Excellent point, It just bothers me having a brass reed now after 40 years of playing and not having one before. The Ciccarelli are all brass bass, but I am not partial to their tone, if I find a better answer I will let you know also .

A lot of sets, if not most, have brass on the 2 smallest (highest) reeds, because they are notoriously hard to start and brass apparently helps that. Even some that may look all aluminum have those 2 reeds with brass bases, and plated to match the other reeds, I guess.

Ciccarelli are not necessarily brass bass reed bases. They come however they are ordered, and you can order them in all or a combination of brass or aluminum. Harmonkas reeds in the Czech republic, make a Saxony reed copy (like what was put in the old Sterlings and Monarchs) that even offer zinc as an option, which is what the old reed bases were. I have some Ciccarelli in brass throughout, and like you, I'm not crazy about them, a little shrill.

It has been over 20 years since I have had a new accordion made & I guess things have changed in the industry just like every thing else made today. I will try to keep an open mind and ear and hope for the best. I know all musicians continue to search for that elusive holy grail in every instrument they play. I can say my Falcon dual melodeon is hands down my workhorse for the last 20 years.