Jack Issues

[m3838]

if you haven't got oodles of time and expertise and boxes of spare reeds, spare yourself the frustration of a less-than-perfect octave-reeded instrument.

Oh my!

I see that Bastari is real gem.

No I bid on small bandonion not for the tweaking purposes. I just like it and it looks like one I might like.

I think I understand the idea of bandoneon layout. People may have problem learning it because of one fundamental mistake: they start by playing C scale on it. But bandoneon is not tuned to C. The middle three rows are almost like Anglo, but in A or Bb (if I remember correctly) keys. So with a map of additions one can go from playing along the row on the middle row, than adding across row notes, than trying to play only on the pull, grabbing accidentals from other rows, etc. Slowly building the knowledge of what was added and where and why. I had once small Chemnitzer and had no trouble push/pulling it. My 20 button Lachenal is slower. I agree with you on your assessment of poorly set up double reeds. I have Hohner Club with 4 voices (too many, actually, too heavy) - LMMM. The setting is very good, reeds are excellent and the octave sound is very satisfactory. But it demands lots of skill in playing, more so than tremolo. Learned this the hard way.

I'm also buying Lilly from the Button Box. But it's for my mom. (said he with very strange expression on his face)

BTW.

I just opened my Jackie and see that there is completely no room for any double reed experimentation. That 6 sided cabinet is a champion of space waste.

[MGsailor]

OK

Great long conversation here about the design of these instruments and a bit of pride being stepped on it appears...

 

But the issue with the G button not staying in alignment is still an issue. After looking at m3838's design drawings the issue is easy to see.... the button is to near to the end of the spring. It slips off the end of the spring wire - or just enough off that th alignment can't be maintained to allow the button to align with the miniscule little hole below it.

 

I was told a bought the best cheap instrument to learn on and learn on I am... But disappointed that the design is so simple that the wire couldn't have been made a mere 1/16 of inch longer or the ends bent over to keep the keys on them - HEY - there's an idea I might be able to get just enough of a bend to keep it tighter.

Still - can't wait until I can afford a real instrument. It's like those school band instruments the gave us in fourth grade. Not much fear of doing a lot of damage with a little hopes you'll learn something.

 

Regardless - I'll be here for a while.

[ragtimer]

if you haven't got oodles of time and expertise and boxes of spare reeds, spare yourself the frustration of a less-than-perfect octave-reeded instrument.

Oh my!

I see that Bastari is real gem.

It has many good poitns. But the reeds could use a good thorough tweaking. Luckily each reed P/P pair is screwd to a removable cell block, so it's easy to work on (or even replace) the reeds.

No I bid on small bandonion not for the tweaking purposes. I just like it and it looks like one I might like.

That's good to know. I think you are doing the right thing, to learn on a smaller instrument, isntead of getting lost in a sea of buttons. I knwo I learned the Hayden Duet a lot easier wiht only 46 keys.

I think I understand the idea of bandoneon layout. People may have problem learning it because of one fundamental mistake: they start by playing C scale on it. But bandoneon is not tuned to C. The middle three rows are almost like Anglo, but in A or Bb (if I remember correctly) keys.

Yes, the charts I've seeen imply a home key of A. You should start learning any isntrument in its natural home key.

I agree with you on your assessment of poorly set up double reeds. I have Hohner Club with 4 voices (too many, actually, too heavy) - LMMM. The setting is very good, reeds are excellent and the octave sound is very satisfactory. But it demands lots of skill in playing, more so than tremolo. Learned this the hard way.

Sounds like you have lots of experience with bisonoric instruments, so you should find the bandoneon easy to play. I have a very small Hohner Preciosa Club, tuned MM tremolo, that I sometimes fool with to see if I can handle bisonority. But I'd really rather try it with an Anglo tina.

I just opened my Jackie and see that there is completely no room for any double reed experimentation. That 6 sided cabinet is a champion of space waste.

I think Wim had tdo put the reed blocks at the outer periphery, to get room for the lever action. Still, I suspect there will be many postings on ways to "hot rod" or improve the Jackie/Rochelle family.

--Mike K.