Melodeon Upgrade

Subject: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Hesk
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 05:41 AM

I have a Hohner Pokerwork and Castagnari Studio, pretty happy with both, but would like a deeper, richer, tone and, possibly a third row.
I know Salterelle went through a rough patch a few years ago, and would appreciate some insider tips about these or any others. Weight and ease of playing are a big consideration for me.
DG is fine, but would consider others.
Not looking to pay a King's ransom.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 06:50 AM

Music room in Cleckeaton might be your first port of call.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Hesk
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 07:05 AM

Thank you guest, but I am looking for tips from Mudcatters who play the instrument. There is nothing like first hand experience.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: selby
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 12:50 PM

I think guest is correct you need to go to a shop with a good supply of melodeon's and play them till you find the sound you are looking for. The cheapest box in the shop may give you the sound you are looking for everything else is meaningless.
Keith

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Hesk
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 01:04 PM

Thank you Keith.
Obviously I will do this any way, but surely someone is particularly pleased with the tone, or playability of a recent purchase to the point they would wish to share their experience here.
My first melodeon, many years ago, of East German origin, was difficult to play to the point of pain, I don't recall the dealer at the Dartmoor Folk Festival mentioning this, at the time.
What about the Sandpiper, has any one got one of these? How do they compare with a Salterelle, for instance.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: selby
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 01:19 PM

cant help on melodeons as English concertina is my instrument. My son has D/G & C/C sharp Salterelle Nuages so he must be a Salterelle fan
He has had Dino Baffetti's and Castignari's in the past
Keith

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST,enfield/Swindon Pete
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 01:32 AM

Have a look at the melodeon.net site. Lots of stuff there with lots of knowledge and expertise.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 01:39 AM

Sandpiper reeds sound nice but not loud. Depends whether you want dry or wet tuned reeds.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 01:52 AM

I tried Fisitalia Italian melodeons and accordions at shrewsbury festival and found th2m light and responsive. The 3 row model is much cheaper than the equivalent castagnari model.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 07:46 AM

I use a Dino Baffetti black pearl 2 voice in D/G for barn dance work, its light and compact, solidly built and with pretty good responsive reeds, ideal for the job.
for morris dance playing you cant beat Hohner Pokerworks, the sound has never been bettered for this job, I have several in various Keys,
D/G, G/C, C/F Bb/Eb.)some with customised casework in various attractive woods, and better quality hardware.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Hesk
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 09:16 AM

Thank you Henry, that is just the sort of info I was hoping for.
I too love my Hohner, except for the fact that my fingers sometimes catch in the recess holes for the buttons.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Howard Jones
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 10:42 AM

If you're on Facebook Theo Gibb has posted a sequence of photos showing how to modify the Hohner action to stop the buttons disappearing down the holes. Or you could get him or another repairer to do it for you.

I can't create a link so look for his page and go to photos.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery.
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 10:54 AM

Re Your Hohners....
See the above message from Howard Jones above. Its an easy mod, all my Hohners have been done...No more problems with trapped Fingers.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 11:42 PM

Pete Grassby is also a good fixer up and tuner of melodeons I hav efound

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST,Reynard
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 08:20 AM

I've been very impressed with Sandpipers, particularly the ergonomics of the design.

They do a 3 voice D/G now, for what seems a good price- although I have not tried this model.

For something a bit different, one of the nicest melodeons I ever tried was a Loffet, "Graet e Breizh" model. They have a nice smooth action and a sweet tone and are attractive, if plain in appearance. I think his prices are very reasonable, and it seemed to me that reeds were better quality than a castanagri or similar in that price range. Definitely worth considering, though it might be hard to "try before you buy" unless you know someone with one or make a trip to Brittany!

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 06:08 PM

Started out in the 60s with a Pokerwork DG then moved to a Trichord ADG, then a massive leap to a Guerrini ADG with 5 amazing couplers but absolutely killing to keep it moving in a session (too heavy). In the end about 20 years ago to prevent my arms dropping off I traded it in for a Baffetti dry-tuned DG and learned to play in A on it. Had a loud piercing but pure sound for ceili band, and I now use it mostly for song accompaniment. (Anglo is my main instrument)

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Hesk
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 10:06 AM

That Guerrini sounds quite a beast.
Thank you for your input, and also Reynard. I am thinking of settling for a Sandpiper Sanderling, but, of course, there are none in stock till, possibly, November, so I can't even try one.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 12:02 PM

Try googling Black Diamond Melodeons,they are reasonably priced and sound similar to Hohner Polkerwork.
There is a video about them so you can decide if the sound is what you are looking for.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 12:54 PM

Hesk,

I'm curious as to how you catch your fingers in the holes.

How do you do your treble fingering, by resting your thumb along the edge of the fingerboard or by holding the edge in the cleft of thumb & hand?

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 05:03 PM

Hohners were well known for the buttons sinking deeply into their holes. This was easily remedied by putting some sort of padding beneath the buttons.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Hesk
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 06:34 PM

Mr Happy,
your question has been answered by several of the posts above.I may have exaggerated the problem. It is a slight catch on very rare occasions.
Thank you to all who have responded. I have settled for a Saltarelle Connemara 3. It was secondhand and a good price. I find it heavy, but it is great fun to play around with, and seems to have the sound I was looking for.

Subject: RE: Melodeon Upgrade
From: Tootler
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 08:36 AM

I had a Pockerwork. Excellent instrument but I found the same problem with the buttons/fingers snagging in the holes.

I eventually gave it away to a small music charity as I preferred my Anglo Concertina.