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24 Aug 03 - 05:47 PM (#1007478) Subject: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: Jeri So I was bored out of my skull and went manic for about a half hour. Went to an antique store, one of New England's people-traps. Same old sunken-chested Harmony guitar. Same old "what were they thinkin' when they stuck those frets there?" Lyle guitar. Then I saw it - a large, brown lumpy object on the floor. While watching nervously for attack spiders, I opened the leather case. There it sat - a sort of darkish-ivory pearl Royal Artist accordion with lots of nice buttons and pearly keys. It looks fairly old, but I don't know HOW old. Maybe Laurence Welk old. I felt like I was wrestling a toothless crocodile, but I put it on and tried to make noises. On the accordion. The bellows is OK, and all the chords seem to work fine, but the E above middle C seems to need a new reed. It only has one little piece of electrical tape on a footie-thing on the corner and no other apparent damage. Anyway, what would you expect to pay for this lovely beast? Anybody know about Royal Artist or how to find out more about this instrument? Thanks |
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24 Aug 03 - 06:50 PM (#1007495) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: GUEST,.gargoyle One was offered on E-Bay - it closed on August 19th.
Starting bid - was 9.99 US, No bids were made.
If you like it, offer the guy $20, it would be OK as something to fool around with.
Bad reed? Pop the cover, scrape the reed metal lightly, shoot with WD40 and wipe-off.
Sincerely, |
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24 Aug 03 - 09:22 PM (#1007568) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: Jeri Garg, thanks for responding. I saw 2 $9.99 unsold accordions on E-Bay, but both auctions were ended by the sellers because of errors. One is in auction currently. One was relisted and it went for $107.50. I didn't check the dates though. There seem to be an awful lot of them that have gone for around the $100 mark. |
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25 Aug 03 - 09:22 AM (#1007746) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: Jeri And did I mention 120 chord buttons? Are they in any sort of pattern which one can remember so as to predict where they might find one they like? It's not the E that doesn't blow, it's a G#. Not a big deal for folk music, eh? Gotta figure out how the cover comes off so I can see if the reed's got a big ol' dead 1940s polka spider glommed onto it. |
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25 Aug 03 - 11:02 AM (#1007789) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Jeri, you live near Gary Sredzienski , the ultimate accordian guru and booster. Maybe he could advise you about it! Then you could go to the Northeast Squeeze-In and really get hooked! |
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25 Aug 03 - 11:58 AM (#1007807) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: GUEST,.gargoyle The button rows - easy to remember because of 5ths. Major/Minor/7th/Contra http://www.accordionpage.com/basar.html
To pop the cover, remove six screws with a tiny (eye-glasses type) screwdrive. Most repair is very easy....However, there are many caveats about reed repair.
Repairing your accordian
Accordian World Wide
A Warning About Reed Repair
A mountain of accordian Links http://www.accordionlinks.com/educational.cfm
HAVE FUN!!
Sincerely, |
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25 Aug 03 - 12:04 PM (#1007811) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: GUEST,.gargoyle The chart for the Bass-buttons is on that first link. The Deep-Indented middle button is C - lower dent Ab , upper dent E....cycle of fifths from there. If you have keyboard knowledge....Pickup a beginners book and inside of 10 hours you will be playing with a lot of fun. The I,IV,V chords are suited to its design. Sincerely, Gargoyle |
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25 Aug 03 - 12:24 PM (#1007827) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: Jeri Garg, thanks. That 'accordionpage' is great and I haven't even started looking for repair information. No, I am not planning on completely dis-assembling it. (I can always put stuff back together. For some reason, I have the most difficulty figuring out how to take things apart.) Thanks, Animaterra! I've heard about the Squeeze-In for years. Looks like fun, but it costs money if you don't want to stay in a campground. Hmmm... And that's "POLKA PARTY" GARY!!! That is a GREAT show! I see he also gives lessons...which probably cost money. |
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25 Aug 03 - 12:30 PM (#1007832) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: wysiwyg So you bought it, right? Not just thinking about it, but have it? ~S~ |
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25 Aug 03 - 02:27 PM (#1007874) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: Jeri Uhh....maybe. Is this what being outed feels like? Yes, I bought it. I've managed to (sort of) play a couple of waltzes and find the squeezing part the hardest - when to move in which directions. |
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25 Aug 03 - 03:36 PM (#1007907) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: wysiwyg Well, you see it sounded as if you had either bought it or moved into the store, with all you said you'd done with it! :~) ~S~ |
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25 Aug 03 - 05:58 PM (#1007977) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: curmudgeon Welcome to free reed world! You know so much about music already that you do not so much need lessons as you do pointers. Bill Z. is currently learning on one of Gary's boxes; Gail Duffy also gives lessons and tips/pointers. Piano accordions are like English concertinas when it comes to the bellows; draw them out to the end, then squeeze till you can't go any further. You'll eventually figure out how to do this smoothly without going to extremes. And for something completely different, give me a call tomorrow morning -- Tom |
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25 Aug 03 - 06:24 PM (#1007989) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: Jeri Oh sure... you want me to call you so you can threaten me and no one will know! HA!! (OK) Bill's FIDDLE is louder than any 2 accordions together! This is scary. Anyway, I'm going to give it my best shot. |
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25 Aug 03 - 07:13 PM (#1008003) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: GUEST,.gargoyle I can tell you are in for a delightful week.
You will get the feel of the bellows change, think of it like pharsing, or the Omph to the Pa.
While seated, for a "vox humana," "tremelo," "vibrato" (whatever you choose to call it) begin a "sewing-machine-knee" (toe on floor heel-jiggling) with the leg it is resting on.
HAVE FUN!
Sincerely,
I'm going to take mine out and give it a squeeze tonight....its been a long time. |
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25 Aug 03 - 07:15 PM (#1008005) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: GUEST,.gargole Ahhhhmmmmm. How much? If I may ask?
Sincerely, |
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25 Aug 03 - 07:21 PM (#1008007) Subject: RE: Antique Store Accordion (Royal Artist) From: Jeri $55. I can sort of clog when I play fiddle, but right now, the out-and-in on the accordion is a challenge. If I try to involve my feet, it's gonna get ugly. Something to try in the future. |