Info on Dallape Organtone
Slobodan Milnovic
Hello,
I need help identifying this accordion.
It has been in my family for about 25 years, my father bought it in
Italy, but because of the circumstances in ex-Yugoslavia, he smuggled
it across the border, and without the case. He died a few years later,
and since I was a kid back then, I didn't ask him much of the details
about this accordion.
I have decided that I will learn to play it (I did try it when I was a
kid, but after my father died, I just left it in the wardrobe), but
unfortunatelly I don't have much information either about the accordion
itself, or about how to play it properly.
I'm not yet sure what is the name for some of the accordion parts, so
please don't be offended, I will try to describe how it looks like in
the terms that I know.
It is an 140 basses accordion, on the left side (bass) there are 5
switches on which it is embossed "Organtone". On the right side, next to
the 6 rows of buttons, it has 12 switches with lettering - MASTER,
VIOLIN, BASSOON, CLARINET, PICCOLO, ORGAN, BANDOLION, FLUTE, ACCORDION,
MUSETTE, FLUTE, MASTER. Under each word there is also "noteline" on
which for each there are different note positions, which I guess
describes the sound modification that each switch makes when pressed. I
am not currently music literate and have only very basic knowledge of
reading notes (which I hope will change), so this is as much as I have
guessed it means. Also, there is the "chin" switch on the top of the
right side. There are no other markings or text on it, except the
big "Dallape" letters on the right side over the "sound output" holes.
I have searched the net, and the Dallape web site, but all that I could
find is a bit confusing. The accordion looks more like "Supermaestro
Chromo" picture, but mine has 6 rows and 140 basses, and it doesn't look
quite like "ORGANTONE 993/A", which does have 6 rows and 140 basses, but
mine has only 5 bass switches.
It would be very helpfull if someone could point me to any link on the
net or give me at least basic information on the exact type, and also on
the online resources on learning the button accordion, of which I wasn't
able to find much. For the moment, I would like to learn to play it in a
more recreational way, so I'd skip on the accordion schools and private
tutoring.
Thanks.
--
Eric: "What're quantum mechanics?"
Rincewind: "I don't know. People who repair quantums, I suppose."
- "Eric" by Terry Pratchet
alexrat
wrote:
Hi Slobodan!
Glad to hear that you are taking up you father's instrument. It sounds
like it is/was a nice one but it may or may not be in the best
condition. It's a six row chromatic button accordion (CBA.) Probably
pretty heavy eh? I would try to find someone who plays or has a shop
near you (where are you?) to check it out. It's probably worth fixing
since it has sentimental value and appears to be of good quality.
Since you indicate that music making is new to you I would also
encourage you to take some lessons to at least get started.
I don't play CBA so I can't help you there but I'm am sure there are
places on the web that you will give you some basics. The Reyes forum
maybe?
Good luck!
BOba
Slobodan Milnovic
> Hi Slobodan!
>
> Glad to hear that you are taking up you father's instrument. It sounds
> like it is/was a nice one but it may or may not be in the best
> condition. It's a six row chromatic button accordion (CBA.) Probably
> pretty heavy eh? I would try to find someone who plays or has a shop
Hi alexrat.
Well, it is in suprisingly good condition after all these
years. All of the buttons still have good sound, without scratching or
hissing, the bellow is in great condition (the accordion was without the
case, but it was kept in the dry place), so the first thing I will do is
to buy another case. I was wondering, are there "universal sizes" cases,
that fit to group of similar type accordions, or each of the accordions
has the "custom fit" case just for that model?
And of course, soon I will take it to repair, I have heard of an very
good accordion repariman nearby. For now, it will have to wait, my
estimation is that servicing it won't be cheap (I have been reading this
newsgroup for a while now), so at the moment I'm saving money for it.
> near you (where are you?) to check it out. It's probably worth fixing
From the city of Zagreb, in Croatia.
> since it has sentimental value and appears to be of good quality.
> Since you indicate that music making is new to you I would also
> encourage you to take some lessons to at least get started.
Well, like I said, for now the music school or private tutoring is not
an option, for starters I would like to try to learn it on my own, using
books and internet resources. As an kid I was in the school choir, so I
know I have a good ear for music (it runs in my family, my father played
guitar and a bit of accordion, and my grandfather on fathers side played
violin), so I don't think I will have problem there. What I need is
practice (and resources to learn to play the CBA), and of course to
learn to read notes properly.
>
> I don't play CBA so I can't help you there but I'm am sure there are
> places on the web that you will give you some basics. The Reyes forum
> maybe?
Can you give me a link to this forum?
>
> Good luck!
>
> BOba
David Kastrup
> Well, it is in suprisingly good condition after all these years. All
> of the buttons still have good sound, without scratching or hissing,
> the bellow is in great condition (the accordion was without the case,
> but it was kept in the dry place), so the first thing I will do is to
> buy another case. I was wondering, are there "universal sizes" cases,
> that fit to group of similar type accordions, or each of the
> accordions has the "custom fit" case just for that model?
More or less the latter. Somebody offering accordion cases (or gigbags)
will usually do so with exact measurements. There _are_ ads just
specifying x-bass accordions, but that's rather fuzzy. And with CBAs,
things are almost, but not quite, entirely different.
CBA accordions are typically less broad than piano accordions (a 37-key
96-bass piano accordion of mine does not fit into the case of my
62-notes 82-buttons 190-bass CBA accordion - go figure), but taller.
For piano accordions, it is a good idea to have some cushioning for the
sides so that the accordion will not, when placed on the side, rest on
the keyboard casing (that's sort of a neuralgic point).
> Well, like I said, for now the music school or private tutoring is not
> an option, for starters I would like to try to learn it on my own,
> using books and internet resources. As an kid I was in the school
> choir, so I know I have a good ear for music (it runs in my family, my
> father played guitar and a bit of accordion, and my grandfather on
> fathers side played violin), so I don't think I will have problem
> there. What I need is practice (and resources to learn to play the
> CBA), and of course to learn to read notes properly.
Well, there are things where you won't get far without a teacher: muddy
phrasing, particularly in the bass, keeping multiple voices discernable
(German: Stimmf�hrung), fingering tricks leading to nicely articulated
repetitive phrases, making full use of the bellows...
There is a lot where you employ trickery specific to free reed
manual-bellows wind instruments (like a harmonium), and some (bass
stuff) really specific to accordion.
--
David Kastrup
Ventura
alexrat wrote:
Hello SM, nice to meet you,
> Slobodan Milnovic <slobodan.milno...> wrote:
>>It has been in my family for about 25 years, my father bought it in
>>Italy,
first, a lot will depend on how old it was when
your Dad bought it, or if he bought it new
>>guessed it means. Also, there is the "chin" switch on the top of the
>>right side. There are no other markings or text on it, except the
>>big "Dallape" letters on the right side over the "sound output" holes.
Chin Switches were popular in your country, as well as some
other Eastern Euro areas, and any Italian factory that wanted
to do business there would have a few models or even a whole
line of accordions with the chin shift and little "eye" as
on the Guerrini's that told you which shift was "in" at any
given push
some models of Older, Vintage Dallape's had arguably some of
the best Reeds ever made... said reeds were also somewhat unique...
other physical features in construction and material
might help date it, and they were a very proud and quality
focused company based on their reputation.
If this is a big old Vintage professional Dallape,
you really have something worth having, and very
much worth playing... and i agree with you, the sooner
you just get started enjoying it the better.
enjoy
Ciao
Ventura
alexrat
wrote:
>
>
> Well, it is in suprisingly good condition after all these
> years. All of the buttons still have good sound, without scratching or
> hissing, the bellow is in great condition (the accordion was without the
> case, but it was kept in the dry place), so the first thing I will do is
> to buy another case. I was wondering, are there "universal sizes" cases,
> that fit to group of similar type accordions, or each of the accordions
> has the "custom fit" case just for that model?
> Can you give me a link to this forum?
>
Hi Slobadan,
OK So you are in Croatia. CBAs are more popular there than why I am,
in the US, so you are in luck!
I keep the accordion i am playing outside the case always, maybe with
a cloth to protect against the dust, but you will need a case when you
carry it around. The repair guy might have an appropriate box. As long
as it smells ok!
The Reyes forum is at http://gilbert27.websitetoolbox.com/
Mostly a Tex-Mex group, but I've heard they are helpful, kind,
courteous etc. ;-)
Good luck!
Alexrat
Ike Milligan
news:873a9qi...@gmail.com:
>
> Hello,
>
> I need help identifying this accordion.
>
> It has been in my family for about 25 years, my father bought it in
> Italy, but because of the circumstances in ex-Yugoslavia, he smuggled
> it across the border, and without the case. He died a few years later,
> and since I was a kid back then, I didn't ask him much of the details
> about this accordion.
>
> I have decided that I will learn to play it (I did try it when I was a
> kid, but after my father died, I just left it in the wardrobe), but
> unfortunatelly I don't have much information either about the
> accordion itself, or about how to play it properly.
>
> I'm not yet sure what is the name for some of the accordion parts, so
> please don't be offended, I will try to describe how it looks like in
> the terms that I know.
>
> It is an 140 basses accordion, on the left side (bass) there are 5
> switches on which it is embossed "Organtone". On the right side, next
> to the 6 rows of buttons, it has 12 switches with lettering - MASTER,
> VIOLIN, BASSOON, CLARINET, PICCOLO, ORGAN, BANDOLION, FLUTE,
> ACCORDION, MUSETTE, FLUTE, MASTER. Under each word there is also
> "noteline" on which for each there are different note positions, which
> I guess describes the sound modification that each switch makes when
> pressed.
I keep trying to post this reply, and it hasn't shown up yet, so please
excuse multiples.
I was trying to tell the OP to post a picture online and post the URL
here so we could look at this accordion.