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NorthernMelodeon
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1#
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Rank:none
Posts:346
Registered:27/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:13/10/2007 22:44:58)
Reply to : steverenard
After starting out with a Hohner D/G Pokerwork, I am considering moving on to a Castagnari, but there is such a wide choice of models that it is all a bit confusing. Any advice would be welcome.Steve
Basically, there are a few decisions for you to make, which will then make it clear which model Castagnari you want:
1. Do you want a "flat" keyboard like the Pokerwork, or a stepped keyboard (see the "Tommy" on the Castagnari site)?
2. Do you want 2 voices (2 reeds per note) like the Pokerwork, or do you want a third voice an octave lower?
3. Do you want to economize with cheaper reeds (still an improvement) or do you want to splurge on more expensive reeds?
4. Would you like your box to be smaller or larger than the Pokerwork?
-Andy
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Pushpull
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2#
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Rank:none
Posts:265
Registered:08/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:15/10/2007 15:26:57)
Reply to : steverenard
After starting out with a Hohner D/G Pokerwork, I am considering moving on to a Castagnari, but there is such a wide choice of models that it is all a bit confusing. Any advice would be welcome.Steve
Steve,
I would back up what Andy said, decide what you want it for.
I moved from a Pokerwork to a Castagnari Tommy which suited my requirement for a lightweight box for morris use. I also like the smaller size. I didn't find any problem adjusting to the stepped fingerboard (anything is better than a Pokerwork) and I probably now find it preferable to a flat one.
What I would emphasise is that once you know what you want your box for, go and play lots of boxes before deciding what to buy. Apart from shops other box players are usually very helpful. It was having a go on a musos Tommy at an Inclognito do in Skipton that confirmed it as the one for me.
I have recently had a look at the Saltarelle L'Elfique and I reckon that's pretty good too - slightly stronger basses than the Tommy. I've not seen a Hohner Morgane yet but from what I have heard they are not to be sniffed at and they'll be a lot cheaper Castagnaris.
The Baffetti Black Pearls seem to be very popular amongst Nort West morris sides in particular and they certainly have plenty of welly and are quite nice to play.
Roy.
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steverenard
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3#
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Rank:none
Posts:6
Registered:10/10/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:15/10/2007 17:41:33)
Reply to : Pushpull
Reply to : steverenardAfter starting out with a Hohner D/G Pokerwork, I am considering moving on to a Castagnari, but there is such a wide choice of models that it is all a bit confusing. Any advice would be welcome.SteveSteve,I would back up what Andy said, decide what you want it for.I moved from a Pokerwork to a Castagnari Tommy which suited my requirement for a lightweight box for morris use. I also like the smaller size. I didn't find any problem adjusting to the stepped fingerboard (anything is better than a Pokerwork) and I probably now find it preferable to a flat one.What I would emphasise is that once you know what you want your box for, go and play lots of boxes before deciding what to buy. Apart from shops other box players are us
Thank you, Roy and Andy, for your advice. I basically want to be able to play English dance tunes at the end of the day. Though I do not play for a morris side as yet, l might want to as I become more proficient.
Steve
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Theo Gibb
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4#
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Rank:none
Posts:758
From: Great_britain 
Registered:30/06/2004
Time spent: 4850 hours
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(Date Posted:15/10/2007 19:59:01)
Reply to : steverenard
Thank you, Roy and Andy, for your advice. I basically want to be able to play English dance tunes at the end of the day. Though I do not play for a morris side as yet, l might want to as I become more proficient.
Steve
Just listen to what John Kirpatrick does in that genre with a Hohner Pokerwork! If a Hohner is good enough for him it's good enough for me!
I started with a Hohner Erica, had a Dino Bafetti, then a Saltarelle, then a Castagnari, I'm now back with a Hohner 
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Martin Ellison
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5#
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Rank:none
Posts:52
Registered:06/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:15/10/2007 20:39:58)
Reply to : Theo Gibb
Just listen to what John Kirpatrick does in that genre with a Hohner Pokerwork! If a Hohner is good enough for him it's good enough for me!I started with a Hohner Erica, had a Dino Bafetti, then a Saltarelle, then a Castagnari, I'm now back with a Hohner
I'll second that with the added endorsement that Mr Gibb refurbishes pokerworks to a magnificent standard.
I've already told Theo this but I'll pass it on: I sit at home surrounded by "top class" melodeons (Saltarelle, Eric Martin, Loffet) and always reach for the Pokerwork. I realise I haven't had as fun (on a melodeon) for years. The thing just sings.
Martin
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Chapin
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6#
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Rank:none
Posts:12
Registered:16/09/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:15/10/2007 21:23:35)
My first accordion -- a long term loan -- was a beautiful, blonde D/A accordion. It had some of the trademark clacking but had either been refurbished or broken in before me. The owner -- so the story goes -- had been a gigging player who got drunk and fell asleep on some railroad tracks.
It was a beautiful box that his widow lent to me after seeing me play concertina at a Shakespearean theater. After four years (during which I became completely besotted with box things) she finally asked for it back, saying she wanted to learn.
Gary
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Lin Erica
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7#
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Rank:none
Posts:224
Registered:01/08/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:16/10/2007 12:38:19)
ah yes but there are other considerations apart from the sound - in my case it was the smallness of my hands.
I started on an Erica (just like a Pokerwork but with a rounded end) and love the sound, but because my fingers and hand are so small I had great difficulty reaching the air button, and reaching across to the basses. so I eventually got a Bernard Loffett Petit- the sound especially the basses was very good, but again I struggled because of the pyhsical size, then I got a Tommy - WOW! what a difference because it is so much smaller, everything is within reach , and I totally believe that I would never have improved so much if I had stayed with the Erica or Loffett.
so I completey agree with everyone elses advice - you must try before you buy!!
hope this helps
Lin
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Pushpull
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8#
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Rank:none
Posts:265
Registered:08/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:16/10/2007 13:10:09)
Reply to : Theo Gibb
Just listen to what John Kirpatrick does in that genre with a Hohner Pokerwork! If a Hohner is good enough for him it's good enough for me!I started with a Hohner Erica, had a Dino Bafetti, then a Saltarelle, then a Castagnari, I'm now back with a Hohner
Oh I couldn't agree more re. JK and his Hohners. I consider him the best English dance box player and his sound is superb. The Pokerwork sound is ideally suited to morris and I have a Pokerwork, Erica and 1 row in the house, apart from my Tommy, a Lilly and a Max. I just can't be doing with the shabby mechanicals. I know they can be massaged to behave better and I have mentioned in the past that I think some sort of "super Pokerwork" (same tone, better mechanicals) would be great. Maybe that's the Morgane, but as I said I haven't played one yet.
Also, as I said and Lin mentioned, the Tommy is a nice size.
Oh and if I can get really controversial, I reckon if someone designed a good sounding, mass produced box with a good mechanism, it could be knocked out in China for the price of a Pokerwork.
Roy.
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oonrahnjay
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9#
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Rank:none
Posts:260
Registered:30/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:16/10/2007 15:18:49)
Reply to : Lin Erica
ah yes but there are other considerations apart from the sound - in my case it was the smallness of my hands. (snip) I got a Tommy - WOW! what a difference because it is so much smaller (snip)
__. This was one of my major decision points when I bought my first Hohner. They seem to come in about three sizes (in general). The Tommy/Benny/one row are the smaller size, then there's the "full-size" two-rows -- like my "Hascy" -- and most 2 1/2 rows are the same physical size; then finally there are the **big** framed models like the three-row Handry. (There are, of course, very small and very large variations but these probably aren't what you're looking for.
__. I was advised that the Tommy had reeds close to the valves, thus giving loud, bright sound, was easy to play because of the small size, had the stop for the octave on the treble, and was easy to carry around on day-long Morris tours and that all these are positive attibutes (and, with experience, I agree). But I went into Mally's (just to look, mind you ... just looking) and they had a Hascy on the shelf. Bigger bass, *very* nicely put together, wonderful full sound and it just seemed to fit (I'm over 6' tall and have big hands even for my stature). It did prove to be like lugging a building block around on Morris afternoons but for the sound, it's been worth it.
__. Another early consideration is the number of reeds per note. The Tommy and Hascy have three reeds per note on the treble and give a full sound. But my Benny has only two reeds per note and I've never been able to fall in love with it because the sound is so much "thinner". (And basses have differences, too - if the different chords share notes or if there are fewer reeds per note/chord on the bass side, you may get a different sound.) As others have said, there's no way to get around the need to play everything you can and listen carefully. But it helps to know what you're listening for!
__. So, I agree with Lin, the size of the model you're looking at is an early consideration, as is the sound type you want.
HTH, BH NC USA
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