Cajun accordion11/4/2022 Same as in the concertina-making world.Upon seeing a Louisiana-handmade diatonic accordion for the first time in 1957, a teenage Marc Savoy began a quest that arguably no one has come closer to achieving: to build the perfect Cajun accordion. I have found Marc and every other Cajun I have dealt with to be great people, especially if you remember to bring your manners with you. In fact, Marc has freely given advice and help to many other beginning makers. When you read between the lines, it turns out the writer dropped in on Marc unannounced expecting him to drop his work and entertain two visitors. On one major Cajun web site there is an anecdote posted by someone slamming Savoy and saying he deserves no credit or business at all. The membership would weary of it I know I would, and it serves no purpose. Imagine if there were endless fights here over Suttner vs. There are folks on the Web who will pull that on you. For me, the one that clicked was a Savoy (Acadian brand), but I wouldn't try to talk anyone else out of making their own choice. Whenever I got one I liked, I looked at the name on it. The way I did it was to go to lots of music events and visit Cajun players I met, and squeeze all the boxes when they were handed around. Larry Miller, Marc Savoy, and Junior Martin (all highly regarded) build full-time, and there are lots of part-timers out there (some great, some not). There is a lot of obfuscation about brands when you ask for advice. Personally I would not recommend either the Ariette or the Hohner, they just don't come anywhere near the real thing, but my Doucet compares favourably with a Marc Savoy (and looks just like one), costs a good bit less and you don't have to wait as long. As far as I know, Marc Savoy is the only Louisiana maker who offers that option. This tuning is what you would get as standard from all the Cajun makers, but if you want to play other music instead you may prefer to order an instrument in Quebecois tuning. Stuart has mentioned one of the differences in the tuning (which means those flattened notes clash against the bass end), but there is another in that Cajun accordions are tuned "dry" with no tremolo between the two middle-octave reeds. The Cajun accordion is the true melodeon (the old "German accordion"), rather than the instruments commonly referred to as melodeons which are really Vienna accordions. With its handmade Binci "Professional" reeds it is a bit like playing four Jeffries anglos all at once ! I don't think there is any instrument better for getting people up dancing. Mine was made by John Elton Doucet, in Chuch Point, La. I recognize the oncoming fever to have one of these so I’m trying to gather as much information as I can. Renting one first? A good thought but where? Are there any special considerations to think about in purchasing one?Ħ. (who has what I think is the most beautiful style of accordion out there. Would I be better off saving my money until I could afford a custom Acadian from Marc Savoy Is it truly the same as a melodeon? Is the difference in tuning?Ĥ. Does anyone here have one and are they as enjoyable to play as they seem to be?Ģ. I was wondering if any of you could answer a few questions for me.ġ. It’s diatonic system would make it easier to learn, since I already play an anglo, and the small size, unique sound and overall appearance appeal to my sense of something “different”. There are several things that attract me to the Cajun style accordion. (I had never held a concertina before buying one either but have become fairly proficient with it). I’ve always loved the sound of one but have never even held one before. I’m considering a try at the “Cajun accordion”. Things have returned to a more relaxed pace and I’ve reached a point with my concertina that I would like to “stretch” (badoom-boom) my abilities a bit. Marriage, new home, lots of other things that have kept me too busy to hang around a bunch of squeezers. It’s been a while since I’ve posted here.
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