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Author Topic: Double piano-keyboard accordion  (Read 5792 times)

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diatonix

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Double piano-keyboard accordion
« on: November 09, 2016, 10:39:12 AM »

As some of you may be aware of, I build mostly diatonic instruments ("Bergflødt"). Some days ago, one of my customers commissioned a rather special type of chromatic accordion: She wants it to come with piano keys on each side! Having accepted the challenge I now must try and figure out how to do this. Having done some research on the internet I found this old SOPRANI:

http://squeezyboy.blogs.com/squeezytunes/2007/12/luttbeg-double.html

It's the only one I managed to dig up, but I'd be surprised if this turns out to be the only one ever produced, so I'd be immensely grateful if there are people out there who know of and could share pictures of similar constructions.
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Theo

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2016, 11:00:20 AM »

I am sure I have seen one with a full size keyboard on each side, it might have been in the Accordion Museum in Castlefidardo.  Caroline Hunt would probably have some information. She is a member here as "Accordion Museum"
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Pearse Rossa

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2016, 12:10:20 PM »

How about this one?

..and here. Scroll down.
« Last Edit: November 09, 2016, 12:14:01 PM by Pearse Rossa »
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Jack Campin

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2016, 04:19:29 PM »

There is a French thing (apparently taught in conservatoires) called the Harmoneon which is a C-system on both sides with the (free-)bass buttons the same size as the treble.  I've never seen one.  Here's a Maugein version:

http://www.accordeons-maugein.com/boutique/nos-occasions/41-harmoneon-prelude-p3r.html
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Pearse Rossa

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2016, 09:39:49 PM »

Here is one being played.

You probably have already seen these patents.
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diatonix

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2016, 07:41:41 AM »

Many thanks for your help!
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Pearse Rossa

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2016, 10:31:06 AM »

.. Some days ago, one of my customers commissioned a rather special type of chromatic accordion: She wants it to come with piano keys on each side!

You will be aware that the original invention was not exactly a runaway success?
As I understand it, there were only a handful of these instruments ever produced.
Indeed the inventor himself came to the conclusion, fairly quickly, that the instrument was impractical and difficult to play.
Is your customer aware of this?
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triskel

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2016, 01:56:27 PM »

There is a French thing (apparently taught in conservatoires) called the Harmoneon which is a C-system on both sides with the (free-)bass buttons the same size as the treble.  I've never seen one.

It was my late friend, the French accordionist, teacher and historian Pierre Monichon who invented the Harmonéon in 1948. He presented me with an inscribed copy of his tutor book for it, when I visited him at the house in this video (below), in December 2002.

L'HARMONEON DE MR MONICHON

I was shown the Busato prototype one that's in the video.

triskel

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2016, 12:03:39 PM »

This is the Soprani-Luttbeg double piano-keyboard accordionin the collection of my friend Caroline Hunt, in Scotland:


I think it would qualify as the most Art-Deco style accordion I've ever seen, and very reminiscent of 1930's cinemas...

Kimric Smythe

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2016, 07:01:44 AM »

I just picked one up on saturday https://flic.kr/p/P1M1sQ and I have the instructor manual for it too. It would appear that at least one compact student size one was made also.
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diatonix

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2016, 10:00:28 PM »

Thanks again to y'all for your comments! I wish I had already built it.
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Kimric Smythe

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Re: Double piano-keyboard accordion
« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2016, 01:53:53 AM »

An important consideration on the Luttbeg was the special bass strap you can see it here http://www.smythesaccordioncenter.com/the-accordion-blog I can post pics of the odd angle of the bass and the inside construction if you need.
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Smythe's Accordion Center
Pinole, California
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