My Castignari

Squeezebox & Harmonica
1

I have just placed an order for the DinnII model, C#/D with upgrade reeds. I specified MM reeds with a mild musette tuning. Now I am having second thoughts about the musette tuning. I remember hearing a sound clip of different tunings on this website but am unable to find it again. I think I liked the sound of demi-swing. Anyone care to comment on their preference of tuning? If anyone can bring up that sound clip I would appreciate it greatly.
Don

2

Musette tunings are ok for musette tunes. But you’ve ordered a C#/D, a key for playing Irish dance music. So no doubt it’s the driest of the two tunings you prefere here, the demi-swing. I also presume you must like Jackie Daly

3

Just make sure you know what whoever tunes your box means by “demi-swing” - as I understand it, European makers use it to mean one step wetter than swing - i.e. halfway towards swing from musette, rather than halfway towards swing from dry!

I like swing or something just a touch wetter, so demi-swing in the above definition would suit me. Haven’t any sound clips to post - anyway, since every tuner seems to have their own definition of all these terms - including musette - it doesn’t help much. A good idea might be to find a clear recording of a box you really like and send it to your tuner.

BTW I think wetter tunings sound less offensive on a two-voice. Three medium voices tuned to the old-fashioned Irish musette tuning (up to 25 cents gap between the sharp and the flat voice) can really set your (well, my) teeth on edge.

Clips of some lovely playing to the wettish side of swing here by Conor Keane on his Maugein box.

4

Thanks for your response, I got the idea that I liked the musette from my friends piano accordion. His accordion (LMMM) has a real sizzle to it when played on the musette setting. During a session, one can hear it over all the other instruments and he’s not even pushing it hard.
But, I got to thinking that it might be a bit much if all I had was the sizzle sound. So I’ll probably go with Demi Swing or Swing Minimum. I don’t care much for the absoulte dry tuned sound even if it might be the prefered tuning for ITM. I like just a hint of wetness.
Thanks again