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Discussions => Instrument Makes and Models => Topic started by: Winston Smith on September 23, 2018, 07:39:34 PM

Title: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on September 23, 2018, 07:39:34 PM
Does anyone else have one of these? I've just bought it, but won't see it until late November when I'm back home. It has me quite excited, what can anyone tell me about it/them, please?
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Pearse Rossa on September 23, 2018, 08:20:25 PM
Wikipedia has this information (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saratovskaya_garmonika) on the brand.
Google images here (https://www.google.ie/search?q=saratovskaya+accordion&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiBh_306tHdAhUnz4UKHU-bBQwQsAR6BAgEEAE&biw=1355&bih=605).
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on September 23, 2018, 08:30:45 PM
Thanks, Pearce. I'd already seen the Wiki bit, but the pictures were nice.

No other Saratovskaya owners on here, then?
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: malcolmbebb on September 23, 2018, 08:49:24 PM
It rings a bell - or two.
They've been discussed in the past, a forum search will find a few.
Buy some headache tablets.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Nigel on September 23, 2018, 09:26:14 PM
Pull (the other one), it's got bells on. Sorry Winston, I've already got my coat on!
I'm looking forward to you playing at the December Melodeon Group session! Plenty of possible tunes for the time of year like Jingle Bells - sorry I couldn't resist another one!   
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on September 23, 2018, 09:28:43 PM
Thanks Malcolm. I've looked at a couple of youtubes, ooooer! I've also written to our American friend who has one, which his description of sounds the same as mine.
We'll see what transpires.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on September 23, 2018, 09:30:27 PM
Don't forget that I know where you live, Nigel! But yes, of course I'm looking forward to meeting up again in December.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Steve_freereeder on September 23, 2018, 11:16:43 PM
Here's a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdaIB0TLoQ&frags=pl%2Cwn) with four of them!
Two bells on each, so eight in total.
Would that be a full peal?  ;)
Or full of appeal? Or possibly not! >:E
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Broadland Boy on September 23, 2018, 11:45:45 PM
But strangely no NCB in the lineup  >:E Seems like you will be having fun Winston
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Anahata on September 24, 2018, 07:49:51 AM
No other Saratovskaya owners on here, then?

Yes, I have one. Given to me by Tony Forster of Pig Dyke Molly, who had no idea what it was. Neither did I, for quite some time.

It didn't feature on my video of the same tune played on every melodeon in the house, because I can't cope with the back to front push-pull action. So it's purely ornamental.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on September 24, 2018, 08:10:52 AM
Richard; you know that having fun with my instruments is the main purpose of acquiring them in the first place! (I'm not sure where NCB comes into the equation, though?)

Anahata; If you cannot manage one, then what chance will I have? (Unless I can change the longplates around from one side to the other on the blocks, maybe?)

Steve; I couldn't play that type of music for very long without losing my mind. But if you notice the "Saratovskaya Faces" of the players, I think that might be the real purpose of them anyway! ("Lobotomised" springs to mind.)

Thanks everyone, so far.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Sebastian on September 24, 2018, 02:42:16 PM
No other Saratovskaya owners on here, then?
I own one, but until now did not have the time to really play it. It's a bit challenging (but fun) to switch push and pull. I hope its time will come, since it's a lovely little noise box.  :-*
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Anahata on September 24, 2018, 02:51:41 PM
I wondered about flipping the reed plates, but haven't even looked to see if it would be easy to do.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on September 24, 2018, 03:24:14 PM
Anahata, if you fancy trying that, and get the chance to, I'd obviously be very interested in the result. As I said, I won't even get to see mine before the back end of November, plus I've got a couple of projects which I really must get on with before I start with anything else.

Whoever imagined that retirement could present one with so many obstacles? (Especially when time is getting more and more precious!)
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Dick Rees on September 24, 2018, 03:43:40 PM
I had to look up the instrument:

https://youtu.be/AbdaIB0TLoQ

Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Psuggmog Volbenz on September 29, 2018, 08:15:06 AM
I have one and thought about reversing the reeds but decided to leave it alone.  The only tune I learned to play on it is " Jingle Bells". Every note note played required me to " unthink what I do automatically on my other one rows. If I remember correctly, mine is in the key of Ab.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: triskel on September 29, 2018, 08:33:27 PM
This is mine (not for the first time):

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/StephenChambers/Accordions/007-4.jpg)

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/StephenChambers/Accordions/012.jpg)

And a photo of me trying out new ones at the Frankfurt trade fair:

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/StephenChambers/Accordions/Saratovskya.jpg)
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on September 29, 2018, 08:45:29 PM
That's a corker, Stephen!
Mine looks identical (design on keyboard etc) except for your bonny pictures, where mine (by the pictures) only has the staid old celluloid.
Never mind, I expect it will play the same.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Psuggmog Volbenz on October 02, 2018, 05:42:30 AM
Edward, I noticed the the bell strikes in you initial posting are shaped differently than the ones shown in Stephen's photo. The ones on mine are shaped like Stephen's i.e. like little hammers. I looked all over my garmoshka but never found any sickles.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on October 02, 2018, 06:41:21 AM
Well well, I hadn't noticed that at all. I wonder why? I'm convinced that they're by the same maker, judging from the other aspects being identical. Maybe your's and Stephen's were both made for an "industrial" market and mine a more rural one? Or (more likely) the hammers on mine are cheaper to make!!! I'm envious of the artistic style of decoration against my celluloid, which also would be cheaper to produce.
But, never mind; at a tenner, I'm not going to complain.
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Nigel on October 02, 2018, 09:34:54 AM
I'm so looking forward to the NE Melodeon Group session in December, Winston. With those bells, you could double up as the Group's metronome  >:E
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: The Liraman on October 16, 2018, 01:04:21 PM
Does anyone else have one of these? I've just bought it, but won't see it until late November when I'm back home. It has me quite excited, what can anyone tell me about it/them, please?
Recorded this little  Swedish dance tune for a friend. I bought several of these in Russian (i e Soviet) souvenir shops in the early 80ies. This one has stayed and never failed me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcAQPlpd0WY&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcAQPlpd0WY&feature=youtu.be)
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Winston Smith on October 16, 2018, 02:23:42 PM
Thank you soooo much for that YouTube, jw@liraman.se. The sound of the instrument is really jarring, and I'm sure that it's not down to your playing. I've listened to quite a few tunes being played on these little instruments, also on YouTube, and (to be perfectly honest) they're all awful!
Perhaps it's time for a re-think with the one I bought? We'll see!
Title: Re: Saratovskaya
Post by: Dick Rees on October 16, 2018, 04:33:59 PM
Yes, thanks for the video.  Next time please place the microphone squarely between the R and L hands so we can hear more of the melody.  Jämtpolska has always been at the top of my list along with Norsk springleik.
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