Discussions > Teaching and Learning
Purchasing advice for a complete newbie
Max Khanna:
I have always wanted to learn what I always thought was called a button accordion - which I think I’ve now learned is actually called a melodeon... I remember hearing Andy Cutting on Radio 3 playing many many years ago; it’s stuck with me a long time! I’d love to be able to play English folk music on one.
I play many other instruments, none to a particularly high standard, but I very much enjoy playing. My enormously kind Christmas present this year was a “choose your own” melodeon. Knowing nothing and having the Bristol branch of Hobgoblin nearby, I’d really appreciate some advice before I go in. (Unless someone has a better suggestion?...)
As far as I can tell, a D/G instrument is what I should learn on, and I’m probably looking at £500ish for something worth playing but not fancy and beyond a beginner’s skill. What should I be looking for? 2 rows? More? How many bass buttons?
I appreciate that the more you pay, the better the instrument you get, but what is worth the extra and what is just going to be confusing or not worth a beginner having because they can’t get anything extra out of a particular feature?
Thank you so much!
Clive Williams:
£500 isn't a lot to buy a new box off the shelf with these days; you'll get something, but not necessarily of good quality. If I were in your place, I'd probably have a chat to Theo at www.theboxplace.co.uk about what he has; his website currently lists 3 D/G Hohners in the £500-£650 range, any one of which would be a fine choice. And if you don't get on with it, it will hold its resell value. But you will. Rees at www.melodeons.com and Mike at http://www.michaelrowbotham.eclipse.co.uk/ would be good people to talk to too.
John MacKenzie (Cugiok):
Looking at Hobgoblin's Bristol online site. They list two D/G Hohner Pokerworks (used) in stock. This model is very popular among UK melodeon players, and provided they are in decent nick, are what I would recommend a beginner to get. However, caveat emptor and all that, I would take someone with you who knows about the instrument, as it is easy to buy the wrong thing first time around, and that might put a beginner off melodeons altogether. We don't want that do we?
Sir John
Clive Williams:
If you're interested in Andy's music, you'll want a D/G by the way. Then go to lots of his workshops :-) The D/G pokerwork on Bristol's site should do just fine, but as John says take someone with you if you can to spot any obvious mechanical issues, not that there should be.
The D/G Maestro on there is ridiculously good value too if it's in good condition - it's effectively a Saltarelle Nuage. Not a beginner's instrument, but for those looking for an upgrade...
Helena Handcart:
--- Quote from: John MacKenzie (Cugiok) on December 28, 2018, 10:46:46 AM ---Looking at Hobgoblin's Bristol online site. The list two D/G Hohner Pokerworks (used) in stock.
--- End quote ---
One of the Pokerworks listed is also shown as made in Germany - these are the older models and are generally preferred to the shiny newer Chinese made models. They also seem to hold their value better too. Hobgoblin may also have some other suitable melodeons not yet listed on their site but are generally very good at moving melodeons between branches for you to try.
That green pearloid D/G on Theo's website does look pretty though. I really shouldn't look. We know what happens next.
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