Piano Accordion Repairs

Subject: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:27 AM

Hello,

My elderly piano accordion is still happily earning its living, but needs the tender loving care of the accordionist's version of a luthier.

Does anyone know of one in England (although advice from the rest of Mudcatdom is, as ever, appreciated!)

When I enquired in a local shop that has piano accordions for sale I was told that, yes, they repair the new ones but not the old. Apparently it is a little like repairing an old building. Replace a loose brick and you end up replacing the whole wall! Is this a valid comment? Should I mothball my faithful Casali and buy a newbee?

Any thoughts?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:30 AM

Actually it's more like "Take the cover off and you don't know WHAT you are going to find".

It's worth taking a look yourself, all it might need is a careful cleaning. Or may be a simple as just blowing the dust off.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: IanC
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:32 AM

What's the problem with it?

:-)

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:36 AM

Try Allodi's in Lee Green, South London.

http://www.accordions.co.uk/

He has a waiting list for repairs and tuning and it might still not be economical to do.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:43 AM

Try The Box Place a guy called Theo Gibb up in Newcastle who has a stall at Whitby or Paul Flannery in Clekheaton

---

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Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Greg B
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:27 PM

You could ask over on melodeon.net, too.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:29 PM

Pete Grassby pretty good too.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:35 PM

He turns up at Folk festivals and fixes instruments.
You might be able to locate him through here:Pete Grassby.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Lester
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:02 PM

Really good guy in Chalfont St Peter - Nils Nielsen. I can give you contact details if you want

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:45 PM

I can testify to Nils' efficiency. A very interesting guy to talk to as well.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: GUEST,Scoville at Dad's
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:34 PM

I'm amazed at what a piano accordion can take. We discovered one in the attic of an old house here in Houston (where you don't want to leave anything in an attic; our summers are merciless). I gave it to a friend who had always wanted to dissect an accordion, assuming it would be so rotted out inside that the workings would be unrecognizable. However, when we took it out of what remained of the box, the bellows looked a bit dry but it made an in-tune (in tune to itself, at least) and perfectly harmonic accordion noise when squeezed. Impressive. I expected some groaning and maybe some puffs of dust.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 03:49 AM

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

Yes, I could take the ends off and poke about inside, Bert. But I hesitate to do anything more than defluff in case I do something dire to the mechanism!

IanC...if I play near the higher register end of the keyboard I get a note that drones throughout all the rest of the music. It seems to solve itself the next time you take the accordion out of the box! There is also an air leak that tickles my nose as I play!!!!

Little Robyn...thanks for the link...

Lester and Zany Mouse....Nils sounds interesting...do you have a contact you could PM me?

Scoville...your story reminds me of the guitar I rescued from a damp garage! The case had rotted but the guitar was sound, apart from the bridge that had come unglued. Its now back in business!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 04:48 AM

Whereabouts are you? I'm not sure if it is still there but there used to be a great shop called Accordions of London in Kilburn. It's some years since I moved from London so they may have gone.

I've PMed you Nils' details.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 08:33 AM

Nope, they're still there, Zany. I visited them at Easter and John Leslie couldn't have been more helpful. They're well connected by tube (Kilburn on the Jubilee Line), bus, or North London (Richmond-Stratford) rail link.

But he will probably tell you (as Allodi also say on their website) that repairing old accordions can often cost more than the instrument is worth. (This is the story with many old harps too, so it's not just that someone is trying to sell you a new one.) Best bet is to take it in and get a quote:

2 Loveridge Road (across the street from the tube)
Kilburn
London NW6 2DT

Telephone: [phone]

Website: http://www.accordionsoflondon.com/

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 08:57 AM

Cogglers Music - 90 Lugsmore Lane, St. Helens, Lancs. WA10 3DL. Tel.: [phone]

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Bert
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:27 AM

It sounds as though one note is sticking open. If after cleaning and defluffing and working that note a lot doesn't work; repairers sometimes add a small spring to help it close.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: GUEST,AlanJ
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 01:39 PM

There is a great accordion sales and repair shop in Darlington "Geoff Holter Accordians" He renovated on old Gerrini for my daughter and it was like new! he does everything from tuning to making new bellows in house. We have bought several Vignoni accordians from him which are superb! He also always has some second hand boxes in great condition - and you don't get any Bull like some other retailers
Hope This helps

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 02:11 PM

if you are in the north Paul Flannery can be contacted through Music Room @ Cleckheaton

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 04:38 AM

Thanks for all your suggestions....I will follow up on them....

I often think that when some-one says, "It'll cost more to repair than it's worth," ...of a friends car. It was vandalised to get the radio out and written off. Next thing you know it's being driven round by a new owner who bought the write-off and revived it!

I guess there is a balance between what it is worth to you and what it is worth to some-one else!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 06:01 AM

My jeep was written off because of vandalism. I was quite chuffed as I was going to sell it anyway. I bought it for £1500 on ebay and the insurance company settled at £2500. Now that's what I call cheap motoring!

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 06:24 AM

A definite bargain Zany Mouse!

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: mandotim
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 10:38 AM

I'd second the idea of Pete Grassby. Musician, engineer and all round good egg.
Tim

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: GUEST,me
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 06:56 AM

Don't go to Accordions of London - the owner is an arrogant rip-off merchant! Sold me an over priced accordion that wasn't suitable and then refused to give my money back a matter of HOURS after I got it home because he said it was second-hand. Before I'd handed over the cash he was prepared to courier me a box to try for a few days - does that make it second hand too?
He's a con-man.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: treewind
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 09:41 AM

"GUEST, me": As it's now three years later, I would guess the OP's problem has been fixed or he's abandoned it by now...

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: terrier
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 10:17 AM

As this thread has been revived, has anyone had an accordeon overhauled / tuned lately? I've used Geof Holter(UK) in the past and had an excellent job done, but that was a lot of years ago. I just Googled Geof Holter and it seems they are still repairing accordeons. I have an old Scandali that I'd love to have renovated and just wondered if anyone has a favourite repairer and an idea of current prices.
Also, would anyone like to buy a 120 bass Paolo Soprani 4 voice. It's in mint condition but unwanted and unloved ;)

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 10:57 AM

....actually, no. The problem hasn't been fixed, yet it hasn't been abandoned! I bought a new accordion to tide me over, but would still like to get the elderly one sorted. However, like many things, finding someone to do it has been the stumbling block so far!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion Repairs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 04:12 PM

Half of his site is being updated but you can still find a picture and contact details for Pete Grassby here.
I know it says melodeon repairs but he does know about other squeeze boxes as well. And if he can't do it himself, I'm sure he'll tell you who can.
Robyn