Topic: 12 bass survey (Read 9629 times)

Chris Ryall · « **on:** July 06, 2009, 09:23:27 AM »

Hmm - following the deliver of new kit I find the respective Luthiers have made very different choices in both what 'extra' chords to provide, and their positioning relative to the standard 'block'. As yet my brain remains confused and fingers don't always go where intended but I hope I'll get used to it

This poll invites interested 12-bass owners to say where their extras have been positioned, to post what they've been given and perhaps comment as to utility. Can't get multiple voting to work so I've put in a 'both' choice. I'll start things off with my own boxes' layouts (perhaps posters could copy same format?) D3R

Chris Ryall · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2009, 09:27:06 AM »

Oakwood
Foot end
   G/D C/C
   D/A B/Em
   A/F F#/Bm
Head end

Martyn seems to reach 'up' into keys with more #'s, though his choices make it play superbly fluidly in all the modes of D (Em dorian F#m,b9 A myxolydian Bm). It's also strangely happy in C! The G modes feel the lack of a pull G bass, as the best melodeon run of notes (think Em) in the G scales is deffo on the pull.

Chris Ryall · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2009, 09:27:59 AM »

Gaillard
Foot end
   Bb/F Eb/F# << this the only one at 'foot' end as of 7 July
   G/D C/C
   D/A B/Em
Head end

Bertand in contrast seems to reach 'down' into keys with more flattened notes. One suspects Norbert Pignol might have had a lot to do with this. I've transposed the French box into D/G equivalent to aid comparison, and ignored its single note buttons. I have really not as yet explored its possibilities ...

Steve_freereeder · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2009, 10:09:44 AM »

Castagnari Mory
Foot end
G/D C/C
D/A B/Em
Eb/F# Bb/F
Head end

I think this is the standard factory layout. It seems logical enough to me and works fine with the push/pull directions on the RH. The pull F# chord, is of course, F#m. But as I have a stop to remove the thirds from the chords, I can make them 'fat' or 'thin' as needed.

My RH side is customised, however. Full layout here:
http://info.melodeon.net/files/site/mory_steve_fr_layout.jpg

Clive Williams · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2009, 10:24:15 AM »

My weapon of choice:

Castagnari Mory
Foot end
G/G C/C
D/D Bm/Em
A/A F#m/F
Head end

... or alternatively on a Castagnari Giasco, a slight variation:

Foot end
G/G C/C
D/D Bm/Bm
A/A Em/Em
Head end

Of the 2 systems, I think I prefer the Mory's.

Cheers,

Clive

ganderbox · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2009, 12:36:28 PM »

Quote from: Steve_freereeder on July 06, 2009, 10:09:44 AM

Castagnari Mory
Foot end
G/D C/C
D/A B/Em
Eb/F# Bb/F
Head end

I think this is the standard factory layout.

This is how my Dony came, but I wasn't really using the Eb/F# much so I changed it to A/G (to give those basses in different directions), and find them quite useful.

I once tried a box with the extra basses at the foot, but it just felt too weird! I don't think I could cope with having different boxes, some with the main block at the foot and some at the head.

EeeJay · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2009, 02:26:41 PM »

Quote from: chrisryall on July 06, 2009, 09:27:06 AM

Oakwood
Foot end
G/D C/C
D/A B/Em
A/F F#/Bm
Head end

Martyn seems to reach 'up' into keys with more #'s, though his choices make it play superbly fluidly in all the modes of D (Em dorian F#m,b9 A myxolydian Bm). It's also strangely happy in C! The G modes feel the lack of a pull G bass, as the best melodeon run of notes (think Em) in the G scales is deffo on the pull.

Actually Chris, the erratic 'F pull' was my idea, not Martyn's... seeing as the 'E pull' (and thirdless chord) was duplicated elsewhere.

Apart from that, it's the default A/D/G bass rig... and at the time I was cautious of getting anything too oddball fitted.

Ed J

Chris Ryall · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2009, 08:05:20 PM »

Now my Oakwood's ectopic F chord is explained I see three main patterns emerging (modified)

Most put any extra chords to the head
Gaillard perhaps follows a 'more flat's chords to foot end, more sharps to the head' rule I've seen others in Europe in this layout but none posted here yet
Stradella bass (push/pull = same) mimic but in melodeonic layout

.. and some hybrids. What a mixture! I should have posted this on the what's in a name thread. Keep them coming please. Chris

Morrisbox · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2009, 09:03:19 PM »

Salterelle Connemara 3

Foot end
G/D C/C

D/A Bm/Em

A/G F#m/F
Head end

Salterelle Nordsud

Foot end
G/D C/C

D/A Bm/Em

A/E F#m/Bm
Head end

Trevor

brianread · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2009, 09:04:18 PM »

Castagnari:

Foot end
   G/D C/C
   D/A Bm/Em
   A/E F#m/B
Head end

(actually this is upside down as I play it "leftily"), but i have translated it for comparison sake.

GbH · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2009, 10:35:50 PM »

Mine's set up in the same way as Mr Freereeder's box, as mentioned above. When ordering the instrument initially, I had a hard time in deciding what I wanted, changing my mind several times. As it turns out, I'm now very happy with the tuning I chose and have no inclination to change it.

Malcolm Clapp · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2009, 07:30:58 AM »

On my 12 bass Hohner Erica D/G

Foot end
G/D C/C
D/A G/G
B/Em E/Am
Head end

This was from the days when I played strictly up and down the treble rows rather than crossing rows.

Malcolm Austen · « **Reply #12 on:** July 07, 2009, 09:11:09 AM »

Quote from: Malcolm Clapp on July 07, 2009, 07:30:58 AM

On my 12 bass Hohner Erica D/G

Did you 12 bass that yourself ?
The 12 bass erica normally has a wider cutout and stagered buttons at the bass end

Malcolm Clapp · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2009, 08:54:48 AM »

Yes, I did.
Added a pair of "new" buttons at each end of the original set, re-arranged the action and extended the reed blocks. PITA of a job, which I probably will never repeat! :'( :'( :'(

MC

EeeJay · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2009, 05:05:40 PM »

Quote from: jb on July 08, 2009, 03:10:11 PM

Quote from: EeeJay on July 06, 2009, 02:26:41 PM
the erratic 'F pull' was my idea, not Martyn's... seeing as the 'E pull' (and thirdless chord) was duplicated elsewhere.
Apart from that, it's the default A/D/G bass rig... and at the time I was cautious of getting anything too oddball fitted.

Well, b*gg*r me - it's never occurred to me to regard any of my bass buttons as extras. On each of my 3-rows (ADG and GCF) I have the standard setup and make pretty full use of it. On several tunes I use both the E minor and major chords (Dmin/maj on the GCF), but I take the point about duplication of the E (D) bass itself. I've made several fairly radical tuning amendments to the right-hand accidentals but the only changes I've had at the other end are in the inversions of some of the chords.

Ah, well...you see, the R/H end was C#/D/G (until Chris tweaked it a bit), so the bass end was an 'open brief'... basically I regarded it as D/G 8 'protected', plus 4 extras at the head end. Ideally, I'd have liked a G pull too (like you get on a C#/D), but, like I said, I felt better to stick closer to a 'standard'. So I was just quoting 'default A/D/G bass rig' as a point of reference.

That, and I can tolerate thirdless chords. I know some folks don't like them though...

Ed J

jb · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2009, 05:12:04 PM »

Quote from: EeeJay on July 08, 2009, 05:05:40 PM

Ideally, I'd have liked a G pull too ...
That, and I can tolerate thirdless chords. I know some folks don't like them though...

quite partial to the occasional thirdless myself. Also the occasional minor 3rd melody over major chord, or vice versa.
And yes - even just since reading this thread i've been wondering about the merits of a G pull (on the ADG).

ganderbox · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2009, 09:34:45 PM »

Quote from: jb on July 08, 2009, 03:10:11 PM

[
Well, b*gg*r me - it's never occurred to me to regard any of my bass buttons as extras.

I suppose if you have a 3 row in 3 different keys (like ADG) they aren't extras, because you need all the basses to play in those keys.
If you have a 2.5 row or 3 row with a full row of accidentals, then you could manage with just the usual 8 basses, so the others are "extras".

ganderbox · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2009, 11:19:39 AM »

How about the strange 3 row (D/G + accidentals) I came across recently?
12 basses, but with the main block of 8 being in the middle, with 2 "extras" at each end. I think they were all bass notes, but I must admit I didn't investigate too closely as it was confusing enough trying to play it at all with the 8 being where they were.

tim54 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2009, 01:09:48 PM »

Hi all,

Saltarelle Pastourelle III

Foot end

G/D C/C
D/A B/E
A/G F#F

Head end.

This is the factory layout I believe.

Regards,

Tim

IanD · « **Reply #19 on:** August 16, 2009, 04:32:50 PM »

Castagnari Dony 3-row D/G/acc (custom)

Foot end
G/D C/C
D/A B/Em
Bb/F Eb/F#
Head end

As suggested by Emmanuel Pariselle (along with RH accidental row)

Ian

News:

Poll

Are your melodeon 'extra' chords at the head or foot aspect of the instrument?

Author Topic: 12 bass survey (Read 9629 times)