Accordions

[robert goodale]

Kristinn Leifsson wrote:

> >Accordion techs are actually in serious demand, (hey, there's another
> >enterprise for you folks!).  I looked and tried a real beauty at the NAMM
> show
> >that I am seriously considering buying.  Cost: $4000.00.  Actually not a bad
> >price.  All I have to do is sell my piano so I can afford it!
>
> Hey Rob,
>
> I´m actually going to study accordion tuning this summer in Finland.
> Many people think that $4000 is a lot of money for a "squeezebox" but you
> should hear the accordions we´re selling here for twelve-thousand dollars.
> They´re top of the line Italian concert instruments for serious CLASSICAL
> players.

Off topic, but who cares...

Boxes can get pretty pricey, especially when you get into things like double tone
chambers and MIDI.  A drawback of those kinds of goodies though is the weight of
the instrument goes up in a hurry.  In my opinion, (as I think most would agree),
the only accordion worth owning is made in Italy.  For some reason building these
instruments has become a beloved passion for the Italians and not just a
business.  They have the technology and craftsmanship as good as it gets.  The
one I am looking at is a Tombolini model 900 and is made in Castefidardo, Italy.

Many people think that an accordion is something you can pick up for less than
$100 at a yard sale or pawn shop.  This is not unlike buying an old junk upright
the same way and thinking you just got a treasure.  After about 20-25 years the
wax the reeds are set into dries and goes bad.  The tuning also lasts about the
same amount of time.  Thus once a box gets about that age it is due a reed
overhaul.  This can range anywhere from $500 to $800 and even higher depending on
the instrument.  There are only a hand full of accordion techs in the country and
they are as busy as they can possibly be.  The instrument has experienced a boom
in renewed popularity and tech work for them is in high demand.  I have a friend
who graduated in the last class of the last accordion tech school in the country
a number of years ago.  Unfortunately he got burned out on box repair.  Now he is
a full time piano technician!!!

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, NV