What should I look for when buying a used harmonium?

January 29, 2009 8:18 PM

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?

posted by waxboy to media & arts (5 comments total)

I've thought of doing the same thing for a few years, and my research indicates that they are fairly simple instruments. You'll want the bellows to be in good condition (no cracks or holes or anything like that) and to have every key work and sound good. I'm not sure if you can get inside of them, but if so I would check to see that the reeds are in good condition.
posted by rhizome at 8:32 PM on January 29

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

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

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

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