Essential caring for your accordion

In the previous post I spoke about the maintenance of stringed instruments, and of course, today it is the accordion’s turn.

If you do not know the Jose Mari’s blog of Acordeones Dumboa I recommend it. They are also in Irun as we are :) . In this blog Jose Mari has very detailed and precise information, because he is a very renowned accordion luthier. Reading this blog, I have learned that there are three types of revisions that your accordion needs. Do you want to know what they are?

1. Revisions every three months you should make

• Dust cleaning on valves and rods inside mechanics, inner folds of bellows and outside parts (buttons, keyboard, registers, box, bellows)
• Ensuring that register switches go smoothly
• External cleaning treatment with wax or silicones

2. Annual maintenance performed by your trusted luthier

• Cleaning, control and adjustment of keys foraccompaniment and melody
• Cleaning, control and adjustment of the registers and chinrests
• Cleaning and general adjustment of voices
• Control, treatment and change of defective sheepskins
• Sound review (voice review)
• Mounting and sealing check (repair of possible air leaks)

3. Professional tuning

To have your accordion tuned is crucial for a long life of the instrument and an optimal and stable sound.

After buying a new accordion, the interior wood dries and the voices adapt. This adaptation allows the sound capacity to be improved by 30%.

Why is it necessary then to adjust the pitch? So that its maximum sound quality remains stable over time.

Jose Mari, thank you really much for sharing your experience.