Which Accordion is bassoon or clarinet dominated?

[w.d.]

Which Accordion is bassoon or clarinet dominated?

A couple of weeks ago I read an expression on eBay in one of
advertisement for very expensive accordion. The ad was saying that in
late 50-ties a lot of players began using bassoon dominated
accordions, and now most of players are coming back to clarinet
dominated sound. The advertiser further claims that his pre-sixty era
accordion has just that clarinet dominated sound that is extremely
rare. I think that he means the musette sound. What is your opinion?

I, myself have a preference for clarinet dominated sound. When there
is a need for it, or I have a request, I like to change LM
configuration to MM configuration, especially in small accordions
which have non or only two registers. I'm of an opinion that when
accordion has at least three registers and L/M reed block set up, there
is no real advantage to do any conversion of any kind.

Do you believe that after renewed interest in accordions the MM or
M/MM sound is more prevailing and also more popular than LM/LHM
sounds. Which accordions in your opinon are more desirable - ones with
MM or LM and LHM sound?

Enjoy it,
W.D.

[Zarko]

Hi!

It refers only to the loudness of single reed sets. Bassoon-dominated
means that bassoon reeds are louder than others. This is because today
most manufacturers use stiffer reeds as they were in the 60's. That
gives stronger loudness, but less mellowness, and it's particullarly
noticeable in bassoon reeds, due to their overall bigger size.
Today's hand made reeds are not so good as they were once. If you buy a
top-quality accordion from the '60s, you will notice how in an overall
sound balance, clarinet reeds are louder as in today's accordions.
The sound you need depends of which kind of music you like to play: for
example, if you have an accordion with 3 sets of reeds, you will prefer
LMH for jazz and classical music, M-MM+ for french musette, LMM+ for
folk, polkas etc.
It doesn't exist an overall "better" sound or tuning, all depends of the
kind of music you like to play.

Regards,

David

[lpn...@yahoo.com]

w.d. wrote:
> Which Accordion is bassoon or clarinet dominated?
>
> A couple of weeks ago I read an expression on eBay in one of
> advertisement for very expensive accordion. The ad was saying that in
> late 50-ties a lot of players began using bassoon dominated
> accordions, and now most of players are coming back to clarinet
> dominated sound. The advertiser further claims that his pre-sixty era
> accordion has just that clarinet dominated sound that is extremely
> rare. I think that he means the musette sound. What is your opinion?
>

I personally think that due to the popularity of ethnic and folk
musics, the 2 or 3 middle reed sound has become the most popular.
Especially since that seems to be the most prevelent in pop music radio
when accordion is present.

> I, myself have a preference for clarinet dominated sound. When there
> is a need for it, or I have a request, I like to change LM
> configuration to MM configuration, especially in small accordions
> which have non or only two registers. I'm of an opinion that when
> accordion has at least three registers and L/M reed block set up, there
> is no real advantage to do any conversion of any kind.
>
> Do you believe that after renewed interest in accordions the MM or
> M/MM sound is more prevailing and also more popular than LM/LHM
> sounds. Which accordions in your opinon are more desirable - ones with
> MM or LM and LHM sound?

Well I find myself using mainly 2 middle or 3 middle reeds, I sometimes
wished my Baldoni Combo III only had 2 middle reeds as that would make
it lighter. Now my Hyde button accordion has 3 middle reeds and I love
that as it's in the Basque system and that's my favorite style, but the
3 middle reeds sound good with Tex-mex, Musette, and Celtic music as
well. It does have stops to take out one or two reeds for a drier
sound.

>
> Enjoy it,
> W.D.