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Accordeo Interview 1 Background Accordions

Accordeo Interview 1 Background Accordions

 

 

Accordeo Interview 1 Background Accordions – Could you tell us more about the history of the shop ? Is it a Family business ? Since when is it open ? and many people work in your shop ?

 

I come from Germany and I made my education to an accordion builder in Klingenthal. After that, I made my qualification with a master of handcraft.

 

I worked before I came to Switzerland in Klingenthal as Accordion builder and Export sales manager by Weltmeister. After one year and a half, I found a job advertisement in Switzerland as an Accordion repairman with qualification as an master of Handcraft. So I was employed by an accordion shop here in Winterthur/Switzerland.

My boss was going in pension 2017. The wish from him and from some old clients, there are friends too, was to make my own business. They asked me if I would continue my work as a repairman in the future. So I started with a small repair service for accordions and harmonicas in a small room from 10 qm in my flat.

After one year in my flat I moved in a location with a bigger space. The reason was that : I needed more space for instruments and stock. In the whole time I started selling and renting instruments for beginners.

In the new location I extended my workshop and my shop. In the last 2 years I got two offers to buy businesses. One stock which I bought was from an old accordion builder. He sold me his whole workshop and stock of instruments.

 

Accordeo
Accordeo

 

 

I grow up in my shop from like 10 instruments for sale to up to 100 instruments !

 

One year later I got the offer from a big music store in Zurich. They had a stock of instruments (accordions) for rent that I repaired for them. They offered me to buy the whole stock of accordions. Since February 2021, I have bought from them nearly 50 instruments.

It wasn’t a family business, I started by myself and opened it since Novembre 2017. I have an spare part worker. He helps me fix accordions, cleans reeds and re-valve reeds. He does some mechanical work too.

 

Now I have like 200 instruments from different brands in my shop and I repair all brands in my workshop.

 

Accordeo
Accordeo

 

Accordeo
Accordeo

 

 

Accordeo – Do you sell only accordions ? what are the others instruments you sell and repair ?

 

I repair all accordions and harmonicas.

 

These are like accordions(buttons/piano/convertor/solist), steirische, concertinas, swiss folk instruments “Schwyzerörgeli”, sometimes Bandoneons.

I sell these too : accordions, steirische, concertinas, swiss folk instruments “Schwyzerörgeli”.

I also sell all accesories too like : bags, straps, microphone, some speaker.

I have some violins from “BERGKAMM”. I have these violins because he is an old friend who want to be more famous. They are great violins by the way ! The last one was sold to a musician that is playing barock violin in Geneva.

 

 

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Accordeo

 

Accordeo
Accordeo

 

Accordeo
Accordeo

 

 

Accordeo – Is it possible for people to rent instrument ? What kind of services do you propose ? and what kind of instruments are available for renting ?

 

It is possible to rent every kind of accordion and harmonic instruments; accordions (buttons/piano/convertor/solist), steirische, concertinas, swiss folk instruments “Schwyzerörgeli”.

 

Minimum renting is for at least 3 months and the prices start at 30 CHF. In these rental service, I propose a complete service inclusive: councelling and repairing. My service in my shop is a complete service about accordions (buttons/piano/convertor/solist), steirische, concertinas, swiss folk instruments “Schwyzerörgeli”: tuning/ mechinc repairs/ costumising.

 

Accordeo
Accordeo

 

Accordeo

 

 

Accordeo – We heard that you customize instruments , could you tell us what are the options you propose ?

 

You have different options.The simplest one to customize an instrument is to change the bellow.

 

You can order the complete design and the amount of wrinkles, the color of the interior, color of the leather corners and metal corners and the color of the outside.

The next and the most customized thing is the tuning of the instrument. Some clients like in the sound more swing or more the French musette.

 

It is possible to change the responsiveness of the reeds for more dynamic of playing.

 

Changing the keys and buttons. Sometimes I have to change the bounce of the mechanics for the energy which you need for push the button or key. I change the valve pads in the keyboard of an instrument. There are so many possibilities to customize your instrument.

 

My slogan is: Nothing is impossible and Ii try my best to make my clients happy. I customize some bass mechanic for a better playing, more direct handling and quicker response of the sound.

 

Accordeo

 

 

Accordeo – You specialize in accordions, could you tell us what is your favorite brand if any ? and why ?

 

I’m specialized in accordions and harmonicas. I haven’t a 100 % favorite brand but i like one brand more than the other, the BELTUNA.

You can play all kind of music with them but some are better for classical music and some more for modern music like jazz and blues.

For example the brand PIGINI is very famous in the classical accordion music.

All brands of accordions have their special preferences. Some brands are perfect for beginners, some for experts and solists.

Why BELTUNA? I worked for the main distribution in Switzerland and over the years the owner becomes a friend. The instruments are very innovative. Their last development was the GRAND CONVERTOR it is a electric magnetic and electric mechanical mechanism.

 

BELTUNA instruments have a great sound. I had one but i sold it to start my business.

 

Accordeo

 

Accordeo – Are you a musician yourself ? What instrument do you play ? and do you still have time to play ?

 

I used to be a musician, today I’m more a technician.

 

In the past, I played in an accordion orchestra but I stopped because my business is growing fast. If I have time to play I play an old BORSINI CONSERVATORY with CONVERTOR. It is a solist instrument with a very great warm sound and thanks to this instrument, I can try things before proposing them to my clients.

 

Accordeo
Accordeo

 

Accordeo – Could you tell us how you decide to focus on accordions ? is there a musicians that inspired you ? what are favorite accordions players and songs ?

 

I started playing accordion at the age of 8 and I started to play in an accordion orchestra in Germany at 10.

 

I met some great musician like RICHARD GALLIANO or FRANK MARROCCO. I met some young talents and musician like MATTHIAS MATZKE or CHRISTINE SCHMID. I do not have some favorite songs of them. If I’m listening to accordion music, I’d rather listen to Jazz, blues and tos ome modern music styles.

 

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Accordeo – As you make repairs, could you tell us which was the greatest or most mythical instrument that you had to repair ?

 

If I look back into my memories, I’ve once repair one of the oldest instrument that I’ve ever seen. It was build in the year 1905.

 

I repaired it step by step and it took me more than one year to restore it ! It was a instrument with two keyboards and with two different tunings. I tuned it and made it airtight. It was a beauty.

 

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Accordeo – What would be your advices for accordions players to take care of their instrument ?

 

Oh it is difficult to say ! All players I know, know how important is the temperature and the humidity. Maybe I could just say

 

Take care of your isntrument like your own child.

 

 

Accordeo

 

 

 

You can contact Carsten Kresse through the contact form
on his personal page on Luthiers.com here:

https://luthiers.com/listing/accordeo-the-accordion-and-harmonic-competenz-centre/

 

 

 

 

 

We also invite you to follow him on his various social networks:

 

 

 

Accordeo

In the coming weeks, as for others luthiers for plucked string instruments, luthiers for bowed string instruments, amps & effects makers, wood & supplies dealers, lutherie events, jobs, schools & teachers subscribers on our site, you will be able to follow our series of mini-interviews dedicated to the fascinating world of luthiers.

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