Weltmeister
Russ Gray
Are all their accordions still made in Germany or have they followed
Hohner's lead and now build some of their models in China.
I believe they are still made in Germany but I don't know for sure.
The Weltmeister website is at
http://www.akkordeon-klingenthal.de/
Any info will be appreciated.
russ
Tom Coss
Made In Germany. I am having problems with the G Chord Button sticking.
I push it and all the air comes out of the bellows. Im sure anyone can
fix this problem But I too am wondering about The Weltmeister Company.
Thanks for asking Russ! I hope we get an answer from someone here in the
group! Take Care, And Have A Nice Day! ~Tom Coss~
Len Killick
100% Made in Germany, except the reeds - usually either Czech or
Italian depending on the model or the order.
Weltmeister also still have a well stocked and helpful spare parts
department.
Russ Gray
Thanks Len
You have further confirmed me in my decision to get that 72 bass
Weltmeister.
do you know who makes the reeds?
russ
Iam
Len - I have no reason to doubt what you say as to where they're
actually made, but do you have some sort of inside or specific
information (you've talked to a factory rep or someone there e.g.)
that makes you so sure? The accordion world is mysterious and at
times, murky. Another example (as I mentioned to Russ) would be the
Excalibur line from Jim Laabs music which I believe is their "house"
brand. They have higher priced ones, which could be made in Italy (but
I'm not sure) and less expensive ones that I know are made in China -
at what I suspect could be the same factory as the one making the Nova
and Bravo series for Hohner. The price being asked for these Welty's
is just too good to be true almost.
Tom Coss
are needed to fix my Accordion! Take Care And Have A Good Day! ~Tom
Coss~
ike milligan
"Len Killick" <l...@killick.de> wrote in message
news:1193302204....@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
get them but it may take months depending on what part.
ike milligan
"Tom Coss" <WA1...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:4598-471...@storefull-3152.bay.webtv.net...
Button sticking down or just losing air?
Tom Coss
on this problem Ike? Thanks! ~Tom Coss~
Russ Gray
I did not get an answer when I asked what factory made the Excalibur -
Troy Labbs did tell me they were made in Italy, but was reticent to
let me know the builder. I am not sure what the business reason is
for keeping this secret.
He offers a 72 bass 5 switch chromatic for under a grand made in
italy.
russ
Iam
I really, REALLY doubt it, sorry to say - that they're made in Italy
at least. The price is such a red flag. I can understand why Laabs may
be reticent to say which factory in Italy makes these things for them
because there has been at least one law suit that I know of over
naming rights, etc. associated with this sort of thing. It makes me
wonder - German companies (Hohner for sure, Weltmeister maybe also?)
sub-contract to Chinese facilities; why wouldn't some of the Italian
manufacturers be doing the same? Where's Ike Milligan at a time like
this to weigh in on a subject I know he's got some strong opinions on
(Chinese made accordions).
Len Killick
The most common reeds I see in Weltmeisters are the Czech reeds from
Harmonikas in Louny, or Antonelli reeds from Italy - in most models
"normal" (COM) reeds or sometimes TAM.
http://www.harmonikas.cz/de/home.html
http://www.accordions.com/vociarmoniche/de.htm
Len Killick
We sell a few of their models in our shop, and I repair them regularly
(that's not a bad sign, it's usually routine tuning or small repairs
on well used instruments). So we have some contact with the factory
for new instruments and with the parts department. At the moment the
value for money on these instruments is very good.
Len Killick
wrote:
I can sometimes help out if it's a specific part that's needed. Our
postman knows where USA is! Contact me at my private e-mail.
I keep a good stock myself italian general parts and supplies plus
Hohner, Czech and Italian reeds as I go once a year or so and buy in
what I (expect to) use for repairs and renovations. For manufacturer
specific parts I call and order what I need when I need it, delivery
is usually a matter of days if they have the part available.
Len Killick
Most of the italians seem to avoid anything chineese, except some
celluloid which is imported from China but put on in italy. I've
certainly not heard of any sub-contracting in that direction. What's
really bad is this habit of using Italian-like names on Chineese
instruments, some almost criminally like some real italian names and
others just laughably "wrong". I know some italan makers sub-contract
to Eastern European makers, who aren't bad but tend to produce heavier
(i.e. hard to operate, stiff bellows etc) but so far they have been
honest about what is made where.
Just an observation but I think accordeon players are on the whole
quite smart and work out reasonably soon what is worth having and what
is not. I've got nothing against a Chineese made accordeonat an
appropriate price, espcially for an unsure-if-I'm-going-to-stick-
with.this beginner or someone who just can't afford more - they just
need to know that they aren't going to bring it in to me in 30 years
time for an overhaul so they can give it to their grandson (which
happens a lot with old Hohners, for example) because it will have
fallen apart long before then. What I don't like is chineese
instruments being sold at just-a-bit-low European prices, just looking
like bargains not something really cheap. But recently I've noticed
that it's getting harder and harder to buy something like a simple
Hohner Erica diatonic - once the mainstay of European folk dance
musicians, but now most shops won't stock them and won't even really
want to get them in even if asked... the customer has the power!
Russ Gray
Is there any reason you may know of why a company would not volunteer
the information about which factory makes their house brand? this has
happened before with other companies and I know their accordions were
Italian built?
russ
John's Musical
"ike milligan" <accord...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:13i2deu...@corp.supernews.com...
I have no problem to get any parts I need from Italy,
do not know what are you talking about?
John
http://www.johnsaccordionservice.com/
ike milligan
"John's Musical" <joh...@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
news:rGkUi.10857$9F1....@read1.cgocable.net...
I am talking specifically about Weltmeister spare parts, which you might
have figured out from the context of the message if you had read the whole
thing. I am very happy for you to be able to get any parts from Italy. Some
kinds of Italian parts will not fit the Weltmeister. Like when the
all-plastic Weltmeister bass machine gets broken.
>
ike milligan
"Iam" <jtb...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1193350437.4...@o80g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
made in China or not, and probably what country they were made in. but the
company representative also won't lie about it, as opposed to some dealers
who will say whtever they think you may want to hear.
ike milligan
> Its just losing air when I hit G. The button is NOT sticking. Any Ideas
> on this problem Ike? Thanks! ~Tom Coss~
>
ike milligan
talk about Chinese accordions, just accordion dealers about half of whom are
psychopathic liars. If I were Russ, I would just wait about a month or two
while my money cooled off.
ike milligan
Weltmeisters to work on as you must do, and most of those repairs don't
require Weltmeister specific parts.
ike milligan
The main problem I have seen with the Chinese Hohners, is that the springs
break and require an hour to replace them including the hassle of getting
parts from Hohner USA. A 10c Chinese spring requires around $100 worth of
work to replace, and the accordion isn't worth that much. The German springs
seemed hardly to ever break, in fact I can't remember if one ever did.
As for pricing the Chinese accordions to avoid the "Why so cheap?"
syndrome,.American online sellers have no such qualms about selling them
cheap, as there are plenty of ignorant American consumers. In fact about now
is the time just before the holidays when the Chinese should start dumping
them below cost, like they did last year to try to ruin the season for
American dealers of better accordions.
Russ Gray
Thanks for the two websites. What are your opinions of the reeds from
these two reed makers?
Do you know if Weltmeister will do special order reeds on request? Or
is it strictly factory production.
Ike you said the bass mechanisms are made of plastic and have come
into you for repair when they break. Is there a problem with the bass
mechanism?
In your and Len's (and anyone else with experience) what are the
drawbacks and advantages of the Weltmeister - and how do you compare
them with Hohner's current china produced CBAs.
Thanks for the advice Ike - I am still looking for my second job, so I
will have to take my time and make sure I get a good deal. But watch
out the next 0 percent interest credit card that comes my way - bang
zoom trip to the moon.
russ
John's Musical
"Russ Gray" <russ...@cs.com> wrote in message
news:1193523074....@o80g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
Weltmeisters are a little better than Chinese accordions and could be on the
same level with Delicia.
In many cases it is not worth of major repairs.
For a beginner it is still good instrument for practice.
John
ike milligan
WWeltmeister is a very old company and the accordions have been through many
changes. I have seen newer ones where it might not be possible to repair the
mechanisms. Like John said, they are a little better than Chinese
accordions. If you went to Klingenthal, you might be able to try out a
better one. Maybe they have some custom made ones.
As for credit cards; been there done that got the T-shirt. Never ever use a
credit card period. If you need to use plastic, get a bank Visa check card
backed up by cash in your bank account, not borrowed.
ike milligan
bass mechanism. I have decided I don't actually have time to recount the
whole adventure. But when I received the bass machine, it did not quite fit
into the accordion, but it came with the plate and valves attached, so I had
to unglue the plate and valves from the accordion casing and put the whole
thing in that way. The bass part arrived as somewhat of a surp[rise as I had
not been told by Weltmeister USA whether they could get one or not, and I
had already told the customer I couldn't get the part. Then it came with a
bill. There's even more to the story.
>
> In your and Len's (and anyone else with experience) what are the
> drawbacks and advantages of the Weltmeister - and how do you compare
> them with Hohner's current china produced CBAs.
>
All Chinese accordion are garbage. Weltmeister accordions are better, but it
is hard to comment on a product where they change the mechanical design so
often.
Tom Coss
Have A Nice Day My FRIEND! ~Tom Coss~
Johann Pascher
> "Russ Gray" <russe...@cs.com> wrote in message
John what makes you say this?
Len Killick allready explande that it depends on the modell.
And that Weltmeister is made in Germany.
Johann
Len Killick
Just a follow up on the Weltmeister parts department: last week I
needed a bass register mechanic for an instrument where I didn't have
the instrument name (only have the bass side sent to me for repair). A
short call to Weltmeister to describe it as "an xx bass instrument
with plastic bass mechanic, 3 bass register switches in a unit about
22 cm long". A few days later exactly the right part arrived in the
post. Can't complain about that!
John's Musical
"Johann Pascher" <Johann....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1193729817....@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
It is my personal opinion based on my personal experience by owning them
and
by repairing them.
Please do not forget that they were made in DDR, which now are Germany.