It’s true… cheap instruments, sometimes, have some problems.
But… when is an instruments cheapest?
The prices in USA are many different from italy. A little example: one years ago I bought a Saltarelle Irish Boebe and I paid Euro 1000, but in USA the price it’s different (1400? 1500?). For the my new accordion I paid Euro 1500, and I can’t think how much in USA (2000?-2500?).
The secret is… buy direct from the makers (Castagnari, Serenellini, Beltrami, Saltarelle). I’m forget… Saltarelle aren’t french… it’s italian!
At the moment the darn thing is behaving itself - I think it was damp and cold it didn’t like, so 5am, May 1st on Box Hill may prove interesting. My fellow melodeon player has also been having problems with his Dino Bafetti, but it’s been well lately. Maybe the church we practise in is particularly damp.
It’s true, Bartleby, I have one of the most expensive makes of box on the market (Castagnari Lilly D/G) and still have had occasional mechanical problems. I chose a Lilly because it’s the smallest lightest box on the market, important when you may have to lug it and a couple of other instruments around all day.
Ironically, my other box, a second-hand Castagnari Studio, has not had any problems yet, but it sits in the office 24 hours a day in a nicely stable controlled atmosphere.
As I understand it, dealer Jim Coogan in NY, working with player John Nolan, designed the Boxeen to try to recreate the sound of the old grey Paolo Sopranis of the 1950s, and has them made in Italy.
I tried one briefly last summer and it seemed very playable although the musette tuning set my teeth on edge! They don’t seem to command a very high second-hand price, I have seen a couple of them listed at US $1000 and $1200.
The people who now own the Paolo Soprani name have now themselves produced a replica of the same old grey boxes, which Jim Coogan is now also singing the praises of and selling.
I would hazard a guess that sales of Boxeens will slump now that these new Paolos are available.
A couple of people I know have Boxeens, and I like them very much. Really excellent keyboards, nice and light, very responsive. The thing to be aware of, though, is that the default tuning is SERIOUSLY wet. The box attempts to re-create the authentic ceili band rumble of the old Paolos as well as the looks, and in this respect it succeeds admirably. It can be a blast in the right circumstances, but if I had one I think I’d eventually get tired of rattling the windows and making my furniture jump around the room. That being said, they’re very nice instruments; I think it would be hard to find a better deal on a good Italian-made 3- or 4-reed box. You can always get the thing retuned.
Re the new Paolos, they’re significantly more expensive than the Boxeens. I’m not sure what the extra grand or so pays for other than the nameplate.
Hey Martin, what kinds of problems have you had with your Castagnari?
Most makers have a policy of not underpricing the people who market their products. Not everyone enjoys the social of business. If they under price the people who sell their stuff for them, who’d bother to carry their products?
The higher prices in the USA (versus buying in Italy) might be postage with insurance and import taxes?
Bartleby, I know someone who’s selling her C#/D Learner. It’s a couple of years old and hasn’t been played much. She’s asking $350. Shoot me a PM if you’re interested and I’ll put you in touch. (Ditto for anyone else, too.)
Someone mentioned earlier about the Irish Dancemaster.
I have a 95 model with the maccina reeds in it. BC, dry tuned.
I paid 575$ The price has gone up a little but I think it is an excellent value…heres why.
Michael lives in Bradenton FL.
He buys the parts from differents sources, then puts them together himself using Italian reeds, then he hand tunes them himself. Once the reeds are broken in you can send it back to him to have it retuned for free (once).
New Honers are made in China, made with cheep reeds and out of tune.
Learner boxs are less money, but they are made in China with cheep reeds and they are not hand tuned.
A Dancemaster costs a little more but it is somthing you won’t be tempted to upgrade right away because it is a fine instrument.
People always comment about the tuning and the sweet tone that comes out of mine!
At the moment the darn thing is behaving itself - I think it was damp and cold it didn’t like, so 5am, May 1st on Box Hill may prove interesting. My fellow melodeon player has also been having problems with his Dino Bafetti, but it’s been well lately. Maybe the church we practise in is particularly damp.