somewhat focused, it's all good.
Steve

The topic of box quality and origin surfaces quite regularly here ( regardless of country of origin ). You'll find numerous examples of members asking for advice on brands, quality, worth, as well as unsolicited comments on specific brands. A logical consequence is to compare makes and tastes. I think all have benefitted from the discussions, and have read few, if any, cases of trashing or wearing of blinders.

IMHO it's all been good.

G: