Accordions. Help.

My father in law wants an accordion.

With current restrictions and his own health he’s not able to go and look for one himself so we’ll have to do it on line. I have no clue what I’m doing with this one.

Help!

I’m sure someone will be able to give you a shand with this shortly.

Facebook marketplace, put a wanted message up, 2nd hand shops, folk that do house clearances.

Any local music groups worth a shout too.

Joshvegas 👏🏻

I can probably squeeze a few more puns outta this one.

Seen these. But I have no idea if they are any good.

https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Accordion-by-Gear4music-24-Bass/CAN?origin=product-ads&gclid=CjwKCAjwlZf3BRABEiwA8Q0qq10qpRzy9SoY9u-7PEnQXnDGH5cbBP382QBHAJMsaQV7Hqfb6aSaoBoCjvwQAvD_BwE

You are going to need to find out what his requirements are. What music does he want to play? Has he previously owned/played one? They come in a huge variety of shapes/sizes/cost. Assuming we are talking piano accordion (the one with a piano keyboard for the right hand – there are other types), the main differences will be:
Number of bass buttons – generally 48 – 120
Number of “voices” – each has an individual set of reeds.

The more of each the bigger, heavier, more expensive, but more versatile the accordion becomes.

Have a look at Hobgoblin or Accordion Shop, you’ll see what I mean.

That Hohner Verdi helpfully pictured above is one of the big uns.

Phil Cunningham told me his accordionist joke once.

An accordionist is booked to play at a pub’s Hogmanay bash. The night goes really well, everyone has a great time and at the end of the night the landlord says –

“That was great – can I book you to play next New Years Eve’

and the accordionist says

“You certainly can – I’ll just leave my accordion here then”

Definition of a gentleman.. someone who can play the accordion..but doesn’t.

Thanks SOM. Yes he can play one and has had one before. He’s partially sighted so the winter months, when he can’t be working in the garden, are really tough for him.

As far as I can tell he is self taught on almost every instrument so he’ll just want it for playing along on for his own amusement.

Sorted and ordered.

Turned out he knew exactly what he wanted.

Oh.

I was going to suggest a Trautonium:

Sorted and ordered.

Turned out he knew exactly what he wanted.

Jolly good.

Digital accordions are fun though not quite same and are bulky as f

Sorted and ordered.
Turned out he knew exactly what he wanted.

Brilliant. 🙂

Fortuitous thread alert! It looks like our daughter has inherited a Horner Button Accordian?? from an old Aunt that would have been used by her Great Nan who she never met. Being 14 and an all round music nut (Oboe, Sax, Clarinet, Piano, Guitar etc etc) she wants it working. Any recommendations for servicing establishments, we are in Gloucestershire but that doesn’t really matter. Cheers!

Hohner? Like this or similar:

I have folk/morris contacts down there. I’ll ask.

Phil Cunningham told me his accordionist joke once.

@maccruiskeen

OMG! You’ve met or you know Phil Cunningham?!? He’s an incredible musician! If you know him, I will drive up to Scotland so you can introduce me.

As for the rest of you, what’s with all the accordion jokes? I thought only pipers were subject to such abuse!

Update:

It arrived this morning and, according to my mother in law, it is the first time he’s smiled in months! She is less than thrilled by the racket that he’s making, but you can’t win ’em all.

He’s in his eighties and standing up with it for over an hour has been hard work, so they have attached it to him (or attached him to the wall, it wasn’t made 100% clear) with bungees!

Good to hear this, @Harry_the_Spider. This thread has given me great reasons to smile – not least of which is the fact that accordions are being discussed in public!

…and pensioners are fastening themselves to the kitchen cupboards with bungees.

My mate had this link on FB recently. Very impressive. I am guessing this must be an electronic one to have such a vast and varied repertoire?

https://www.facebook.com/Ruairidhmacleanmusic/videos/736275063847332/

As for the rest of you, what’s with all the accordion jokes? I thought only pipers were subject to such abuse!

We keep ’em in reserve in case the drummer doesn’t turn up.

Whenever I see Donald Trump give a speech I always think he looks like someone just stole his accordion.

We keep ’em in reserve in case the drummer doesn’t turn up.

Oh, he’s turned up, he just doesn’t know when to come in.

Oh, he’s turned up, he just doesn’t know when to come in.

And you knew it was the drummer who’d arrived, he was knocking on the door and it just kept getting faster.

The backing singers turned up and knocked at the door. I shouted come in but they didn’t so I let them go home.
And in the interests of fairness:
How do you stop a guitarist soloing?
Show hime a sheet of music.

Harry, it should have straps and it’s possible to play sitting down. It can be tiring for an old bloke though. My dad was an excellent player in his younger years and in his 70s or 80s he decided to get a big 120 bass job like the one he used to play. He struggled with it.

He’s strapped in and more comfortable stood up. The Bungees are for extra support.