Why do old accordions sound better than new ones?

In the most general sense, I would say that the reason one might be inclined to believe such a statement is that in recent times there has been an avalanche of cheaply made accordions coming out of China. read more

I believe that there is nothing inherent about old accordions that make them better. In fact, due to neglect, most older accordions have assorted problems that can affect their playability and sound. Then as now, it's all about the quality of the parts and manufacturing process. If anything, I believe that the top accordion manufacturers of today (including Pigini and Petosa) make instruments better than any older manufacturers. read more

Fortunately, this is finally changing due to the increased use of the accordion in alternative rock (The Decemberists, Devotchka, Kongos) and people's increased interest in International music (Don Omar, Michel Teló). read more

Appraising an accordion's value is not a straightforward process, because they generally do not have "Blue Book values" like many other instruments (such as guitars) do. Below, we offer some information to assist those who may be looking to sell their accordion. read more