What should I look for when buying a used harmonium?
January 29, 2009 8:18 PM Subscribe
What should I look for when buying a used harmonium? (maybe accordions too)
I've been thinking about playing a harmonium for a while now and I just found one on craigslist. It was made by Pakrashi (google knows little), and it certainly looks used. Are there any common problems I should be wary of?
I've been thinking about playing a harmonium for a while now and I just found one on craigslist. It was made by Pakrashi (google knows little), and it certainly looks used. Are there any common problems I should be wary of?
Best answer: I've found with (piano) accordions that a very common wearing-down is for a a single key's reed(s) to go out. To test it, you'll want to play each note, both with the bellows being pressed & pulled, on multiple reed ranks (Master, Clarinet, & Bandoneon should be enough - you want to activate every reed stop). Listen for either a honking or air blowing at the start of your motion.
Accordions are explicitly not fun to have to repair. Enjoy!
I disagree with the characterization of any instrument with dozens or hundreds of reeds, reed stops, and a bellows as 'simple'
posted by Lemurrhea at 10:48 PM on January 29, 2009
Accordions are explicitly not fun to have to repair. Enjoy!
I disagree with the characterization of any instrument with dozens or hundreds of reeds, reed stops, and a bellows as 'simple'
posted by Lemurrhea at 10:48 PM on January 29, 2009
Best answer: It's not a pedal style and a harmonium's no bassoon.
Furthermore: "WARNING - Do not ever buy a scale changing harmonium. The failure rate is unacceptable!"
posted by rhizome at 2:13 AM on January 30, 2009
Furthermore: "WARNING - Do not ever buy a scale changing harmonium. The failure rate is unacceptable!"
posted by rhizome at 2:13 AM on January 30, 2009
Response by poster: My google-foo has returned this morning, turning up these repair notes. Now I get to decide if I want to buy another instrument that is prone to failure and difficult to work on. Thanks everyone!
posted by waxboy at 6:52 AM on January 30, 2009
posted by waxboy at 6:52 AM on January 30, 2009
Not to mention that a brand-new one is not much more than what this guy is trying to charge.
posted by rhizome at 9:48 AM on January 30, 2009
posted by rhizome at 9:48 AM on January 30, 2009
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posted by rhizome at 8:32 PM on January 29, 2009