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Author Topic: new bellows  (Read 2066 times)

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sqwzboxstudent

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new bellows
« on: October 22, 2009, 09:07:56 PM »

hi all! i picked up a three row 2 voice gabbanelli off ebay a week or two back and as the bellows are virtually new, they seem really stiff to me..., the question is, how long will it take for the bellows to loosen up and is there anything i can do to help the matter ????, i currently practice between 30Min's - 60 Min's a day ? does it all come through play?????
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Rob2Hook

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Re: new bellows
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2009, 12:52:34 PM »

Bellows do soften with use, but it takes a long time.  Some new bellows are almost rigid and others are ready to cook, even from a single supplier.  I believe that in Castelfidardo, components can be bought from an accordion supermarket, so there may be no guarantee that your manufacturer actually made them.

My mate bought a Hohner "cajun" four-stop which was absolutely rigid, made his wrist sore.  He lent it to his brother, who plays in a cajun band, for six months hard gigging.  They're beautiful now.

Rob.
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Theo

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Re: new bellows
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2009, 01:25:04 PM »

Bellows ..... so there may be no guarantee that your manufacturer actually made them.


Pretty much certain that the bellows were not made by the manufacturer of the box.  I visited the Excelsior factory in Castelfidardo a couple of years ago, and it was their proud claim that they were the only factory left who still made everything in house except bellows and reeds.  I'm pretty sure that none of the Italian box makers build their own bellows.  Most will be made by one of the two bellows specialists, Marconi, or Galassi, both of whom make top quality bellows.  If the bellows are not so good its quite possible that they were not even made in Italy.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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rees

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Re: new bellows
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2009, 01:58:11 PM »

I was the original importer of Tom's new Gabbanelli and can confirm that the bellows are first class Italian made (either Galassi or Marconi).

Sorry Tom, but 10,000 times through Ripple of the Teign should sort it.  :Ph
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Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
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HallelujahAl

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Re: new bellows
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2009, 09:30:29 PM »

I had all this stiff bellows business when I first joined the forum. Received a number of suggestions, varying in their usefulness. The one that did seem to help was to hang the box and allow the bellows to drop naturally (I weighted the bottom end of the bellows as well). It seemed to do the trick - or maybe I just ended up playing them in? I don't know really. But maybe it's worth a try letting gravity do some of the work for you when you're not using the box?
AL
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sqwzboxstudent

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Re: new bellows
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2009, 07:11:36 PM »

theres one good thing to come out of it, i could be a contender for worlds strongest box player! it doesnt help when you have been lumping timber all day either!
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Rob2Hook

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Re: new bellows
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2009, 10:50:32 AM »

I suppose that the smaller the components of the bellows - directly related to cross section? - the more critical the tolerancing and therefore the more risk of building tight ones.  I wonder if gypsylad has played along with the Orchards at Dartmoor?  They use large PA sized three row boxes, A/D/G, so I guess there are no tight bellows, but they heft quite a weight.

What shook me was just how good they were when trying our smaller boxes, which have such different dynamics.  Great fun to join in with.

Rob.
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