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Looking for a very quiet button accordion

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:46 am
by lixnaw
It would be handy in our apartment. or a button accordion that can be played
very quiet when needed. I'm not interested in midi accordions.
Which make should i go for ?

Re: Looking for a very quiet button accordion

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:49 am
by sfmans
lixnaw wrote:It would be handy in our apartment. or a button accordion that can be played
very quiet when needed. I'm not interested in midi accordions.
Which make should i go for ?
No idea on makes, but a decent repairer (like you're seeking in your other current thread) might be able to fit some baffles or dampers into an existing accordion. Probably worth having the conversation with one to look at one of your existing boxes before you go buying a box specifically because it's quiet ...

Re: Looking for a very quiet button accordion

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:34 pm
by Flexismart
Image

Something like this?

Re: Looking for a very quiet button accordion

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 3:13 pm
by MTGuru
lixnaw wrote:Which make should i go for ?
That's probably the wrong question. :wink:

Don't know what you play now. But a single-reed box - or one where the multiple reed banks can be switched on/off - is going to be (or seem) quieter than than a multi-reed box. A number of makers offer single-reed models, or you can modify an existing box.

But I like sfman's suggestion, and it's even easier than that. Why not start by just taping a towel or cardboard or some other improvised baffle over the grille? Instant box mute! And that might be enough. I do this sometimes on my big Saltarelle box, and it works very well. There's a slight effect on air flow, but not enough to bother me in practice mode.

If it works, you could make it more "permanent" by taping your baffle behind the grille, choosing something that won't interfere with the valves.

Yes, my Roland FR-18 can allow for completely silent practice with headphones. It's an amazing machine, with its own tone generation as well as MIDI. But it's also big and bulky and way overkill for just a practice box.

Good luck!

Re: Looking for a very quiet button accordion

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 2:05 pm
by lixnaw
Many thanks for the tip!! I'll give it a try :)