Hi Lucy! I played acordeon when I was 7 until 10. Now I'm 73 years old , I retired last year and began to play again. I can remember the children musics I had played and I can read the treble clef only. Well, I have the same old Paolo Soprani 90 basses and I'm loving your performance. Lovely songs! I wish I could play like you!! Congratulations! Marta from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Maria. Like you,I learned to play as a child, but for a few more years, then ,like you , I gave it up. I am now 76 and my wife bought a small acccordion at a garage sale with the intention of reselling it, She didn't know I used to play. I had a fiddle with it and I am hooked now, I bought a 80 bass Settiomio Soprani, quite old but still good, and I now busk a bit and play at nursing homes.I am seriousely considering buying one of these Scandelli Juniors. Lucy makes it sound pretty good doesn't she.
Hello Marta, When I was young I made the same comment; I wish I could play like you! The rebuke that I got was that if I did play as good as that then I would not be able to appreciate others playing. I am 84 and still "struggling" along. I love Lucy's playing but I am nowhere near her talent. Dennis.
I have only just found your channel - got a lot of videos to watch now! I too had piano lessons, then guitar then violin lessons as a kid. I met an accordionist in a bar - I took to it and now have 3! He sold me a cheap Galotta (nice, easy to play, full size but not the best reeds). Once I got into playing better (plus lessons) I bought an old but very capable Elkavox from a professional (not cheap). Lovely reeds, midi (RA70), Elka sound generator (huge box of 80's electronics!), rythmn unit, amplifier/speaker...need a van! BUT absolutely awesome! Heavy but it has some much volume control and smooth action. It was a harsh musette so had it retuned to French(ish) - it really sounds great. The friend and I ran a folk club for years in the bar! He had a Scandalli - I loved it but he recently traded it for a FR4x (I would have bought it!).. well he then struggled with the all electronic and bought a small Borsini for ease of playing!! This video confirms what I have learnt too.
That's wonderful, Lucy - now I want one! I'm having a great time with my little Carlo Robelli 48 button, and your videos are a source of enjoyment, instruction, and inspiration to me. Thank you!
Thanks so much! wonderful to have such detailed and informative comments. Your wonderful playing is a real inspiration to me as a beginner (with a starter accordion too), so I'm one day - partly as a motivation to improve - hoping to upgrade - likely also from Music Junction as its the only place to get new accordions in Australia. So your comparisons are very valuable, especially in relation to the expressiveness and fine gradations that you can get on your Air 1. Unfortunately with all the lockdowns and disease around I've not been able to get down to Music Junction but will do so and try some as soon as its possible.
Thank you for posting your wonderful videos, Lucy. I practice my clarinet by improvising while you play! We sound pretty good together! And yes, I love Musette, too.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video! I appreciate all the thought that went into it, and you taking the time to explain your thoughts and opinions!
@@accordionlucy Your posts are very informative and educational. When people ask me about the subjects you talk about, I refer them to your videos. Blessings to you and thank you for all you do!
Nice review! I’m a saxophonist and woodwind player for 30 years and have been contemplating possibly picking up accordion. It looks fun. You definitely can hear the clear greater dynamic range in the Scandalli. Great videos. Still lots to learn and look up before I even get started!
Hi there! Thanks for watching my video :) You should totally pick up the accordion! There’s so much free educational content popping up on TH-cam and with your background in music I’m sure you’ll smash it!
I'm also a woodwind player for 40 years about 15 years ago I got an accordion I'm so in love with my accordions and now waiting on a scandali air 111 t 37 120 bass ,I practice my others instruments because I have to but then I move onto my love,,,accordion ❤❤
My path is similar to yours, having owned "cheap" accordions, but also getting one from Liberty Bellows in the past. The Air is on my short lists of accordions to step up to (in quality), so I appreciate this video!
Dear Lucy! Congrats on a new accordion. It is always very exciting to unbox one! I had a chance to visit scandally and other brands in Castelfidardo and watch the productions. Scandally is definitely a leader in quality accordions. I tested many models. What really makes a difference, except the manual pitch adjustment, is the Cassotto and so called ' A-mani' reeds. Anyway, whatever model you own, have a great time with it! It will develop its 'own soul' and become part of your music style. Great fun!
Thank you! Oh I would LOVE to visit Castelfidardo. Can you believe I was in Italy for 5 months in 2015 and never went?! That was at the beginning of my accordion journey before I knew anything about their production. Maybe my next accordion to add to the collection will be an Air II with the cassotto. Anyway thanks for watching. Have a Happy New Year!
Well you asked us to comment if we had a similar accordion - I've just bought a Scandalli Air Junior with LMMM tuning from Music Junction (had it for about 24 hours now). I wanted musette tuning, and am attracted to smaller, lighter instruments because I find I tend to pick them up to try things and practice more - its range also covers everything I want to play at the moment. Lovely sound, and a rich fruity musette, though not quite as responsive and the Air I 96 I tried, though still very good. That's an incentive to get better and work hard, so see if I "deserve" a better instrument. At the moment I'm working through all the combinations of reeds and registers to see what suits my pieces best. Anyway, your video certainly enhanced my confidence in what I was buying, because I had been planning it for ages, but the lockdowns intervened, and I took the chance during a long airline stopover (thank you Virgin - 31 hours from Sydney to Brisbane) and Palmi wasn't in so I couldn't discuss it with him.
The accordion has many "faces" and one of these is its "singing face". In your videos you use the accordion mostly as a singing instrument, which is great. I liked very much your natural, pleasant disposition in this video and of course your nice playing!
Loved the squeeze box when I moved to Louisiana and heard Clifton Chenier play zydeco/cajun music. Then I moved to Colombia and became a big fan of Vallenato music. Those are all Hohner's. Good to see you playing
Hey Lucy! So excited for your new "baby". You;re a perfect You Tube Personality...thank you for all the information you thoughtfully share, for your tutorials, and inspirational videos. Love your fun skirt!
Dear Lucy! Congratulations to the new instrument. I own two Scandallis: An Air Junior as yours and an Air II with tone chamber and handmade toneplates. Both are great instruments, even they are Quote different. The Junior Is my favorite for Sessions, rehearsals and Performances without PA. Easy to handle, great variety of sounds and enough dynamic range for playing also in a group/Band. I love the sound and how easy it responses on my bellow-work. I Never was busking, nur I think the Junior will be perfect for this (your) use. The Air II Is only a little heavier (ca. 9.2 kg) and sounds much softer because of how it Is build. I have microphons built in and in concerts I play always with my PA (BOSE L1 compact). The dynamic range is incredible! And my Air II has a very flat tremolo whitch Sounds very elegant. And offen I use the piccoli combined with the low reeds. I am a great fan of italian accordions, and the two I own today - they are my best ever! Greetings from Northern Germany and a Happy New Year with many happy Gigs!!!
Ooh interesting! I nearly went for the Air II but I wasn't sure if I would get enough use out of the tone chamber and I felt the junior was lighter and easier to handle which is perfect for my roving gigs. I've never had a microphone built in to my accordion, but I am considering doing it for my Air I this year because I might start performing in a group. What microphones do you have? Thanks for sharing a bit about your accordions! Do you have any videos of you performing? I would love to see how it sounds. Happy New Year!
Hi I've only just discovered you and I love your clips and info, I'm buying a scanair 111 t 37 120 lmmm 9.5 kls can't wait to get it at the moment I have a sonola ss6 an excelsior 960 and a hohner musette 4 ,I'm drawn to the musette tuning more..thankyou for your great work
Congratulations on the new accordion! I just started out to learn the accordion in September and have a small practice model (more than enough for now). But I long for the day I can play one of these. And thank you for all the wonderful videos, they are a source of inspiration to keep learning and practicing!
Its fantastic! Just found your chanel. I am accordeonist too and I'm impressed by your positive and so useful videos. Hello from Ukraine, I wish you many many subscribers)))
@@accordionlucy oh, thank you really much. You‘re right, we have a wonderful Natur and lot‘s of traditions und culture. But I also love your country australia, because it has so many different landscapes and also the koalas 🐨 🙂
Wow Lucy, how exciting for you to have a new accordion ... lots of inspiration coming along for sure. Looking forward to seeing your new sessions. I have always liked Scandalli although my accordions are Hohner except for one Van de Velde. Enjoy.
Hi Lucy! Congrats on your new accordion, and I just accidentally found your channel here. Love your playing and the fact that I found another fellow accordionist in Melbourne. I play a little myself, different type of accordion though, the button version, also recorded some videos, if you are interested you are very welcome to my channel. Happy New Year and the best wishes!
I got a B grif 4/5 LMMH with something around 50 unique buttons (5 rows), 2 bass switches, nice straps, a crocodile textured case, and that padding to keep the bellows from pinching me on Ebay for 330USD!! I changed some pallets, valves, unstuck a few reeds, and it plays very well! I got really lucky with that price. I've been playing it for 2 years now.
Hey there, great video. I love that Scandolly accordion. Both of them actually. I have an arpeggio accordion that sounds exactly like the senior version to a T, even the base section and everything. I also have a Titanno that sounds exactly like the junior with the Piccolo Reed.The muset on that model of accordion was very dry but my grandfather had it changed to wet tuning, pretty much the same as your new one is, and that was a good choice. I have six piano accordions and two button boxes, one chromatic and one a little diatonic and you’ve inspired me to get my wife to help me do a video on all of my ones I have, and share the thoughts just like you did I think that is a really neat idea. I say that because I am blind of course lol. I definitely like having the different sound choices for sure
@@accordionlucy well I will have to do this then. I have a lot of posts of me playing various instruments on Facebook, and on TH-cam, but I haven’t actually made my own videos on my own channel yet
I have a 120 bass excelsior which is my 4th accordion, I haven't played it since 1967 when we moved from Sydney to the country where there were no teachers ,at the time was 11 and was really glad to not play it as my parents made me play in aesteffods which were terrifying. I do wish I could still play it.
I also hated doing competitions while I was growing up! I was made to do them on piano all the time. I’ve never done a single accordion competition and I love it!
Thanks for this great video, Lucy! I have the same Paloma, I think, but more recent. Either I was a little luckier or their manufacturing has improved, as I don't notice any quiet or loose keys or buttons. I've had it about a year, & had started to wonder what I'm missing out on by playing a cheap instrument. I feel like I have a much clearer idea now!
Now, I have watched all the way through, and, I had never considered Low and High reeds for Irish. Just did it, and love it. Even L,M,H works. I had to watch you to try it. I normally only use the single Middle (clarinet) for Irish because its simplicity seems to bring out the feeling that I'm looking for. Lately, I've been working on Scottish tunes using M,M and M,M,M (you should try some - really sweet melodies). I did mention in another post that I'm using a Scandalli Polifonico X, which covers everything that both of your accordions do, but of course it's heavier. Great to see you back, I'm positive that you will enjoy your new instrument. Keep it up girl..!!!
Thank you! I also like the single clarinet reed for Irish music but since the tunes are so short and I repeat them so much, it's fun to create a different sound using different combos :) Thanks for watching!
I've been watching you for a long time Lucy, I like the way you play the accordions In general and Scandalli I've been watching for a long time, I have Guerrini but I'm looking for an Air with 96 bass, health and much better👍👍👍
Hello Lucy, Thank you for your advice on my playing in your email. It's the accordion voices that cut across all the chatter in the dance hall. I have a Cavagnolo 4 row C Griff button accordion so the spread of the fingers is quite easy. I bought an old Scandalli for my wife. It was in bits. I opened it up and replaced all the bass wires and buttons where they should be and replaced some of the leathers. It had 4 large pads on the treble side to close the sound. She played it well. I am still struggling - don't think it will ever stop. :) Thanks for posting this. Regards D,
Sounding good Lucy. I finally got to earn some money again for 3 weeks before Christmas but as covid is increasing again in the U.K. I’m having to turn down work, and even stop busking again for fear of catching it. I never owned a Scandali accordion, my go to were always Weltmeisters when I was playing table to table in France Italy and Spain, I had a cooptiva 120 bass that was too heavy for strolling, but since I switched to playing Roland accordions my vast collection of acoustic instruments lies untouched. One advantage to the Roland is you can program your own reed settings via a computer so you have access to every sound you can dream up. For Irish I use either a lightly tuned 3 voice musette or the same with an added piccolo. And for some tunes I will use 2 middle reads both tuned to 440. I also have a nice Horner Morino sound for playing Scottish music, which now forms the basics of most of my live work. Have a great new year and hopefully soon covid will be gone and we can all get back to playing to our public and making a decent living once more.
Hi Stephen! Thanks for sharing a bit about your accordions. I am so sorry that covid is increasing in the U.K. It is also breaking records here in Australia. Hope things return to normal for you soon.
Lucy!! A new accordion?! it sounds pretty good. I still like the sound of the scandalli air 1. Which, by the way,.... I too, bought my accordion at Liberty bellows! I live in Pennsyvania,... I didn't know you lived in the states, and so close too. Seeing how my sister lived there, I could've made a visit! Anyway, both my accordions are used. Which, I don't like, but, have no choice at the time. However, I would like to purchase the same scandali air 1 as you have! I too love the old french sounds that the LMM has. So, are the back straps really necessary?... and did you order the shoulder and hand straps seperate? I'd like to tell you my experience on Liberty Bellows, but not on here,.... love the outfit!
Yours is from Liberty Bellows too! Does that make our accordions siblings? All of the straps except the back strap come with the accordion. I think backstraps are absolutely necessary!
8:35 all my accordions still crunch.. I used to think it was because they where new. But it’s because they are lightly used. once accordions are super used, they stop the crunchy noise. I use gabbanelli, Hohner Anacleto, Hohner corona II (German), and I’ve used Dino baffettis casteglione (Italian) Pedraza
Oh the Elka was Scottish musette originally. I like German folk music but Zupan seem to have best bass reed set. Galotta has nice bass, Elka not got tuba type sounds BUT I am trying to play the bass an octave lower instead (not a natural playing position though).
I've had to ship 4 accordions back to ebay sellers this past year. Most sellers feel that looks equals quality. Hence the problem. A new instrument is not in the budget. I won't give up. I just have to ask more of the right questions. Wish me luck. I have a $300 budget ! Tom in Idaho
Thanks for this, as someone who rarely gets to "talk shop" with other accordion players, it's nice to hear about your thoughts and preferences. I have an older Scandalli LM that's fun to play but doesn't hold a candle to the Air and Junior in terms of sound!
Thanks for this excellent video! I recently purchased a lovely Scandalli Tierra (from Liberty Bellows!). It has a beautiful dry sound. I see that your Junior has treble keys G-E. The Scandalli Tierra also has 34 keys but the range is F-D. I'm practicing some music that asks for a high E, and I'm wondering how often you use that key? Would you miss it much if you played an F-D instrument? Thanks!
Yay! You are back! Hi, welcome back :) It was so fun listening to you, sharing a bit of your story and also insights that come from experience! Thank you for putting in the time and effort to make this educational video for us! :) Few months back I've bought myself a digital piano. Just a cheap Roland FP50. Saving up the money for later to buy an Accordion haha. But seriously, I want to learn the piano first, I think it's easier to start with, then... hopefully buy myself a nice, not so cheap Accordion... If everything goes according... to plan haha. Your video was very helpful and inspirational. You are a great inspiration, and it's always a real treat listening to you play! I would love to listen to you live, but I live in EU and I also don't want to sound like a total creep haha so, yeah, happy for the upload, and also happy to see you smile! Thank you Miss Lucy, have a nice day! Until the next upload! :)
Hello! Thanks :) Yes I took a little break. Not by choice but lack of time and energy! Hopefully I can be a little more consistent in 2022. I appreciate your feedback. I never know how something is going to be received and I'm always a little nervous when I upload something different. I think it's a smart idea to get started with a keyboard! There's a lot more resources to help you learn piano, then when you get an accordion you will already feel comfortable navigating a keyboard and you'll understand music theory a little bit, which can help to understand the arrangement of the bass. Thanks for your support and positivity! Take care!
@@accordionlucy Excuse me for bothering you with one more reply, I know you spend time answering a lot of them, but I feel like this has to be said. Many people enjoy my positivity when I'm around but not many give any feedback, especially well... no one has ever been so kind and thougtful to word it specifically and thank me for it. I do it for free to everyone, it's my life goal to cheer people up, it pays for itself haha and still it means so much if someone notices it. Thank you for saying thanks... hm awkward but nevermind, seems like the right thing to do because small acts of kindness like yours can really make people feel better, help finding the energy to smile! And that's how my new year started with a smile haha :) Oh forgot to share that on my new lovely sounding piano, despite being digital I can already play 2 songs without knowing how to read sheet music haha! I chose "Comptine d'un autre été" from Yann Tiersen as the first song I ever learned because that song made me buy the piano in the first place haha and second song is "River flows in you" by Yiruma :) Oh yeah also, Happy New Year, but I know your new, dazzling red Scandalli has got you covered! :D That red is quite shocking at first, but amazing and also hints at the passion and love you have for your craft and instruments :) Wish you lot of time and energy this year to be able to enjoy it :)
Going to Scotland on Tuesday to test out a Pigini ellegarde special. It is a c handle 96 bass with converter. Right now i play on a old soviet era B handle Vostok bayan with no registers and only 3 rows, it also doesn’t help that it was designed for you not to use the thumb. Eventually i hope to play classical and baroque music, but I’m a long way off right now. Especially as i have to start again on C handle.
Also you were talking about the Paloma and how certain reads would not come in at the time that they should that is due to the gap at the tip of the Reed not being the right distance from the red plate and that is something that can be adjusted by a qualified technician. The dynamic range factors even mention of your other two accordions seem like to me they’re just the nature of the instruments themselves and nothing to be concerned about as they’re performing properly, but the way you described the Paloma on certain notes indicated that it might not have been set up correctly at the time but, that is the way it goes and not many people know, on harmonicas and concertinas and what not it’s the same as well. Just my two cents on those matters from what I have learned.
Thanks for providing a possible explanation for my reed problems in the Paloma. I never bothered having a technician look at it and now it's somewhere overseas so i'll never be able to check for sure.
@@accordionlucy no problem, there is a guy on TH-cam named Lester Bailey who does button accordion restorations and explains that very well in his episode of treble tuning of a homeowner accordion that he was restoring at the time. Plus when I was a kid I used to take my drunk or accordions apart to try and fix things before I got good instruments, you definitely made the right choice by getting new ones all the way along as I learned that the hard way before I got my good ones. Of course some of my accordions are used ones now but I knew they were in good condition and they still are because I learned what to look for by listening and asking the right questions and knowing who had them in the first place taking accordions apart when you’re blind is not the smartest idea lol
congratulations on your new accordion (nothing like the experience of receiving a new accordion) I own the collector item Scandalli Super Six built in the 1960's The accordion has been totally restored to new. I am considering selling it so perhaps some accordionists out there may want it as a lifetime investment.
Oh nice! I played around with a Super 6 last year but unfortunately it was far too big and heavy for me! I'm sure you won't struggle finding interested buyers on the internet. All the best!
I was checking out Scandalli button accordions, their flagship Extreme model is like $40,000. And even though I like the sound a lot, I'll probably be getting Weltmeister with Italian reeds for 7000 Euros... I just can't see myself dishing out 40K on an accordion...
Hey Lucy, You mentioned you were interested in a Beltuna, which model would you have gone for? The Scandalli Air I seems really good for polka and French music. Would you say its good for eastern european and italian as well? I would like to find a good accordion for all those types of music one day. The petosa am1100 musette looks really nice too. Hard to find detailed info for accordions! I guess i would just have to travel to the stores and give them a try..
Hmm I don't know! I actually haven't had a chance to play around with any Beltunas since that day many years ago! I would love to go back to Liberty Bellows now that I have a better idea of what I like. I would say the Scandalli Air I is pretty versatile for most styles! You might want to get different tuning depending on the style of music you're playing. I'm not an expert on Eastern European styles so maybe ask someone who was brought up in that region what sort of accordions they play. Yeah best way is to just spend a day playing as many accordion as you possibly can. All the best!
Give it a little time, and it may break in and be a little more to your liking. Or you'll just get used to it! Either way, it's a beautiful instrument and sounds great to my ears. You have excellent taste!
Hi Lucy shout out from State of George :) Love your playing Lucy :) I ordered from Liberty Bellows my first Walnut Saltarelle Awen Diatonic Button Accordion BC LMM 23 8 I had it tune to 432 hz *it should be coming in end of July. My friend is a drummer and wanted to learn cajun /zydeco accordion music but he gave up. Last week he sold me his Red Cream Cellini Piano Accordion LM 41 120 for US $ 25 Dollars in great condition .The first tune I'm going to learn is Bella Ciao from your video . Prayers goes out to you Mates across the Big Big Pond over there of Land Down Under . I use 432 Hz * for music therapy. I don't know you guys know the History why concert pitch went to 440 . Rockefeller & the Nazis change concert pitch to 440 knowingly that would unbalance the Physical body , Soul Body & Spiritual Body. There studies 432-440Hz Cymatics Frequency experiment - tonoscope. The Tibetan Crystal Singing Bowl are tune to 432 a line with Earth ,Sun & Planets. Dr. Rudolf Steiner Anthroposophy music therapy instruments are tune in 432 hz. I order a Saltarelle Awen Diatonic Button Accordion BC in 432 hz for music therapy. My Irish Penny Whistle is tune to 432 & my Irish 10 String Citterns is also tune in 432 hz. ( Cheers Lucy :)
Oooo buddy, the history of tuning is much more complicated than that. Pitch inflation was mainly driven by orchestras trying to out-brightness each other in the 19th century. According to *The Cambridge Companion to the Organ,* it was A459 at La Scala, Milan in 1856. Heck, modern orchestras don't even agree. Some 440, other 442, some as high as 445... And then a lot of the "historically informed performance" folks tune to 415... The idea for the 440 standard pre-dates WWII and Naziism by a significant amount of time. The history of tuning is a lot messier than even a lot of musicians realize. ...and that's not even touching the concept of temperament!
A few years ago my family were bequethed an old piano accordion by an Italian neighbour, an Exceslior American Special. I''ve wanted to learn accordion for a long time one of these days and also find someone who can tell me what I've gotten my hands on as I know nothing about the thing other than the name on it.
Your Excelsior is a top of the line instrument. Those made in the 1950's and '60's are sought after by professional players, but any vintage (if properly stored and cared for) are extremely well made. Good luck on your quest to enjoy your "new" gift!
Hola Lucy. Apenas te estoy conociendo y estoy sorprendido por la forma como transmites tus conocimientos. Llevo tres meses de estudio de acordeón y a pesar de aún no tocar con las dos manos al tiempo, realmente me apasiona. Poseo un acordeón Hohner tango ll de 1939 que según mi maestro suena bastante bien. Un saludo desde Colombia y espero aprender mucho de ti. Rafael Gómez
@@accordionlucy thank you. I over did it a bit though... Bought a few of them used, along with concertinas and accordions that look like concertinas. I had plans on fixing them up and then reselling them or giving them away to those also looking, but that stalled, as did my music playing for the most part. But I will get back into at some point. Glad to see you are alright and still making video though. =)
Hi Lucy. Didn't know you moved back to Australia. I actually reside in Philadelphia, and Mike, the Liberty Bellows owner, is my friend. Are you not interested in getting something with a tone chamber?
Hi there :) I moved back to Australia in April 2019. Oh say hello to Mike for me! I tried the Scandalli Air II in a shop here, but I didn't like the cassotto as much as I thought I would and considering the extra cost and weight I decided to leave it, for now at least.
@@accordionlucy No problem, if I happen to come in. Cassotto is not for every style of music, especially for the true musette sound you need all the three middle sets of reeds out of the chamber. Also the tone chamber kind of muffles the middle reed. So, unless you're more into the jazz, you can pass on a cassotto.
Regarding the dynamic flexibility of the new Air Junior, generally speaking, smaller accordions have less overall air capacity than their larger counterparts - one of the tradeoffs of going smaller. You get less volume of air with the same amount of bellows travel. Because of physics, however, the size of the reeds doesn't really change; they need to be a certain size to get the correct pitch. Ergo, you need more bellows to play the same notes at the same volumes. For example, I have two similarly voiced 120 bass instruments. One is a full size 41/120, and the other is a compact 41/120 and the difference in volume between the two is rather significant. With the full size one, it feels like I can play a mezzo or mezzo piano phrase forever, and its fortissimo is a REAL fortissimo! If I play that one a lot, I find I end up running out of bellows playing the same pieces on the slightly smaller one. Funnily enough, the smaller one is actually MORE work to play than the bigger one, despite both instruments being equally well maintained and air-tight. Although, I do feel the bigger one in my back sooner...so sometimes it's a worth-while compromise! Anyway, just some stuff to think about! I've been playing guitar for 25 years, but I picked up accordion in 2009. I've been repairing the little marvels of engineering for about 5 years now! It has been a crazy journey!
Hi Ryan, thanks for sharing your input! It's interesting that you say this, because now that I have had my accordion for 1 year I can agree that sometimes it feels like more work due to the lesser air capacity of the junior. It's less damaging for my back when I'm using it for strolling gigs due to it's lighter weight, but I do find it harder to play nicely especially when I use the master switch. I pretty much don't use that one anymore because I can only get through 2 measures/bars of music before having to come back in! I feel that I am limited to the violin switch and have to play not too forte, which is a problem when I'm in a crowded venue and need the volume. It's ok when I'm playing with microphones because I don't have to rely on the bellows pressure so much.
@@accordionlucy Yeah, I mean, really, it's just a great excuse to have a bunch of different accordions! lol Funny story - I took a 12 bass to a gig once. Little Galanti LM thing. Huge sound for such a tiny little instrument! The gig was happening during a snow storm, and it was mostly folky I-IV-V-ish vocal accompaniment stuff, so I was able to get away with it...but just barely! lol Either way, I wasn't about to drag a 120 bass through the snow!
@@accordionlucy It was fun! Only real issue I had was running out of bellows (as previously discussed), and also reaching for bass buttons that didn't exist! lol It's amazing how hard it is to NOT do all those fun bass runs when you are so used to them!
Thanks for sharing. I know you played piano for about 9 years. So, you knew the keyboard side. But, how long did it take you to learn the base side? Which finger pattern do you use the 3/2 or the 4/3? Curious.
HI Lucy what is your preferred tuning for playing French tunes? I have just bought the Scandalli Air 72 base and returned it to LIberty Bellows to have it retuned to a more wet sound. They sent me a sound sample of 19 different tunings and I’m trying to decide if a Standard Tremelo is similar to yours. I would appreciate your comments. Derick Tickle.
The reed plate quality on the Scandalli is much better than your old Accordion, i think it is Tipo a Mano, so Handmade Tips or Super Dural which is like the 3rd best when it comes to reed quality. I myself play a Scandalli Air V, before i played a Ballone Burini, both 120 Bass Instruments one was Tipo A Mano and one A Mano and even between those two Instruments which are both quite good, the jump was quite big. But something on your Keys is squeeking, idk if it annoys you but for me it gets annoying very quickly listening to it. I had similar Problems with my Accordion, Scandalli seems to have some Problems when it comes to the Quality they are giving Instruments out... that is a bit sad, i needed to check it to get checked by our local Accordion Specialist already 2 times in 1 year, but the Instrument Quality itself is really good, for me i am just sad that i still don't have a double tone chamber on the Bass and Chin Switches
Interesting. I couldn't afford frightened of a full price accordion but here in Socal I was able to get lucky and find old/antique instruments to learn to play. Looks like many people emptied their attics the last few years. However, they all need work and now I have to learn to fix them before I can play properly. All in all this has been a huge growing experience for me. I plan to search for one of these master-tuned accordions once my fingers earn it. I think the new mini red is a great homage to your accordion beginning. What do you think of a light up Accordion? I'm gauging reactions on an RGB instrument.
Really enjoyed your video, have you ever tried the Roland V Accordions? I play a FR4X (which I call Frida) in a Scottish Dance Band, and I really enjoy playing it.
There are no accordion stores near me. Those that are drivable distances do not have musette tuning. Not sure I like the idea of having something shipped all the way across North America, either from Liberty Bellows in Pennsylvania or Tempo Trend Music from Canada. Although the latter has a return trade in for a new accordion deal going on. What is worse no accordions to really try before I make an expensive purchase. No music stores even carry an accordion to rent. =/
I drove about 10 hours to visit Liberty Bellows and it was great! I ordered online once I went back home and had time to think about my decision. It arrived in perfect condition.
@@accordionlucy the warranty from Liberty Bellows, did it include free shipping back and forth? Also what do you recommend living in a hot climate? Summers can be brutal for some of us. Is it more the humidity or just the heat that will cause the issues?
have you evert tried to play an accordion with dots because of its very funny and you have even more notes that you can play for example I play a Lonola with five base switches and 120 base
I like very much🌹 Absolutely beautiful🌹 Play for us! 🌹 I loved listening to Myron Floren who played accordion on the Lawerence Welk TV Show I could listen to you forever🌹 You must have a tremendous repertoire stored away in your brain!🌹
Hi lucy!... another question,.... do you still have your melodion musette music book?... I just got mine,.. learning the first song in the book, I noticed an "H" note going with the g7,.. can you tell me what note that is?
Hi Pat. In German notation H is B natural, and B is B flat. I hope that makes sense. So when you see H before G7, use the B in the counterbass row of G.
Hi Lucy! I played acordeon when I was 7 until 10. Now I'm 73 years old , I retired last year and began to play again. I can remember the children musics I had played and I can read the treble clef only.
Well, I have the same old Paolo Soprani 90 basses and I'm loving your performance. Lovely songs!
I wish I could play like you!! Congratulations!
Marta from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Maria. Like you,I learned to play as a child, but for a few more years, then ,like you , I gave it up. I am now 76 and my wife bought a small acccordion at a garage sale with the intention of reselling it, She didn't know I used to play. I had a fiddle with it and I am hooked now, I bought a 80 bass Settiomio Soprani, quite old but still good, and I now busk a bit and play at nursing homes.I am seriousely considering buying one of these Scandelli Juniors. Lucy makes it sound pretty good doesn't she.
@@trevorhill6762 congratulations! You do accordion performances!! Good vibes!!
Now my don began also to play and I'm very proud of him!
My son...
Hello Marta, When I was young I made the same comment; I wish I could play like you! The rebuke that I got was that if I did play as good as that then I would not be able to appreciate others playing. I am 84 and still "struggling" along. I love Lucy's playing but I am nowhere near her talent. Dennis.
The most detailed accordion video I have ever seen. Congratulations
Thanks Marco!
@@accordionlucy Hello Lucy! I'm Luigifisa of Instagram. I would like to dialogue with you more frequently because you are great when you play 😍
I have only just found your channel - got a lot of videos to watch now!
I too had piano lessons, then guitar then violin lessons as a kid.
I met an accordionist in a bar - I took to it and now have 3!
He sold me a cheap Galotta (nice, easy to play, full size but not the best reeds).
Once I got into playing better (plus lessons) I bought an old but very capable Elkavox from a professional (not cheap).
Lovely reeds, midi (RA70), Elka sound generator (huge box of 80's electronics!), rythmn unit, amplifier/speaker...need a van! BUT absolutely awesome! Heavy but it has some much volume control and smooth action.
It was a harsh musette so had it retuned to French(ish) - it really sounds great.
The friend and I ran a folk club for years in the bar!
He had a Scandalli - I loved it but he recently traded it for a FR4x (I would have bought it!).. well he then struggled with the all electronic and bought a small Borsini for ease of playing!!
This video confirms what I have learnt too.
That's wonderful, Lucy - now I want one! I'm having a great time with my little Carlo Robelli 48 button, and your videos are a source of enjoyment, instruction, and inspiration to me. Thank you!
Thanks Andrew :)
NEXT YEAR I WILL BE 90 THAT MEANS NOTHING EXCEPT I HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR MUSIC FOR A LONG TIME-----THANKS SO MUCH FOR THESE PAST YEARS ROBERT B.
Thanks for listening Robert. Have a Merry Christmas.
Thanks so much! wonderful to have such detailed and informative comments. Your wonderful playing is a real inspiration to me as a beginner (with a starter accordion too), so I'm one day - partly as a motivation to improve - hoping to upgrade - likely also from Music Junction as its the only place to get new accordions in Australia. So your comparisons are very valuable, especially in relation to the expressiveness and fine gradations that you can get on your Air 1. Unfortunately with all the lockdowns and disease around I've not been able to get down to Music Junction but will do so and try some as soon as its possible.
Sounds great! I play a LoDuca I've been playing it for 52yrs.
Thank you for posting your wonderful videos, Lucy. I practice my clarinet by improvising while you play! We sound pretty good together! And yes, I love Musette, too.
That sounds like a lot of fun :) Thanks for watching my videos
right at the monent when you say "keap your accordion out of heat" 12:27 i rememberd i had left my accordion out my car on this sunny may day! thanks
Thank you for taking the time to make this video! I appreciate all the thought that went into it, and you taking the time to explain your thoughts and opinions!
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment :)
@@accordionlucy Your posts are very informative and educational. When people ask me about the subjects you talk about, I refer them to your videos. Blessings to you and thank you for all you do!
Nice review! I’m a saxophonist and woodwind player for 30 years and have been contemplating possibly picking up accordion. It looks fun. You definitely can hear the clear greater dynamic range in the Scandalli. Great videos. Still lots to learn and look up before I even get started!
Hi there! Thanks for watching my video :) You should totally pick up the accordion! There’s so much free educational content popping up on TH-cam and with your background in music I’m sure you’ll smash it!
I'm also a woodwind player for 40 years about 15 years ago I got an accordion I'm so in love with my accordions and now waiting on a scandali air 111 t 37 120 bass ,I practice my others instruments because I have to but then I move onto my love,,,accordion ❤❤
My path is similar to yours, having owned "cheap" accordions, but also getting one from Liberty Bellows in the past. The Air is on my short lists of accordions to step up to (in quality), so I appreciate this video!
Very nice accordion! Thank you for uploading these videos for us to enjoy
My pleasure!
Hi Lucy, always a pleasure to see and listen to you
Thanks so much Roberto :)
Thanks for comparison of 3 accordions. You did it with hi-end precision and presented a lot of details :)
Oh thanks, that's a really nice compliment. I appreciate it!
Dear Lucy! Congrats on a new accordion. It is always very exciting to unbox one! I had a chance to visit scandally and other brands in Castelfidardo and watch the productions. Scandally is definitely a leader in quality accordions. I tested many models. What really makes a difference, except the manual pitch adjustment, is the Cassotto and so called ' A-mani' reeds. Anyway, whatever model you own, have a great time with it! It will develop its 'own soul' and become part of your music style. Great fun!
Thank you! Oh I would LOVE to visit Castelfidardo. Can you believe I was in Italy for 5 months in 2015 and never went?! That was at the beginning of my accordion journey before I knew anything about their production. Maybe my next accordion to add to the collection will be an Air II with the cassotto.
Anyway thanks for watching. Have a Happy New Year!
Well you asked us to comment if we had a similar accordion - I've just bought a Scandalli Air Junior with LMMM tuning from Music Junction (had it for about 24 hours now). I wanted musette tuning, and am attracted to smaller, lighter instruments because I find I tend to pick them up to try things and practice more - its range also covers everything I want to play at the moment. Lovely sound, and a rich fruity musette, though not quite as responsive and the Air I 96 I tried, though still very good. That's an incentive to get better and work hard, so see if I "deserve" a better instrument. At the moment I'm working through all the combinations of reeds and registers to see what suits my pieces best. Anyway, your video certainly enhanced my confidence in what I was buying, because I had been planning it for ages, but the lockdowns intervened, and I took the chance during a long airline stopover (thank you Virgin - 31 hours from Sydney to Brisbane) and Palmi wasn't in so I couldn't discuss it with him.
The accordion has many "faces" and one of these is its "singing face". In your videos you use the accordion mostly as a singing instrument, which is great. I liked very much your natural, pleasant disposition in this video and of course your nice playing!
Thank you so much. I am a huge fan of your channel and adore your style and arrangements!
Loved the squeeze box when I moved to Louisiana and heard Clifton Chenier play zydeco/cajun music. Then I moved to Colombia and became a big fan of Vallenato music. Those are all Hohner's. Good to see you playing
i have a scandalli left to me by my Brother you are great really like playing accordion
Interesting and informative video. It's always nice to know what people think of their various instruments, and comparing one with another.
Thanks! I should post an update now that I've had it for 1 year. I have much more of an opinion now.
Hey Lucy! So excited for your new "baby". You;re a perfect You Tube Personality...thank you for all the information you thoughtfully share, for your tutorials, and inspirational videos. Love your fun skirt!
Oh my, and here I am complaining of my 22lbs Petosa when this young woman is able to carry something as heavy.
Excellent channel. I'm subscribing.
Ha ha! Thanks Jaime :)
Dear Lucy! Congratulations to the new instrument. I own two Scandallis: An Air Junior as yours and an Air II with tone chamber and handmade toneplates. Both are great instruments, even they are Quote different. The Junior Is my favorite for Sessions, rehearsals and Performances without PA. Easy to handle, great variety of sounds and enough dynamic range for playing also in a group/Band. I love the sound and how easy it responses on my bellow-work. I Never was busking, nur I think the Junior will be perfect for this (your) use.
The Air II Is only a little heavier (ca. 9.2 kg) and sounds much softer because of how it Is build. I have microphons built in and in concerts I play always with my PA (BOSE L1 compact). The dynamic range is incredible! And my Air II has a very flat tremolo whitch Sounds very elegant. And offen I use the piccoli combined with the low reeds.
I am a great fan of italian accordions, and the two I own today - they are my best ever!
Greetings from Northern Germany and a Happy New Year with many happy Gigs!!!
Ooh interesting! I nearly went for the Air II but I wasn't sure if I would get enough use out of the tone chamber and I felt the junior was lighter and easier to handle which is perfect for my roving gigs. I've never had a microphone built in to my accordion, but I am considering doing it for my Air I this year because I might start performing in a group. What microphones do you have?
Thanks for sharing a bit about your accordions! Do you have any videos of you performing? I would love to see how it sounds.
Happy New Year!
Hi I've only just discovered you and I love your clips and info, I'm buying a scanair 111 t 37 120 lmmm 9.5 kls can't wait to get it at the moment I have a sonola ss6 an excelsior 960 and a hohner musette 4 ,I'm drawn to the musette tuning more..thankyou for your great work
Congratulations on the new accordion! I just started out to learn the accordion in September and have a small practice model (more than enough for now). But I long for the day I can play one of these. And thank you for all the wonderful videos, they are a source of inspiration to keep learning and practicing!
Hi Philip! Oh that's wonderful! All the best with your learning. And thanks for watching my videos :)
They sound really sweet. Your accordions!
Thanks!
Its fantastic!
Just found your chanel.
I am accordeonist too and I'm impressed by your positive and so useful videos.
Hello from Ukraine, I wish you many many subscribers)))
Thank you so much!
This video 4 months ago caused me to buy my current accordion and now I'm learning rosamunde polka
Oh wow that's amazing. Congrats!
You play very very well Lucie, You inspiring me very much 😊.
Greatings from Bavaria 🤗
Thank you so much! I was just in Bavaria! Lovely place :)
@@accordionlucy oh, thank you really much. You‘re right, we have a wonderful Natur and lot‘s of traditions und culture. But I also love your country australia, because it has so many different landscapes and also the koalas 🐨 🙂
Wow Lucy, how exciting for you to have a new accordion ... lots of inspiration coming along for sure. Looking forward to seeing your new sessions. I have always liked Scandalli although my accordions are Hohner except for one Van de Velde. Enjoy.
Hi Lucy! Congrats on your new accordion, and I just accidentally found your channel here. Love your playing and the fact that I found another fellow accordionist in Melbourne. I play a little myself, different type of accordion though, the button version, also recorded some videos, if you are interested you are very welcome to my channel.
Happy New Year and the best wishes!
Hello and welcome to my channel!
It’s always nice to meet another accordionist in Melbourne. I will definitely check out your videos :)
I got a B grif 4/5 LMMH with something around 50 unique buttons (5 rows), 2 bass switches, nice straps, a crocodile textured case, and that padding to keep the bellows from pinching me on Ebay for 330USD!! I changed some pallets, valves, unstuck a few reeds, and it plays very well! I got really lucky with that price. I've been playing it for 2 years now.
WOW that's an amazing deal. Very lucky. Congratulations!
Hey there, great video. I love that Scandolly accordion. Both of them actually. I have an arpeggio accordion that sounds exactly like the senior version to a T, even the base section and everything. I also have a Titanno that sounds exactly like the junior with the Piccolo Reed.The muset on that model of accordion was very dry but my grandfather had it changed to wet tuning, pretty much the same as your new one is, and that was a good choice. I have six piano accordions and two button boxes, one chromatic and one a little diatonic and you’ve inspired me to get my wife to help me do a video on all of my ones I have, and share the thoughts just like you did I think that is a really neat idea. I say that because I am blind of course lol. I definitely like having the different sound choices for sure
Hi Jeremy!
Ooooh I would love a video of your various accordions! You have a lot more than me.
@@accordionlucy well I will have to do this then. I have a lot of posts of me playing various instruments on Facebook, and on TH-cam, but I haven’t actually made my own videos on my own channel yet
I have a 120 bass excelsior which is my 4th accordion, I haven't played it since 1967 when we moved from Sydney to the country where there were no teachers ,at the time was 11 and was really glad to not play it as my parents made me play in aesteffods which were terrifying.
I do wish I could still play it.
I also hated doing competitions while I was growing up! I was made to do them on piano all the time. I’ve never done a single accordion competition and I love it!
Thanks for this great video, Lucy! I have the same Paloma, I think, but more recent. Either I was a little luckier or their manufacturing has improved, as I don't notice any quiet or loose keys or buttons. I've had it about a year, & had started to wonder what I'm missing out on by playing a cheap instrument. I feel like I have a much clearer idea now!
I had to take my straps to a shoe repair shop to have my shoulder straps shortened so I totally understand the hassles of being short and small .
Now, I have watched all the way through, and, I had never considered Low and High reeds for Irish. Just did it, and love it. Even L,M,H works. I had to watch you to try it. I normally only use the single Middle (clarinet) for Irish because its simplicity seems to bring out the feeling that I'm looking for.
Lately, I've been working on Scottish tunes using M,M and M,M,M (you should try some - really sweet melodies).
I did mention in another post that I'm using a Scandalli Polifonico X, which covers everything that both of your accordions do, but of course it's heavier.
Great to see you back, I'm positive that you will enjoy your new instrument. Keep it up girl..!!!
Thank you! I also like the single clarinet reed for Irish music but since the tunes are so short and I repeat them so much, it's fun to create a different sound using different combos :) Thanks for watching!
I've been watching you for a long time Lucy, I like the way you play the accordions In general and Scandalli I've been watching for a long time, I have Guerrini but I'm looking for an Air with 96 bass, health and much better👍👍👍
It’s nice to meet you, long time subscriber! :) thanks for watching. I hope you find the accordion of your dreams!
Nice video nothing like the smell of a new accordion when you open the case!
mmm yes and it still smells the same :) (the junior that is)
I'd love to see you play live someday . Great video . Very insightful ❤
Thank you :)
Hello Lucy, Thank you for your advice on my playing in your email. It's the accordion voices that cut across all the chatter in the dance hall. I have a Cavagnolo 4 row C Griff button accordion so the spread of the fingers is quite easy. I bought an old Scandalli for my wife. It was in bits. I opened it up and replaced all the bass wires and buttons where they should be and replaced some of the leathers. It had 4 large pads on the treble side to close the sound. She played it well. I am still struggling - don't think it will ever stop. :) Thanks for posting this. Regards D,
Don't ever stop! Thanks so much for watching :)
Sounding good Lucy. I finally got to earn some money again for 3 weeks before Christmas but as covid is increasing again in the U.K. I’m having to turn down work, and even stop busking again for fear of catching it. I never owned a Scandali accordion, my go to were always Weltmeisters when I was playing table to table in France Italy and Spain, I had a cooptiva 120 bass that was too heavy for strolling, but since I switched to playing Roland accordions my vast collection of acoustic instruments lies untouched. One advantage to the Roland is you can program your own reed settings via a computer so you have access to every sound you can dream up. For Irish I use either a lightly tuned 3 voice musette or the same with an added piccolo. And for some tunes I will use 2 middle reads both tuned to 440. I also have a nice Horner Morino sound for playing Scottish music, which now forms the basics of most of my live work. Have a great new year and hopefully soon covid will be gone and we can all get back to playing to our public and making a decent living once more.
Hi Stephen! Thanks for sharing a bit about your accordions. I am so sorry that covid is increasing in the U.K. It is also breaking records here in Australia. Hope things return to normal for you soon.
Lucy!! A new accordion?! it sounds pretty good. I still like the sound of the scandalli air 1. Which, by the way,.... I too, bought my accordion at Liberty bellows! I live in Pennsyvania,... I didn't know you lived in the states, and so close too. Seeing how my sister lived there, I could've made a visit! Anyway, both my accordions are used. Which, I don't like, but, have no choice at the time. However, I would like to purchase the same scandali air 1 as you have! I too love the old french sounds that the LMM has. So, are the back straps really necessary?... and did you order the shoulder and hand straps seperate? I'd like to tell you my experience on Liberty Bellows, but not on here,.... love the outfit!
Yours is from Liberty Bellows too! Does that make our accordions siblings?
All of the straps except the back strap come with the accordion. I think backstraps are absolutely necessary!
8:35 all my accordions still crunch.. I used to think it was because they where new. But it’s because they are lightly used. once accordions are super used, they stop the crunchy noise. I use gabbanelli, Hohner Anacleto, Hohner corona II (German), and I’ve used Dino baffettis casteglione (Italian) Pedraza
Good to know the crunchy sound can fade!
Oh the Elka was Scottish musette originally. I like German folk music but Zupan seem to have best bass reed set. Galotta has nice bass, Elka not got tuba type sounds BUT I am trying to play the bass an octave lower instead (not a natural playing position though).
I've had to ship 4 accordions back to ebay sellers this past year. Most sellers feel that looks equals quality. Hence the problem. A new instrument is not in the budget. I won't give up. I just have to ask more of the right questions. Wish me luck. I have a $300 budget ! Tom in Idaho
Good luck! There's always that risk when you buy online but sometimes it works out! Hasn't for me because I'm not game enough to do it.
One way is to learn to tune yourself. The instruments that have gone out of tune usually are cheap to buy.
Thanks for this, as someone who rarely gets to "talk shop" with other accordion players, it's nice to hear about your thoughts and preferences. I have an older Scandalli LM that's fun to play but doesn't hold a candle to the Air and Junior in terms of sound!
Thanks for watching :) I haven't played a LM tuning before but I imagine it would be light which would be nice!
Thanks for this excellent video! I recently purchased a lovely Scandalli Tierra (from Liberty Bellows!). It has a beautiful dry sound. I see that your Junior has treble keys G-E. The Scandalli Tierra also has 34 keys but the range is F-D. I'm practicing some music that asks for a high E, and I'm wondering how often you use that key? Would you miss it much if you played an F-D instrument? Thanks!
Yay! You are back! Hi, welcome back :)
It was so fun listening to you, sharing a bit of your story and also insights that come from experience! Thank you for putting in the time and effort to make this educational video for us! :)
Few months back I've bought myself a digital piano. Just a cheap Roland FP50. Saving up the money for later to buy an Accordion haha. But seriously, I want to learn the piano first, I think it's easier to start with, then... hopefully buy myself a nice, not so cheap Accordion... If everything goes according... to plan haha. Your video was very helpful and inspirational. You are a great inspiration, and it's always a real treat listening to you play! I would love to listen to you live, but I live in EU and I also don't want to sound like a total creep haha so, yeah, happy for the upload, and also happy to see you smile! Thank you Miss Lucy, have a nice day! Until the next upload! :)
Hello! Thanks :) Yes I took a little break. Not by choice but lack of time and energy! Hopefully I can be a little more consistent in 2022.
I appreciate your feedback. I never know how something is going to be received and I'm always a little nervous when I upload something different. I think it's a smart idea to get started with a keyboard! There's a lot more resources to help you learn piano, then when you get an accordion you will already feel comfortable navigating a keyboard and you'll understand music theory a little bit, which can help to understand the arrangement of the bass.
Thanks for your support and positivity! Take care!
@@accordionlucy Excuse me for bothering you with one more reply, I know you spend time answering a lot of them, but I feel like this has to be said. Many people enjoy my positivity when I'm around but not many give any feedback, especially well... no one has ever been so kind and thougtful to word it specifically and thank me for it. I do it for free to everyone, it's my life goal to cheer people up, it pays for itself haha and still it means so much if someone notices it. Thank you for saying thanks... hm awkward but nevermind, seems like the right thing to do because small acts of kindness like yours can really make people feel better, help finding the energy to smile! And that's how my new year started with a smile haha :) Oh forgot to share that on my new lovely sounding piano, despite being digital I can already play 2 songs without knowing how to read sheet music haha! I chose "Comptine d'un autre été" from Yann Tiersen as the first song I ever learned because that song made me buy the piano in the first place haha and second song is "River flows in you" by Yiruma :)
Oh yeah also, Happy New Year, but I know your new, dazzling red Scandalli has got you covered! :D That red is quite shocking at first, but amazing and also hints at the passion and love you have for your craft and instruments :) Wish you lot of time and energy this year to be able to enjoy it :)
such an interesting video and you are so talented
Thanks for watching!
Hi very beautiful sound i also like this instrument and your playing awesome 👍 i am musician i play keyboard 🎹
Going to Scotland on Tuesday to test out a Pigini ellegarde special. It is a c handle 96 bass with converter. Right now i play on a old soviet era B handle Vostok bayan with no registers and only 3 rows, it also doesn’t help that it was designed for you not to use the thumb. Eventually i hope to play classical and baroque music, but I’m a long way off right now. Especially as i have to start again on C handle.
Also you were talking about the Paloma and how certain reads would not come in at the time that they should that is due to the gap at the tip of the Reed not being the right distance from the red plate and that is something that can be adjusted by a qualified technician. The dynamic range factors even mention of your other two accordions seem like to me they’re just the nature of the instruments themselves and nothing to be concerned about as they’re performing properly, but the way you described the Paloma on certain notes indicated that it might not have been set up correctly at the time but, that is the way it goes and not many people know, on harmonicas and concertinas and what not it’s the same as well. Just my two cents on those matters from what I have learned.
Thanks for providing a possible explanation for my reed problems in the Paloma. I never bothered having a technician look at it and now it's somewhere overseas so i'll never be able to check for sure.
@@accordionlucy no problem, there is a guy on TH-cam named Lester Bailey who does button accordion restorations and explains that very well in his episode of treble tuning of a homeowner accordion that he was restoring at the time. Plus when I was a kid I used to take my drunk or accordions apart to try and fix things before I got good instruments, you definitely made the right choice by getting new ones all the way along as I learned that the hard way before I got my good ones. Of course some of my accordions are used ones now but I knew they were in good condition and they still are because I learned what to look for by listening and asking the right questions and knowing who had them in the first place taking accordions apart when you’re blind is not the smartest idea lol
congratulations on your new accordion (nothing like the experience of receiving a new accordion) I own the collector item Scandalli Super Six built in the 1960's
The accordion has been totally restored to new.
I am considering selling it so perhaps some accordionists out there may want it as a lifetime investment.
Oh nice! I played around with a Super 6 last year but unfortunately it was far too big and heavy for me! I'm sure you won't struggle finding interested buyers on the internet. All the best!
I was checking out Scandalli button accordions, their flagship Extreme model is like $40,000. And even though I like the sound a lot, I'll probably be getting Weltmeister with Italian reeds for 7000 Euros... I just can't see myself dishing out 40K on an accordion...
Hey Lucy, You mentioned you were interested in a Beltuna, which model would you have gone for? The Scandalli Air I seems really good for polka and French music. Would you say its good for eastern european and italian as well? I would like to find a good accordion for all those types of music one day. The petosa am1100 musette looks really nice too. Hard to find detailed info for accordions! I guess i would just have to travel to the stores and give them a try..
Hmm I don't know! I actually haven't had a chance to play around with any Beltunas since that day many years ago! I would love to go back to Liberty Bellows now that I have a better idea of what I like.
I would say the Scandalli Air I is pretty versatile for most styles! You might want to get different tuning depending on the style of music you're playing. I'm not an expert on Eastern European styles so maybe ask someone who was brought up in that region what sort of accordions they play.
Yeah best way is to just spend a day playing as many accordion as you possibly can. All the best!
Great news!
Give it a little time, and it may break in and be a little more to your liking. Or you'll just get used to it! Either way, it's a beautiful instrument and sounds great to my ears. You have excellent taste!
Thanks William!
Hi Lucy shout out from State of George :) Love your playing Lucy :) I ordered from Liberty Bellows my first Walnut Saltarelle Awen Diatonic Button Accordion BC LMM 23 8 I had it tune to 432 hz *it should be coming in end of July. My friend is a drummer and wanted to learn cajun /zydeco accordion music but he gave up. Last week he sold me his Red Cream Cellini Piano Accordion LM 41 120 for US $ 25 Dollars in great condition .The first tune I'm going to learn is Bella Ciao from your video . Prayers goes out to you Mates across the Big Big Pond over there of Land Down Under . I use 432 Hz * for music therapy. I don't know you guys know the History why concert pitch went to 440 . Rockefeller & the Nazis change concert pitch to 440 knowingly that would unbalance the Physical body , Soul Body & Spiritual Body. There studies 432-440Hz Cymatics Frequency experiment - tonoscope. The Tibetan Crystal Singing Bowl are tune to 432 a line with Earth ,Sun & Planets. Dr. Rudolf Steiner Anthroposophy music therapy instruments are tune in 432 hz. I order a Saltarelle Awen Diatonic Button Accordion BC in 432 hz for music therapy. My Irish Penny Whistle is tune to 432 & my Irish 10 String Citterns is also tune in 432 hz. ( Cheers Lucy :)
Oooo buddy, the history of tuning is much more complicated than that. Pitch inflation was mainly driven by orchestras trying to out-brightness each other in the 19th century. According to *The Cambridge Companion to the Organ,* it was A459 at La Scala, Milan in 1856. Heck, modern orchestras don't even agree. Some 440, other 442, some as high as 445... And then a lot of the "historically informed performance" folks tune to 415... The idea for the 440 standard pre-dates WWII and Naziism by a significant amount of time. The history of tuning is a lot messier than even a lot of musicians realize. ...and that's not even touching the concept of temperament!
Congratulation! I have the same SCANDALLI Air I. in red color. Iam very satisfide with it.
Yay! Aren't we lucky :)
A few years ago my family were bequethed an old piano accordion by an Italian neighbour, an Exceslior American Special. I''ve wanted to learn accordion for a long time one of these days and also find someone who can tell me what I've gotten my hands on as I know nothing about the thing other than the name on it.
Your Excelsior is a top of the line instrument. Those made in the 1950's and '60's are sought after by professional players, but any vintage (if properly stored and cared for) are extremely well made.
Good luck on your quest to enjoy your "new" gift!
You get what you pay for. Great accordion.
I really like the color red for you. I wish you a happy new year with health and many musical performances.❤
Thanks so much :) Happy New Year!
@@accordionlucy 🙏
@@accordionlucy ❤
happy New Year !!! Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina. :-)
Happy New Year!
Try also Hohner bran accordion as well♥️❤️💜💚🌺🌹✅️✅️✅️✅️✅️
I've got one but it's a secret for now shhhhhhhhhh
Hola Lucy. Apenas te estoy conociendo y estoy sorprendido por la forma como transmites tus conocimientos. Llevo tres meses de estudio de acordeón y a pesar de aún no tocar con las dos manos al tiempo, realmente me apasiona. Poseo un acordeón Hohner tango ll de 1939 que según mi maestro suena bastante bien. Un saludo desde Colombia y espero aprender mucho de ti. Rafael Gómez
Hi Raphael,
Thank you for your support. I hope you learn a lot from my channel and find it interesting! Thanks for being here.
Lucy
it sounds great and the mother pearl keyboard is good and nice
I really like the keyboard too!
Great content Lucy. Well Produced. Will you be doing any sea shanties or pirates of the Caribbean covers ?
Thank you! Oh yes I have always wanted to do Pirates of the Caribbean; it's still on the list.
Well hopefully you are doing well and will post another video some time. I finally did get my accordion(s). =P
Congratulations on getting an accordion! Or multiple, by the sounds of it!
@@accordionlucy thank you. I over did it a bit though... Bought a few of them used, along with concertinas and accordions that look like concertinas. I had plans on fixing them up and then reselling them or giving them away to those also looking, but that stalled, as did my music playing for the most part. But I will get back into at some point. Glad to see you are alright and still making video though. =)
So sad you had to sell the Junior
Hi Lucy. Didn't know you moved back to Australia. I actually reside in Philadelphia, and Mike, the Liberty Bellows owner, is my friend. Are you not interested in getting something with a tone chamber?
Hi there :) I moved back to Australia in April 2019. Oh say hello to Mike for me! I tried the Scandalli Air II in a shop here, but I didn't like the cassotto as much as I thought I would and considering the extra cost and weight I decided to leave it, for now at least.
@@accordionlucy No problem, if I happen to come in.
Cassotto is not for every style of music, especially for the true musette sound you need all the three middle sets of reeds out of the chamber. Also the tone chamber kind of muffles the middle reed. So, unless you're more into the jazz, you can pass on a cassotto.
Regarding the dynamic flexibility of the new Air Junior, generally speaking, smaller accordions have less overall air capacity than their larger counterparts - one of the tradeoffs of going smaller. You get less volume of air with the same amount of bellows travel. Because of physics, however, the size of the reeds doesn't really change; they need to be a certain size to get the correct pitch. Ergo, you need more bellows to play the same notes at the same volumes.
For example, I have two similarly voiced 120 bass instruments. One is a full size 41/120, and the other is a compact 41/120 and the difference in volume between the two is rather significant. With the full size one, it feels like I can play a mezzo or mezzo piano phrase forever, and its fortissimo is a REAL fortissimo! If I play that one a lot, I find I end up running out of bellows playing the same pieces on the slightly smaller one. Funnily enough, the smaller one is actually MORE work to play than the bigger one, despite both instruments being equally well maintained and air-tight. Although, I do feel the bigger one in my back sooner...so sometimes it's a worth-while compromise!
Anyway, just some stuff to think about! I've been playing guitar for 25 years, but I picked up accordion in 2009. I've been repairing the little marvels of engineering for about 5 years now! It has been a crazy journey!
Hi Ryan, thanks for sharing your input! It's interesting that you say this, because now that I have had my accordion for 1 year I can agree that sometimes it feels like more work due to the lesser air capacity of the junior. It's less damaging for my back when I'm using it for strolling gigs due to it's lighter weight, but I do find it harder to play nicely especially when I use the master switch. I pretty much don't use that one anymore because I can only get through 2 measures/bars of music before having to come back in! I feel that I am limited to the violin switch and have to play not too forte, which is a problem when I'm in a crowded venue and need the volume. It's ok when I'm playing with microphones because I don't have to rely on the bellows pressure so much.
@@accordionlucy Yeah, I mean, really, it's just a great excuse to have a bunch of different accordions! lol Funny story - I took a 12 bass to a gig once. Little Galanti LM thing. Huge sound for such a tiny little instrument! The gig was happening during a snow storm, and it was mostly folky I-IV-V-ish vocal accompaniment stuff, so I was able to get away with it...but just barely! lol Either way, I wasn't about to drag a 120 bass through the snow!
@@ryano.5149 oh wow! It's great you could do that! I need to create a 12 bass set list so I can do the same thing that sounds great!
@@accordionlucy It was fun! Only real issue I had was running out of bellows (as previously discussed), and also reaching for bass buttons that didn't exist! lol It's amazing how hard it is to NOT do all those fun bass runs when you are so used to them!
I'm new on this road but l like .
welcome!
Thanks for sharing. I know you played piano for about 9 years. So, you knew the keyboard side. But, how long did it take you to learn the base side? Which finger pattern do you use the 3/2 or the 4/3? Curious.
The bass side didn’t take very long to learn since I had reasonable knowledge of music theory and understood the patterns. I use 4/3.
Nice!!!! 💙💙💙
Thanks!
HI Lucy what is your preferred tuning for playing French tunes? I have just bought the Scandalli Air 72 base and returned it to LIberty Bellows to have it retuned to a more wet sound. They sent me a sound sample of 19 different tunings and I’m trying to decide if a Standard Tremelo is similar to yours. I would appreciate your comments.
Derick Tickle.
Hi Derick,
I don’t know the exact tuning I’m sorry, but I prefer to play French music with the triple Musette Scandalli Air I tuning!
You didn’t get the LMMM in the junior though right? Looks like a LMMH..
The reed plate quality on the Scandalli is much better than your old Accordion, i think it is Tipo a Mano, so Handmade Tips or Super Dural which is like the 3rd best when it comes to reed quality. I myself play a Scandalli Air V, before i played a Ballone Burini, both 120 Bass Instruments one was Tipo A Mano and one A Mano and even between those two Instruments which are both quite good, the jump was quite big. But something on your Keys is squeeking, idk if it annoys you but for me it gets annoying very quickly listening to it. I had similar Problems with my Accordion, Scandalli seems to have some Problems when it comes to the Quality they are giving Instruments out... that is a bit sad, i needed to check it to get checked by our local Accordion Specialist already 2 times in 1 year, but the Instrument Quality itself is really good, for me i am just sad that i still don't have a double tone chamber on the Bass and Chin Switches
Hi Lucy, are there any books you'd recommend for a beginner accordion player?
Palmer Hughes series if you’re a super beginner and need proper instruction!
@@accordionlucy Awesome, thanks for the suggestion. I've ordered the first three in the series and they'll arrive in a few days!
Interesting. I couldn't afford frightened of a full price accordion but here in Socal I was able to get lucky and find old/antique instruments to learn to play. Looks like many people emptied their attics the last few years. However, they all need work and now I have to learn to fix them before I can play properly. All in all this has been a huge growing experience for me.
I plan to search for one of these master-tuned accordions once my fingers earn it.
I think the new mini red is a great homage to your accordion beginning.
What do you think of a light up Accordion? I'm gauging reactions on an RGB instrument.
Interesting! I've never seen a light up accordion in person but I'd be curious to see it!
Really enjoyed your video, have you ever tried the Roland V Accordions? I play a FR4X (which I call Frida) in a Scottish Dance Band, and I really enjoy playing it.
I've never seen a Roland in person before! I would love to play around with one some day. Thanks for watching!
It’s amazing. 👏🏻
Thanks :)
I bought an old Russian accordeon - Vostok (Eastern). His sound is still ok but piano button big a litter bit because im Asian =))
Thank you for the video!
Thanks for watching :)
There are no accordion stores near me. Those that are drivable distances do not have musette tuning. Not sure I like the idea of having something shipped all the way across North America, either from Liberty Bellows in Pennsylvania or Tempo Trend Music from Canada. Although the latter has a return trade in for a new accordion deal going on.
What is worse no accordions to really try before I make an expensive purchase. No music stores even carry an accordion to rent. =/
I drove about 10 hours to visit Liberty Bellows and it was great! I ordered online once I went back home and had time to think about my decision. It arrived in perfect condition.
@@accordionlucy the warranty from Liberty Bellows, did it include free shipping back and forth? Also what do you recommend living in a hot climate? Summers can be brutal for some of us. Is it more the humidity or just the heat that will cause the issues?
have you evert tried to play an accordion with dots
because of its very funny and you have even more notes that you can play
for example I play a Lonola with five base switches and 120 base
Do you mean a button accordion? I've never tried one!
@@accordionlucy yep eyacly
Bravo!!!
Thanks Kirsten!
Interesting
Did the reeds on the Air Junior ever "open up" for you?
Not quite!
You are really helpful.
Thank you so much.
You're great ❤❤❤💜💚💜💚🌺🌹🌺🌹🌺🌹♦️✅️✅️✅️
I'm glad you find my videos helpful.
Bravo ! 👌👌👌👌
I like very much🌹
Absolutely beautiful🌹
Play for us! 🌹
I loved listening to Myron Floren who played accordion on the Lawerence Welk TV Show
I could listen to you forever🌹
You must have a tremendous repertoire stored away in your brain!🌹
Thanks :) There’s a lot more that I want to cram in my brain!
nice accordions
smart
Hi Lucy,... any new music comming out soon!! :-)
In a couple months there will be! I'm moving into my own house soon which means I can make noise whenever I want... so here comes lots more videos!
@@accordionlucy woohoo!!!!!! now THATS what I'm talkin about!! can't wait to hear the "noise"!!! :-)
What kind of microphone are you using for recording videos?
Do your self afaiver super6
💚💛
Hi lucy!... another question,.... do you still have your melodion musette music book?... I just got mine,.. learning the first song in the book, I noticed an "H" note going with the g7,.. can you tell me what note that is?
Hi Pat. In German notation H is B natural, and B is B flat. I hope that makes sense. So when you see H before G7, use the B in the counterbass row of G.