I was lucky enough to start out with a wooden-ended Lachenal, and only traded it in because it had just 26-buttons.

MtheGM, we are not at all sceptical of your ability to play left hand melody, just confounded by our own incompetence.

I don't want to come over like the salesman for Morse, but to my mind there's a bit of snobbery in the 'accordion reeds' debate. There is a difference in sound, but it's not as gross as is sometimes made out. If you've got £4000 to spare you'll want the best reeds you can buy but, if you haven't, the mid-range boxes like Morses play like the clappers and don't sound at all bad.

Oh, and Dick, better give that taxidermist a call...