Tuning and servicing
Examples of the type of work I undertake:
- tuning to your individual requirement, wet, swing, dry, musette, equal temperament, historic tunings etc
- fixing air leaks, lifted keys, stuck buttons, notes that don’t sound right
- reed work such as replacing broken reeds, new valves
- structural woodwork repairs, repairing damaged veneer and refinishing
- key conversions eg C/F to D/G etc
- converting bass buttons on old Hohner B/C boxes to useful chords
- bellows – missing corners, worn edges, leaking gaskets, custom made bellows
- straps custom made, or factory made from Hohner or Italian makers
And anything else that may be needed to put your instrument into good playing order.
All repair work is guaranteed for 1 year.
Instruments for repair can be sent by post or courier. Please contact me first by email, phone or letter to discuss what you need. For some melodeon tuning work it may not be necessary to send the whole instrument, it may be possible to send just the reedblocks.
Renovating older melodeons
The renovation process typically includes some or all of these processes:
- cleaning
- reed overhaul
- tuning
- bellows repair or replacement
- new bellows gaskets
- replacing broken springs
- refacing treble and bass pallets
- bushing bass buttons
- regulating Hohner action so treble buttons don’t “disappear down the holes”
- replacing damaged or corroded key axle rods
- replacing missing buttons
- repairing damaged woodwork, including cracked reedblocks
- fitting new straps and strap brackets
I can also offer a service to convert from one tuning system to another. For example I convert many pre WW2 Hohners to D/G to give them a new life for the English market, or to other tunings as required. In recent years these older Hohners have grown in popularity, particularly the miniature Liliput and Preciosa models, and also the wood bodied Club II model, also often badged Erika. The ClubII/Erika is a little larger than a modern Hohner Erica or Pokerwork, but with an extra treble row of 4 buttons providing accidentals, which makes a much more versatile instrument than a standard two-row, but with very little extra weight or bulk.