I’ve read nice things about these boxes. Have you ever tried one? What’s your feeling about’em?
Arigato
I started out on one, and later when I started thinking about switching to C#/D I got one in that tuning. IMHO they’re a great value for a beginner’s instrument. There are some design details that you don’t usually find on ultra-cheap boxes (the inside row of buttons works the outside row of valves, for example; also, the back of the keyboard opens up so you can easily customize the action). The downside is that not a lot of care goes into the tuning – the amount of wetness varies wildly from note to note. But in all it would be really hard to find a better deal. They’re a hell of a lot better than the Chinese-made Hohners, I think.
Someone is selling one in C#/D at the moment on the IrishTradAccord group.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/IrishTradAccord/
You may have to sign up for the group to read the message.
Steve
I have one, bought when I was curious. I took a class at IAW with it.
I of course am no expert, but it was fine enough for the class and I had no problems with it. Compared to other low-end boxes it’s a great deal.
The variability in the tuning, I think, might be part of the reason it’s so cheap. It is in-tune enough to play, and you’re not paying the labor for someone to finish it precisely.
I get the impression that the box has exactly what you need starting out, and no more; and the part you need is built well enough, and smartly enough, that it will serve its purpose well.
Caj
Thank you all for the answers.
I’ve actually bought a McComiskey B/C. Ebay, a good deal if I consider other second-hand learner prices. 300US$. 340 including postage.
Yes, the seller commented about a couple of notes that could be better. Is there any possible way to touch them so as to improve them or it has to be done strictly by a professional? It will be hard to find someone near.
Still waiting the box; it’ll take nearly a month. I just wanted to let you know. Don’t tell my neighbours, they still don´t know. They think they already have enough with my flute…
Everybody will tell you to leave tuning to a professional and you probably should. But even professionals have to start somewhere…
It isn’t rocket science, but you do need a very delicate touch. (Haven’t tried it myself but I have watched my tuner at work on my box.)
Really you need a tuning table, but you’ll find that nobody sells them and you’ll have to make your own using a scrap pair of bellows. You could, I suppose, buy a scrap box and use the bellows to make a tuning table and then practice tuning on the reeds. Leave the reeds in the reedblocks to tune them and be careful not to unseat them - they are held in place with wax.
But be careful when you get to the reeds in your own box - the pitch on the table is often not quite what you will get when you put it back in the accordion, and you may have to make allowances for this.
You could attempt the work without a tuning table, but it would be a risky business. Removing miniscule amounts of metal - making tiny little scratches - will change the pitch audibly, so go very carefully or you could ruin your reeds.
You could ask for more informed advice on this forum, in the technical section:
Alternatively, you could just sit back and enjoy the “character” of the notes that are not quite in with the rest of the box.
Steve
I can live with a couple of ‘personal’ notes until I upgrade… 