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mistermacky
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1#
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Rank:none
Posts:50
Registered:30/12/2006
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(Date Posted:14/06/2007 18:16:30)
The reason you can do that is that the air hole is small, or restricted.
I must admit I perfer it that way too.
You could get the same result for nothing on your Hohner by gluing some card, or ply, over part of the airhole to restrict the flow. It's not really a sign of quality, it's just how it's set up.
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Theo Gibb
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2#
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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:14/06/2007 18:26:30)
As well as the size of the air hole another significant factor is the quality of the reeds. Top quality reeds speak with less pressure/airflow.
This is a personal preference, but I would never want to restrict the size of the air hole. Sometimes I want to be able to shift a lot of air in or out of the bellows in a very short time. You can get the same effect as partly blocking the air hole by learning more fine control over the air button. It takes time to master this, but its well worth working on.
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Txbear
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3#
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Rank:none
Posts:85
Registered:23/05/2007
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(Date Posted:14/06/2007 19:20:18)
Reply to : Theo Gibb
As well as the size of the air hole another significant factor is the quality of the reeds. Top quality reeds speak with less pressure/airflow.This is a personal preference, but I would never want to restrict the size of the air hole. Sometimes I want to be able to shift a lot of air in or out of the bellows in a very short time. You can get the same effect as partly blocking the air hole by learning more fine control over the air button. It takes time to master this, but its well worth working on.
After further experience, I realize I wasn't really "fully" depressing the air button. When it is completely depressed I get very good air movement, easily equivalent to my Hohner. The air holes on the Gabb do seem more than adequate. The difference is the reed response. The Gabbanelli reeds require much less air. I think it is an interesting "technique" to be able to take in a bit more air on a pull and not really affect the quality of a note.
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mistermacky
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4#
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Rank:none
Posts:50
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(Date Posted:14/06/2007 21:19:47)
Aha, I did say the air hole was small or restricted! It was, if it was not fully opening.
It sounds like the action of the Gabanelli air button is more progressive than that of the Hohner. I don't know how they achieve that?
Maybe it's to do with the Hardness of the material used. Hohners seem to use harder sealing material, judging by the noise they make when they slap closed. Maybe re-facing the Hohner air-button pallet with something thicker and softer would give more fine control?
Or, you could replace the pallet with a much bigger one, which overlaps the hole quite a lot. This would give more drag when you open the air buttton a little, making it a more progressive action.
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andrew_w
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5#
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Registered:02/04/2005
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(Date Posted:15/06/2007 01:04:38)
I think there are probably several reasons why this is happening. As Theo points out, better quality reeds will sound at lower air pressures. Also, if my one row is anything to go by, it is larger than the Hohner boxes, so there is more air in the bellows. I seem to remember that the Gabbanelli boxes are of a similar size.
The air button arrangement is quite different on a Hohner 114, ie. it's a spoon key rather than a long pallet inside the base end. I find the arrangement on a "Cajun" box allows for finer control. Plenty of people seem to get on OK with the spoon basses, my real problem wasn't with control but with them getting damaged and leaking.
How do I hold the bass end and operate the air valve?
I grasp the bass box between my middle two fingers and my thumb (running my thumb up the back of the bass box as you describe). The bass and chord are then played with my index finger and little finger. The air button is operated with bottom of my thumb/heel of my hand (I don't have my box here to check exactly).
Held like that means you could even play without a bass strap, though one is a good idea since it keeps your hand in place and means you don't have to grip too tightly. I find it gives great control over the bellows but it's a grip that would be impossible on a Hohner 114 though.
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Txbear
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6#
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Rank:none
Posts:85
Registered:23/05/2007
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(Date Posted:17/06/2007 17:56:34)
Reply to : andrew_w
I think there are probably several reasons why this is happening. As Theo points out, better quality reeds will sound at lower air pressures. Also, if my one row is anything to go by, it is larger than the Hohner boxes, so there is more air in the bellows. I seem to remember that the Gabbanelli boxes are of a similar size.The air button arrangement is quite different on a Hohner 114, ie. it's a spoon key rather than a long pallet inside the base end. I find the arrangement on a "Cajun" box allows for finer control. Plenty of people seem to get on OK with the spoon basses, my real problem wasn't with control but with them getting damaged and leaking.How do I hold the bass end and operate the air valve?I grasp the bass box between my middle two fingers and my thumb (running my thumb up the back of the bass box as you describe). The bass and chord are then p
Thanks for the comments Andrew. That is pretty much how I hold and play the Gabb and yes, the buttons are much easier than the spoons. That probably explains some of the differences in response. It is a bigger box and would move more air as well. There are various reasons why I still like the Hohner. Wetter tuning, lighter weight. It's a fun box to doodle with. I enjoy trying out different compbinations of reeds by opening a closing the stops. The high reed by themselves can be very soft and sweet. Playing with just the two middle banks is another interesting combo. The best cajun sound comes when the middle third is closed for a "dry" sound. The key operation on the Hohner is noisier, however, and there is a stronger sub-vibration (a kind of buzz) in the low bass notes that I find a touch irritating. After all, it is a relatively inexpensive box and you do get what you pay for. It has been fine for learning to play on.
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oonrahnjay
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7#
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Rank:none
Posts:260
Registered:30/06/2004
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(Date Posted:19/06/2007 02:08:41)
Reply to : andrew_w
How do I hold the bass end and operate the air valve?
I grasp the bass box between my middle two fingers and my thumb (running my thumb up the back of the bass box as you describe). The bass and chord are then played with my index finger and little finger. The air button is operated with bottom of my thumb/heel of my hand
__. Yeah, I think that's pretty much the only way to operate the air valve on a one row with button. I found it a little clumsy at first (after being used to two-row boxes with "thumb air valves".
__. I'm glad to hear the Gabb accordeons have improved in quality. For a long time, they had a reputatation for low value/high price. It's good that they've produced products that will change that rep.
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