The only Saltarelle I know well seems to me to have a rather dull stodgy sound, whether it's being played by me or by its owner. But I've heard other people play Saltarelles and they sound absolutely fine, and a lot of good players use them.

By the way, you can get Castagnaris with couplers! (at a price, of course...)

While looking for good boxes not quite as expensive as Costalotti, consider Dino Baffetti too. They are the only ones I liked nearly as much as the Oakwood that I play now. Depends on what you need it for but the Dino was punchy and powerful, not quite as bright as the Oakwood.

While I have the attention of any melodeon players out there - I'm looking for an instrument with just two voices an octave apart. Preferably a 2.5 row with 12 basses. I could use a 3 voice and cut out one of the trebles, but that makes an expensive and heavy box. It's a sound popular in the Balkans, and that's the kind of music I want to play on it. Since Nils Nielsen tuned my Oakwood to a fairly fruity tremolo I'm not sure if it sounds right for those Macedonian and Bulgarian tunes any more.

The problem is getting a box like that in the UK - I get the impression they are made for the East Eupropean market but don't get imported here because there's not so much demand. I have spies making enquiries at St Chartier next month but any info would be appreciated.

Anahata