Comments for Talking Reeds http://talkingreeds.com Accordion repair and tuning Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:14:59 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Reed Fixings by George Bachich http://talkingreeds.com/reed-fixings/#comment-513 George Bachich Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:14:59 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=78#comment-513 I appreciate your tip for making useable shapes of wax. I have been pouring into forms made from 1/2" diameter cardboard tubes cut in half lengthwise, and lined with aluminum foil to keep the wax from adhering to the cardboard. Your idea of pouring a thin flat slab and cutting it into strips looks easier and faster. To keep my 15 watt soldering iron from overheating the wax (when I don't want to heat up my wax pot for some small repair), I made a new blade type tip from a piece of copper flashing about 3/4" square and riveted it to a standard soldering iron tip, using short bits of copper electrical wire for rivets. The blade of copper acts as a heat sink to keep the tip relatively cool, and is a very convenient shape for delivering the melted wax into the slot between reed plates. It also works well for neatening up the work after waxing in a set of reeds if I have been a little sloppy with my waxing spoon. I appreciate your tip for making useable shapes of wax. I have been pouring into forms made from 1/2″ diameter cardboard tubes cut in half lengthwise, and lined with aluminum foil to keep the wax from adhering to the cardboard. Your idea of pouring a thin flat slab and cutting it into strips looks easier and faster.
To keep my 15 watt soldering iron from overheating the wax (when I don’t want to heat up my wax pot for some small repair), I made a new blade type tip from a piece of copper flashing about 3/4″ square and riveted it to a standard soldering iron tip, using short bits of copper electrical wire for rivets. The blade of copper acts as a heat sink to keep the tip relatively cool, and is a very convenient shape for delivering the melted wax into the slot between reed plates. It also works well for neatening up the work after waxing in a set of reeds if I have been a little sloppy with my waxing spoon.

]]> Comment on Main faults by George Bachich http://talkingreeds.com/main-faults/#comment-512 George Bachich Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:51:11 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=52#comment-512 I have found the Reuther book to be pretty dated, and not very thorough in its treatment of accordion repair. It may be a good beginning point, but only because there is so little else available. The Benetoux book appears more thorough, but it is hard to tell because the translation to English is so poor. I'm guessing that whoever translated it to English did not understand the relevant English technical terms, and settled for a literal translation, or a dictionary translation, which misses the mark to such a great extent that it is often impossible to understand what Benetoux is trying to say. I think it might be better to read it in French. The bottom line is that there is a great need for a more thorough and understandable treatment of accordion repair. Your website looks like a valuable step in that direction. On another note, the most common fault, which should be at the top of your list of "main faults", is curled leathers. I have found the Reuther book to be pretty dated, and not very thorough in its treatment of accordion repair. It may be a good beginning point, but only because there is so little else available. The Benetoux book appears more thorough, but it is hard to tell because the translation to English is so poor. I’m guessing that whoever translated it to English did not understand the relevant English technical terms, and settled for a literal translation, or a dictionary translation, which misses the mark to such a great extent that it is often impossible to understand what Benetoux is trying to say. I think it might be better to read it in French. The bottom line is that there is a great need for a more thorough and understandable treatment of accordion repair. Your website looks like a valuable step in that direction.
On another note, the most common fault, which should be at the top of your list of “main faults”, is curled leathers.

]]> Comment on Reed Tuning by admin http://talkingreeds.com/tuning/#comment-500 admin Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:44:09 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=91#comment-500 Hello Sam, I am not familiar with Tex-Mex tuning. It sounds like its not too wide a tremelo/musette sound so your figures of 444 and 440 could be correct. The vibrations will increase in the higher notes. The 'common degree' you refer to is up to the tuner how wide and wet it is. But in all cases the changes in vibrations across the keyboard should be gradual and smooth. Good Luck, Robert Hello Sam,
I am not familiar with Tex-Mex tuning. It sounds like its not too wide a tremelo/musette sound so your figures of 444 and 440 could be correct. The vibrations will increase in the higher notes. The ‘common degree’ you refer to is up to the tuner how wide and wet it is. But in all cases the changes in vibrations across the keyboard should be gradual and smooth.
Good Luck,
Robert

]]> Comment on Reed Valves by admin http://talkingreeds.com/reed-valves/#comment-499 admin Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:37:16 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=81#comment-499 They're all over the place; where do you live? They’re all over the place; where do you live?

]]> Comment on Reed Tuning by admin http://talkingreeds.com/tuning/#comment-498 admin Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:36:00 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=91#comment-498 Hi Duncan, That's a Hohner Atlantic on the Virginia HP clip and the middle A (440Hz) reeds are tuned about -22, 0 and +24 cents. Robert Hi Duncan,
That’s a Hohner Atlantic on the Virginia HP clip and the middle A (440Hz) reeds are tuned about -22, 0 and +24 cents.
Robert

]]> Comment on Reed Tuning by Duncan MacKechnie http://talkingreeds.com/tuning/#comment-485 Duncan MacKechnie Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:43:31 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=91#comment-485 A bit of a long shot , but, can anyone detect the pitches of the 3 reeds from the Hohner Verdi on you page http://talkingreeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/VirginiaHP4clip.mp3 I was hoping to get my accordion tuned to this - if I knew the settings ?? Cheers Duncan A bit of a long shot , but, can anyone detect the pitches of the 3 reeds from the Hohner Verdi on you page http://talkingreeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/VirginiaHP4clip.mp3

I was hoping to get my accordion tuned to this – if I knew the settings ??

Cheers

Duncan

]]> Comment on Reed Valves by Lucas http://talkingreeds.com/reed-valves/#comment-482 Lucas Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:13:10 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=81#comment-482 I need to buy accordion synthetic reeds valves. Do you Know were? I need to buy accordion synthetic reeds valves. Do you Know were?

]]> Comment on Reed Tuning by sam http://talkingreeds.com/tuning/#comment-469 sam Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:15:46 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=91#comment-469 is a tex mex tuning or (stock tuning of a gabbanelli) would be at A440 and A444? I notice that the vibrations increase in the higher notes.the vibrations do not match....is there a common degree to lower the Hz to even out the vibrations throught the accordion is a tex mex tuning or (stock tuning of a gabbanelli) would be at A440 and A444? I notice that the vibrations increase in the higher notes.the vibrations do not match….is there a common degree to lower the Hz to even out the vibrations throught the accordion

]]> Comment on Main faults by admin http://talkingreeds.com/main-faults/#comment-456 admin Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:07:04 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=52#comment-456 Thanks Theo. The 'Parrot' was not too bad as I remember. I hope you keep on playing. Robert Thanks Theo.
The ‘Parrot’ was not too bad as I remember. I hope you keep on playing.
Robert

]]> Comment on Main faults by Theo Langenberg http://talkingreeds.com/main-faults/#comment-454 Theo Langenberg Wed, 22 Dec 2010 07:42:26 +0000 http://talkingreeds.com/?page_id=52#comment-454 Hi , I am an 67 yr old accordeon player and have ben playing on and off since I was 11 yrs. old. My bad back lomits my playing to a degree so a have become an organist/keyboard player. But my first love is still the accordeon. I own an "el cheapo" Chinese Parrot, a copy of the Scandalli, which at the time, was a good buy. It is still not too bad. I need to give you my first impression of your website. I am totally blown away by it and your obvious dedication to what you are doing. Keep up the good work. I may even attempt to have a go at one or two bad notes. Hi ,
I am an 67 yr old accordeon player and have ben playing on and off since I was 11 yrs. old. My bad back lomits my playing to a degree so a have become an organist/keyboard player. But my first love is still the accordeon. I own an “el cheapo” Chinese Parrot, a copy of the Scandalli, which at the time, was a good buy. It is still not too bad.
I need to give you my first impression of your website. I am totally blown away by it and your obvious dedication to what you are doing. Keep up the good work. I may even attempt to have a go at one or two bad notes.

]]>