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Help: Help! Accordion Damage!

11 Jun 01 - 03:29 PM (#481010)
Subject: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Martin S

Clumsey idiot that I am, Ive just this evening caught my fingers on my Accordian keyboard. Two of the keys are now sticking up. I cant see any obvious access to even attempt my own repairs. I've only recently inherited the instrument (120 bass) from my father and have spent the past six weeks learning to play (with help from great guys and gals on this site I might add). I live in Romford Essex UK. Anyone know a) Is it likely to be serious damage b) Where can I go locally (London Essex) for repairs.

Many thanks in anticipation! Martin


11 Jun 01 - 03:33 PM (#481013)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: GUEST,woody

tried letting your fingers do the walking?


11 Jun 01 - 03:37 PM (#481022)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Martin S

That's how I broke it in the first place! Just spotted that Hobgoblin do a repair service. Are they reasonable?


11 Jun 01 - 04:33 PM (#481057)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Rick Fielding

Martin, NO repair service is reasonable these days. I strongly suggest you learn everything about your instrument. I've probably saved thousands by being able to work on banjos and guitars.....but.....they are MUCH easier I'm told.

Good luck

Rick


11 Jun 01 - 05:01 PM (#481070)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: wysiwyg

Mudcatters CarolC and Bernard play these instruments, maybe you should PM them. I'll let Bernard know to have a look-- he isn't around the Cat much these days.

~S~


11 Jun 01 - 05:05 PM (#481074)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Jacob B

A quick search lead me to this site, which you may want to take a look at. The owner of it says that he will give free advice to emailed questions about accordian repair.

Jacob


11 Jun 01 - 05:09 PM (#481076)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Liz the Squeak

PM Manitas, he's closer and may be able to help - we're in East London.

If it's more damage you want, I have my own lump hammer and am only too happy to help......

LTS


11 Jun 01 - 05:42 PM (#481095)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: GUEST,Sharona

From the USA - The only accordian performer I know of is Lou Berryman. She is half of the wonderful act Lou and Peter Berryman; they write and sing some very amusing original material. Their website is: Louandpeter.com also accessible as: members.aol.com/berrymanp Lou's email address is there. She may have some suggestions for you.


11 Jun 01 - 07:18 PM (#481164)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Max

Hi Sam here

What will have happened is the metal wire that are attached to you pads on the rightside, that then go down to the back of the keys (you can see these if you take the decorative front off) will have bent. It should not be to hard to fix.

Check out hobgoblin, music room or try bending these back yourself.

Cheers, Sam

Don't forget about mudcat radio tommorrow night


11 Jun 01 - 08:03 PM (#481198)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: catspaw49

Just had to check this one of course. Sam Pirt who just posted on Max's cookie is the best I've heard and he knows a lot about what to do....take his advice.

So what happened? Your accordion take a bad hit from a banjo or what? Or is it completely clapped out from playing "Lady of Spain?" Sorry...........had to be said.

Spaw


11 Jun 01 - 08:07 PM (#481200)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Murray MacLeod

While we are at, can somebody explain why accordion players are the only musicians who don't ever know how to spell the name of their instrument correctly?

Murray


11 Jun 01 - 11:50 PM (#481313)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Bob Bolton

G'day Murray McLeod,

Which of the several variously acceptable spellings do you consider mandatory? ... Oh ... That one!

Regards(les)s,

Bob Bolton


12 Jun 01 - 01:25 AM (#481357)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: alison

yep.. what Sam said....... if you know anyone who has experience in taking accordions apart.. go see them.. then you'll know how to do it yourself.... I have done a few minor repairs on mine over the years..... including "unbending" notes......

there are screws and sometimes metal bars holding the front and back sections on.. you need to remove the front section.... just be gentle... and remember where all the bits go for when you need to put it back together....

slainte

alison


12 Jun 01 - 01:27 AM (#481359)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: CarolC

I'd listen to Sam, too, Martin S. I've had some contact with the Accordiondoc guy. He seems to know what he's talking about, but he also seems really busy, and is a bit quick to pronounce an accordion not worth fixing.


12 Jun 01 - 01:40 AM (#481363)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: GUEST,CLETUS

....pronounce an accordion not worth fixing.

Sounds like a rite smart feller ta me Carol.

CLETUS


12 Jun 01 - 01:57 AM (#481372)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: CarolC

Well, Cletus, I can understand how you might feel that way. On the other hand, I heard a rumor that your friend, Mr. Catspaw, was so besotted with the accordion after hearing Sam play, he's decided to take up playing it himself.

I guess you'd better start learning the words to "Lady of Spain".


12 Jun 01 - 02:05 AM (#481375)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Blackcatter

Thank goodness I play tin whistle....


12 Jun 01 - 02:11 AM (#481376)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Liz the Squeak

Yeah but tin whistles can be bent......

LTS


12 Jun 01 - 02:15 AM (#481380)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: catspaw49

Blackcatter, I think Liz just told you to "Get Bent!"

Spaw


12 Jun 01 - 07:36 AM (#481476)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Murray MacLeod

Bob, I entered "accordian" on the online Websters Dictionary, and they tell me the word doesn't exist.

Maybe you could supply me with some of the other "variously acceptable spellings", so that I can repeat the exercise.

Murray


12 Jun 01 - 07:44 AM (#481482)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Skipjack K8

'Pedantic'


12 Jun 01 - 07:46 AM (#481483)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: GUEST,Neil Jennings

Tried Marcus Music in Wales? Repairs all free reed instruments, and will post. Also Hobgoblin (see their web site) Hope this helps


12 Jun 01 - 08:01 AM (#481494)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: catspaw49

Personally, I've always preferred to spell it "kasblickistrenoly" but no one ever knows what I mean until the thing cranks out "Lady of Spain".........

Spaw


12 Jun 01 - 08:03 AM (#481496)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: LR Mole

You guys...


12 Jun 01 - 08:38 AM (#481515)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Noreen

Will post?? An accordion???


13 Jun 01 - 04:51 AM (#482240)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Martin S

Good news (for some!). Thanks to advice here, (especially Sam and Alison) I was brave enough to take the screwdriver to the accordian. Managed to bend them back myself. Well pleased.. Thanks guys.......Martin


13 Jun 01 - 05:53 AM (#482267)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Gervase

If you do need accoridan reparis or tuning, there's a lovely bloke in Lewisham High Road called Bruno Alodi who builds, repairs and otherwise worships accordians. He should be in the phone book under Alodi.
Be warned, though - don't expect to spend a minute less than two hours in his workshop, even if you're just dropping something off. He does like to natter!


13 Jun 01 - 07:26 AM (#482296)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: John J

I've mended me mum's accordions over the years without too much difficulty, although I'd draw the line at major bellows work or reed tuning problems. A couple of years back somebody (accidently) emptied a pint of lager onto the keyboard of one of mum's boxes (still, I suppose it was better than drinking the stuff). The keys all swelled (swolled?) up. I took all the keys off and sanded them down: problem sorted. It sounds complex, but it was really quite simple.In my rather limited experience most problems are easily sorted. Get stuck in and try yourself! Good luck. John


13 Jun 01 - 10:12 AM (#482401)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: catspaw49

Geez Gervase!!! I've gone completely off my toast and Marmite breakfast here. I am shuddering and attacked by my inner anxieties..........I need a pill or something..............Mygawd!!! What could an Accordion Shrine possibly be like? The mind reels as well as the stomach!............I gotta' go throw up............

Spaw


13 Jun 01 - 05:54 PM (#482793)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Liz the Squeak

Right with you there 'Spaw..... although as Gervase could talk the hind leg off a donkey AND persuade it to do a waltz afterwards, I suspect the aforementioned Signoir Alodi is not the only garrulous one in the shop....

The only way I could worship them is if we built 'MelodeonHenge' out of them or a viking long ship which could be burned somewhere out in the bay....

LTS


13 Jun 01 - 06:28 PM (#482827)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Bill D

online search yields 23,579 hits for 'accordian' and 135,156 for 'accordion'

"accordian" impresses me as some sort of 'keeper of accords', if there is such a thing.. It is obviously an easy word to misspell, but there is and SHOULD ne a correct way, or searches will not work properly.


13 Jun 01 - 06:54 PM (#482854)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: catspaw49

Keeper of Accords? Who would that be? Probably a Honda dealer.

I just ran an online search for "curmudgeonly, pedantic, crusty, extremely lovable and humorous old fart" and results returned this listing.

Spaw


13 Jun 01 - 07:09 PM (#482869)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: hesperis

Accordeon also works, but it's french.


13 Jun 01 - 07:26 PM (#482886)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Bill D

golly, catspaw, you must use the same search engine I use.....when I searched for "obstreperous, gregarious, bombastic, hedonistic, good-hearted (well almost) purveyor of scatological effluvia" I got this

(perhaps 'accordian' is someone who likes their firewood stacked neatly)


13 Jun 01 - 10:53 PM (#483013)
Subject: RE: Help: Help! Accordian Damage!
From: Murray MacLeod

While we are on the subject of homepages and accordions, I have just visited Sam Pirt's homepage and see that Folk North West described him as "irresistibly infectious".

I hope all proper precautions were taken on the recent visit...............

(if somebody has spotted this already, I will shut up and retire)

Murray