Melodeon.net Forums

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Welcome to the new melodeon.net forum

Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Black Diamond  (Read 6485 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Tone Dumb Greg

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4929
    • Dartmoor Border Morris
Black Diamond
« on: August 06, 2017, 09:32:51 PM »

Spent a really great day today at Sidmouth. While I was was there I checked out the melodeons in the music tent in the park (hello squeezy). Checked out Oakwoods, Dino Baffettis, Castignaris, mongst others. To my surprise, the box that shone out was the Black Diamond Olivia. A real delight to play (and no, I am not related to any of the proprietors family or employees, I had never met them before). Honestly , it was lovely. Anyone else get to try it?

https://www.blackdiamondaccordions.com/melodeons

 
Logged
Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Gena Crisman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1041
  • 🇬🇧
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2017, 10:02:09 PM »

I did exactly the same thing, haha. I did play through black diamonds range and was generally impressed with them and had a nice chat with their staff. I was glad I did pop into black diamond but I don't think their boxes are my cup of tea.

I uh, don't really particularly remember how the olivia played, but I do remember playing it, mostly I remember their cardin box. That and when one of the bass button caps came unscrewed from their 2.5 row box and I thought I'd broken it!
Logged

Tone Dumb Greg

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4929
    • Dartmoor Border Morris
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2017, 11:26:27 PM »

when one of the bass button caps came unscrewed from their 2.5 row box and I thought I'd broken it!

(:)

Was it you that was trying out boxes with Squeezy?
« Last Edit: August 06, 2017, 11:28:37 PM by Tone Dumb Greg »
Logged
Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Daddy Long Les

  • Forum Librarian
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 999
    • Daddy Long Les
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2017, 11:36:02 PM »

Jon Loomes, who helped design and spec the two new BD boxes,  showed me round them and let me have a go. They both sounded very nice to my ears.
Logged
Castagnari Lily DG, Dino Baffetti Binci DG, Hohner Erica DG, Hohner Erica GC, Hohner Liliput Bb Eb, Sybilla Brand GCF, Hohner Compadre ADG, Hohner 4 stop in C

TomB

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 514
  • BCC#, Cairden BC Mini and lots of PA's
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2017, 01:16:56 AM »

BD ? I thought it was some new fangled tuning system 'til I realised you meant Black Diamond   :|bl

Logged

playandteach

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3521
  • Currently a music teacher in a high school.
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2017, 01:24:19 AM »

3 opinions.
1: "shone out"
2: "can't remember"
3: "very nice"

Read the blurb and the mixing of brass and aluminium plates and waxless fixing is interesting. The site doesn't seem to have audio files for the top end boxes yet but I will be keen to hear them. One small website gripe is the use of melodeon.net quotes without using members names.  I think that it makes it seem to non melnetters that they have been officially road tested by staff members. Steve Freereeder is mentioned by name but most quotes aren't.
Logged
Serafini R2D2 GC, Serafini GC accs 18 bass

Gena Crisman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1041
  • 🇬🇧
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2017, 01:30:49 AM »

Was it you that was trying out boxes with Squeezy?

I'm going to guess yes, as I was there for ages, twice! (Silver coat and big glasses and playing a lot of dino baffettis). Alas, another missed melnet connection!

Since this is a thread about Black Diamond, I was going to add that I was particularly impressed by black diamond's entry level box; they reminded me a lot of pretty much all the good things about the scarlatti nero and none of the bad aspects & pretty varied quality control I've seen when I've tried other neros in the wild. If someone doesn't like the 'oddities' of the more affordable hohners (especially if they haven't had their action limited) I do think I'd be much more confident steering someone towards a black diamond box than a nero.
Logged

Tone Dumb Greg

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4929
    • Dartmoor Border Morris
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2017, 08:55:54 AM »

3 opinions.
1: "shone out"
2: "can't remember"
3: "very nice"

Shone out is, of course, only a personal opinion. I did love the sound it made,  the way it played and the feel of it, though. As Les points out, the people at BD (have you really never tried the thirds apart system?) are very nice. They even came out and played and danced with us when we had an impromptu dance out outside the tent. That's not the reason for the mention though.
If you're wondering, it wasn't cheap (about £3kish).

Greg Bradfield-Smith
Logged
Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Tone Dumb Greg

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4929
    • Dartmoor Border Morris
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2017, 09:08:54 AM »

Was it you that was trying out boxes with Squeezy?

... Alas, another missed melnet connection!

That's it. Thought I recognised the profile picture. Put it down as a near miss, but no cigar.  I wandered past. Green face. Said quick hello to John. You were playing a few tunes a knew. I nearly asked if I could pick up another box and join in.  but it was pretty busy and I had to be back on the sea front by two. Came back later.

I agree about the Black Diamond starter box. Very playable (just an opinion, he adds hastily).

Greg
Logged
Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

triskel

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3290
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2017, 12:34:58 PM »

have you really never tried the thirds apart system?

There's British/English Chromatic, semitone apart system (B/C, C/C# etc.); Vienna, fourths apart system (G/C, D/G etc.); and Anglo/German concertina, fifths apart system (C/G, G/D etc.)

But thirds apart system?  ???

playandteach

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3521
  • Currently a music teacher in a high school.
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2017, 12:40:27 PM »

Maybe means thirds out?
Logged
Serafini R2D2 GC, Serafini GC accs 18 bass

TomBom

  • Respected Sage
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 471
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2017, 01:52:50 PM »

BD ? I thought it was some new fangled tuning system 'til I realised you meant Black Diamond   :|bl
Well, if BD existed it would be thirds apart ...
Logged

Tone Dumb Greg

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4929
    • Dartmoor Border Morris
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2017, 02:36:47 PM »

BD ? I thought it was some new fangled tuning system 'til I realised you meant Black Diamond   :|bl
Well, if BD existed it would be thirds apart ...

 :D
Logged
Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Malcolm Clapp

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1095
  • Loving my Hohner-reeded wet MMM CastaTommy
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2017, 04:11:54 PM »

BD ? I thought it was some new fangled tuning system 'til I realised you meant Black Diamond   :|bl
Well, if BD existed it would be thirds apart ...

A minor detail....

Logged
Tuner/repairer, now retired, but still playing! Happy to offer advice on repairs etc., and might be persuaded to undertake the odd emergency job for local and longtime  customers. Selling a few melodeons from my collection currently....

Rog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2295
  • Repair and tuning in Hants
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2017, 06:39:50 PM »

have you really never tried the thirds apart system?

There's British/English Chromatic, semitone apart system (B/C, C/C# etc.); Vienna, fourths apart system (G/C, D/G etc.); and Anglo/German concertina, fifths apart system (C/G, G/D etc.)

But thirds apart system?  ???

I'm just trying to imagine a thirds apart system. So D/F# or G/B or C/E. it's too late in the day and I've been stripping and cleaning the reeds from a lovely old Hohner Verdi I...so I can't work it out.

Steve_freereeder

  • Content Manager
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7511
  • MAD is inevitable. Keep Calm and Carry On
    • Lizzie Dripping
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2017, 01:54:31 AM »

I'm just trying to imagine a thirds apart system. So D/F# or G/B or C/E. it's too late in the day and I've been stripping and cleaning the reeds from a lovely old Hohner Verdi I...so I can't work it out.

Yes, I've been trying to imagine this too! I might experiment with a minor third apart system - D/F-natural comes to mind. I might see if I can temporarily replace the G-row reed block of a D/G box with an F-row reed block from a C/F box. The left-hand basses/chords will be wrong in part, but it might be worth doing just to explore what the right-hand side can do. Hmmm...  ;)
Logged
Steve
Sheffield, UK.
www.lizziedripping.org.uk

Thrupenny Bit

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6831
  • happily squeezing away in Devon
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2017, 08:16:52 AM »

I bumped into Jon Loomes yesterday and tried the Olivia.
I'll have another go today as not in kit with no deadlines to go to.
It is really nice. He whipped off the bass end and the workmanship in the reed blocks etc was superb.  As said the  reeds are pinned in not waxed.
The casework is gorgeous and it's in Olive wood. It plays well and sounds good to.
It's very nice!
Q
Logged
Thrupenny Bit

I think I'm starting to get most of the notes in roughly the right order...... sometimes!

Lester

  • MADman
  • Mods and volunteers
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9109
  • Hohners'R'me
    • Lester's Melodeon Emporium and Tune-a-Rama
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #17 on: August 08, 2017, 08:24:52 AM »

The casework is gorgeous and it's in Olive wood. It plays well and sounds good to.

The only olive wood box I've ever come across was heavy and I note that BD say the treble end reeds are on brass plates, again a weight gain on 'normal'. So is it a heavy box?

I also read on their website that 'Native Italian Olive wood has a unique tonal character'  ;)

bellowpin

  • Regular debater
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 118
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #18 on: August 08, 2017, 08:48:30 AM »

I'm just trying to imagine a thirds apart system. So D/F# or G/B or C/E. it's too late in the day and I've been stripping and cleaning the reeds from a lovely old Hohner Verdi I...so I can't work it out.

Yes, I've been trying to imagine this too! I might experiment with a minor third apart system - D/F-natural comes to mind. I might see if I can temporarily replace the G-row reed block of a D/G box with an F-row reed block from a C/F box. The left-hand basses/chords will be wrong in part, but it might be worth doing just to explore what the right-hand side can do. Hmmm...  ;)

     you should have 4 keys covered?   at least.      F.C.G.D   .     a bit of cross rowing required,  a sort of half way house toward semi tone boxes .   the worse of both worlds maybe...brian..
Logged
whole life in the shropshire hills. on the slow track and enjoying it.

Thrupenny Bit

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6831
  • happily squeezing away in Devon
Re: Black Diamond
« Reply #19 on: August 08, 2017, 09:42:36 AM »

Lester, it felt solid as opposed to heavy. The feeling you get when picking up a Castagnari or Beltuna
Q
Logged
Thrupenny Bit

I think I'm starting to get most of the notes in roughly the right order...... sometimes!
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
 


Melodeon.net - (c) Theo Gibb; Clive Williams 2010. The access and use of this website and forum featuring these terms and conditions constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions.
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal