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GavDav
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1#
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Rank:none
Posts:17
Registered:28/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:21/09/2007 09:41:27)
I've recently picked up a club II very cheaply which looks to be vaguely mechanically sound but which needs a lot of TLC. The bellows have been bashed and look like they need replacing, and the grille is missing. Fundamentally everything else is there, though the reeds look like they need rewaxing and all the valves must be replaced. A full tuning is inevitable. My quick question is really - how easy is it to source the parts (pokerwork size/style grille) and should I be attempting a slow rebuild myself or is it worth sending the box to Theo for a rebuild?
cheers
Gav
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Steve_freereeder
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2#
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Rank:none
Posts:405
Registered:01/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:21/09/2007 10:45:02)
Hi Gav,
You could try CGM Melodeon spares here:
CGM Melodeon Spares price list
They supply most things - you might need to contact them for a new Hohner grille.
If you attempt the rebuild yourself, you will certainly learn a great deal, and if you have not paid too much to begin with you won't have a lot to lose if things go wrong.
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Theo Gibb
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3#
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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:21/09/2007 11:43:11)
I have new pokerwork grills in stock, but they are too small for Club II. Same with bellows, they are slightly larger than pokerwork bellows. The only way is to get new bellows made to fit. I have a new set of bellows that I got made for a Club II that I've not used for an instrument for sale as the corners are slightly the wrong curvature. Contact me off-list if you are interested - click on my avatar and you'll find my email address.
Theo
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C age ing
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4#
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Registered:20/08/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:21/09/2007 12:57:35)
Reply to : GavDav
I've recently picked up a club II very cheaply which looks to be vaguely mechanically sound but which needs a lot of TLC. The bellows have been bashed and look like they need replacing, and the grille is missing. Fundamentally everything else is there, though the reeds look like they need rewaxing and all the valves must be replaced. A full tuning is inevitable. My quick question is really - how easy is it to source the parts (pokerwork size/style grille) and should I be attempting a slow rebuild myself or is it worth sending the box to Theo for a rebuild?cheersGav
Send it to Theo.
Although I've gone back into the jazz world with saxophone, I still get a kick out of picking up my Theo built Erika for a noodle. He knows what he is doing, is helpful and very reasonably priced. If only Theo would take up woodwind/brass repairs and regulation, I'd even chance sending my tenor to the frozen North-East.
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an-bosca-ceoil
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5#
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Rank:none
Posts:30
Registered:21/05/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:23/09/2007 01:29:27)
Reply to : Steve_freereeder
Hi Gav,You could try CGM Melodeon spares here:CGM Melodeon Spares price listThey supply most things - you might need to contact them for a new Hohner grille.If you attempt the rebuild yourself, you will certainly learn a great deal, and if you have not paid too much to begin with you won't have a lot to lose if things go wrong.
Absolutely no disrespect to Theo, or any other repairer, but it is nice to see someone contemplating having a go and someone else actually pointing out the learning potential, rather than just saying "Send it to the man!"
I suppose that, if one has to ask the question whether to try their own repairs or not, they have already answered themselves!
However it is the only way to learn and, unless you are really ham-fisted, there is not that much to spoil (reeds apart)to such an extent that it cannot be redone - I speak from experience.
I have almost finished an Erika that someone had performed DIY on; double sided tape for gaskets; flooring underlay on the pallets; some reeds "waxed" on with model glue, others with ?playdough? to name a few of the "repairs".
Still need a grille but I think they are rare as rocking horse manure.I think that with the Erika and the Club II it might be feasible to block the sides in to accept a modified Pokerwork item which, as Theo says, is a bit too short.
Regards,Bruce
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-risto-
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6#
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Rank:none
Posts:185
Registered:23/02/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:23/09/2007 11:07:30)
Reply to : GavDav
..how easy is it to source the parts ...
Hohner sell parts to old accordions too.
PS. Ask directly from Germany.
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Theo Gibb
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7#
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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:23/09/2007 13:39:36)
Reply to : an-bosca-ceoil
I think that with the Erika and the Club II it might be feasible to block the sides in to accept a modified Pokerwork item
Other possibilities:
- Straighten out the bent over edges of a pokerwork grille,
- make a frame for the grill - more elegant than blocking in the edge of the box
- make you own fretwork grill out of plywood or metal
Absolutely no disrespect to Theo, or any other repairer, but it is nice to see someone contemplating having a go and someone else actually pointing out the learning potential, rather than just saying "Send it to the man!"
I suppose that, if one has to ask the question whether to try their own repairs or not, they have already answered themselves!
However it is the only way to learn and, unless you are really ham-fisted, there is not that much to spoil (reeds apart)to such an extent that it cannot be redone - I speak from experience.
I never discourage people from doing their own repairs and I'm happy to help with advice or parts. I've done the occasional box maintenance course, and I've observed that people tend to react in one of two ways,
either:
"now I know how complicated it all is I'll get you to do the work for me"
or
"now I understand what to do, can I have some valves/wax/bellows tape please"
Bruce is right about reeds though, practice on some old reeds from a scrapped piano accordion, before you work on anything too precious. You are likely to wreck a few while learning.
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