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Author Topic: Air button  (Read 3150 times)

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Squeaky Pete

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Air button
« on: July 09, 2019, 10:21:37 PM »

While I was waiting for some bits to carry on with work on the club IIIBS, I started on a club IIB.
This was originally bought to break for the bits, but although it looks like a dog it was actually in fairly good shape. It needed rewaxing and retuning, but it sounds great now and plays very easily.
Apart from the air button.
It was very stiff and push-in style, which I found uncomfortable. My thumb complained and I found it hard to control so i looked up threads on air buttons.
I saw pictures of a Van Der Aa button with a raised bit on a wedge and thought I'd give it a try. It works a treat.
The pivot position meant I couldn't move anything much but a little trimming and a new wedgie/button feels close enough to pokerwork or Erica.
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Air button
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2019, 11:23:08 AM »

Have been up close and personal with a Gaillard recently, though sadly without a squeeze.
It has a Castagnari style wedge and on the face where your thumb pushesi are three small dimples. Presumably along the lines of your modification.....
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Thrupenny Bit

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

Chris Ryall

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Re: Air button
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2019, 12:15:28 PM »

Gaillard changed design of his air button to a "floating" wedge of wood in about 2005, with a really large hole. It can gulp air like a surfacing cetation. Fantastic for "mainly on the pull" play 😎

van der Aa moved in a similar direction in 2012 (having dismantled my Gaillard, previous year! 😉)! His triangular profile button is easy on the thumb. I'd prefer a larger hole.

The air button is frankly the most important one on any box.  Going back to a Hohner "pencil" or Casta push IN type would drive me mad. Thumbs are not designed to push "in"?

Great modification! Manufacturers please note

[typos corrected]
« Last Edit: July 11, 2019, 08:02:46 AM by Chris Ryall »
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Air button
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2019, 12:29:25 PM »

Well, my Casta I never think of 'pushing in' I move down.
In fact any part of the base of my thumb and along it's length simply moving down can gently feather or grab gob fills of air. I prefer feathering!
The triangular design simply means the more you move down the greater it is pushed in and that's what I want.
I've tried the Hohner button and find it just cramps my thumb joint and have never got on with it.
But others here will have the opposite view cos we're  all different 
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Thrupenny Bit

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

Chris Ryall

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Re: Air button
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2019, 12:40:01 PM »

The "in" casta button was on my "max". 😕

Guess my point is that no air button should push "in".
« Last Edit: July 11, 2019, 08:01:23 AM by Chris Ryall »
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Mike Hirst

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Re: Air button
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2019, 01:11:04 PM »

The air button is frankly the most important one on any box.
Never a truer word spoken
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Air button
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2019, 01:20:10 PM »

Ah right Chris. Nope totally agree nothing should just push in.
Yes, agree, it's the most important button on the box.
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Thrupenny Bit

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

Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Air button
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2019, 02:33:41 PM »

Hmm. I prefer the Hohner style button, which is totally intuitive, but I, eventually, came to terms with the Italianate wedge, though it still requires a certain amount of conscious thought. Just keep plugging away at it until it happens seems the best plan.
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Air button
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2019, 03:13:59 PM »

I cheated and got my Erikas fitted with Italianate wedges.
Sounds like a new pair of shoes  ;D
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Thrupenny Bit

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

Mike Hirst

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Re: Air button
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2019, 04:08:04 PM »

Sounds like a new pair of shoes  ;D
Do you mean that they squeak?
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Air button
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2019, 04:47:42 PM »

No, I'm sure I've read that Italianate Wedges are the height of fashion ...
but I might be wrong of course  ;)
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Thrupenny Bit

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

Winston Smith

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Re: Air button
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2019, 05:07:46 PM »

According to my granny; "Squeaky shoes aren't paid for!"

But what would you expect from someone from the NE?
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Air button
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2019, 05:08:41 PM »

I think Leveret recorded The Italianate Wedge on one of their early CDs
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Mike Hirst

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Re: Air button
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2019, 05:28:01 PM »

According to my granny; "Squeaky shoes aren't paid for!"

But what would you expect from someone from the NE?

In the 1920s my granny worked in Lewis's in Manchester, she told me the same, so it must be true.

P.S. "Don't try to teach your granny to suck eggs."
« Last Edit: July 10, 2019, 05:35:20 PM by Mike Hirst »
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Air button
« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2019, 05:57:54 PM »

More on topic, I have an old Hohner with a very short airbutton. Very similar to a pokerwork but barely proud of the cover. Suggestions for improving the situation welcomed.
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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

rees

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Re: Air button
« Reply #15 on: July 10, 2019, 06:12:56 PM »

I seem to be the odd one out here. I usually convert my personal Castagnaris to a Hohner style air button.
Easy to use and less stress on the thumb.
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Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
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Mike Hirst

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Re: Air button
« Reply #16 on: July 10, 2019, 06:18:29 PM »

Apologies for frivolity.

I am not skilled enough to speak with any expertise, but to pull discussion back to issues of accordion construction and mechanisms, I recall owning an East German B/C instrument with a 'pencil' style depressable air button. The end plate on the left hand side had two holes, about 1/2" apart, giving flexible options for air value position.

It has to be said that I have no personal preference for air valve styling. In truth  I cannot recall struggling with changes between one row rear spoon, one row rear mushroom button, palm operated bar valve, or light switch style thumb operated 'pencil' button.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2019, 06:23:30 PM by Mike Hirst »
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Lester

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Re: Air button
« Reply #17 on: July 10, 2019, 06:24:51 PM »

More on topic, I have an old Hohner with a very short airbutton. Very similar to a pokerwork but barely proud of the cover. Suggestions for improving the situation welcomed.
Remove the bass end plate, gently ease the button up the shaft a little, Robert's your father's brother.
Or if necessary fashion a new button out of a bit of dowel and fit in replace the old one

Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Air button
« Reply #18 on: July 10, 2019, 06:47:04 PM »

Yes Stiamh I know lots of people that get on with both styles. Also I'm an odd one not being brought up the traditional way via a Hohner. I started on a Casta so it is what I'm used to.

I remember a friend at a session had an old Hohner. I think it was a 3 voice tuned MMM, and it had a small Italian type lever. The lever looked old, whether original or an old modification couldn't be seen.
But it wasnt a traditional Hohner button.
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Thrupenny Bit

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

rees

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Re: Air button
« Reply #19 on: July 10, 2019, 10:01:15 PM »

Or if necessary fashion a new button out of a bit of dowel and fit in replace the old one

Stradella bass buttons are ideal as they have the hole pre-drilled (also they are sexy black).

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Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
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