During Norman English's early years starting out playing the piano accordion there was limited choice available.
It was acoustic Piano Accordion V Acoustic Piano Accordion.
The only decision to be made was what size of Accordion 48/72/96/120.
Which make? And what price could you afford to pay.
Norman started out with a Hohner 48 Bass and graduated to the Hohner verdi 3.
Later he purchased his first Italian Accordion a Marinucci which Norman told me he really enjoyed playing before moving on to purchase a Hohner Morino 1v.
Norman's first encounter with the Electronic Piano Accordion was when he purchased a Hohner Electrovox Deluxe.
Boy was that a different breed of Accordion.
No bellows just a small amount of movement to control the volume.
It needed an amplifier and after a few years playing the Blackpool music scene with the electronic instrument Norman went back to the traditional Accordion.
Years later, whilst working with his current employer the Roland FR range of digital Accordions arrived.
Norman is now an enthusiastic owner of a Roland FR7 and also a traditional Guerinni 120 Pro Piano Accordion.
During his working life Norman has had the pleasure of playing all the following Piano Accordions: Beltrami - Stephanelli - Crucianelli - Borsini - Fantini - Hohner - Weltmeister - Paola Soprani - Salterelle.
Norman admits his love of playing a good quality Piano Accordion and aspires to a Beltrami 96 Bass Compact.
It is a bit smaller in size and lighter, and made to a very high standard with quality in mind.
It is made by Claudio Beltrami himself, the master builder of bespoke Accordions in Italy.
Norman claims he would then have the best of both worlds a top end traditional Accordion with a top end Roland digital Accordion.
Pros of a traditional Accordion: No need to hook up for recharging.
Just pick up and play.
Cons of a traditional Accordion: The requirement to look after this instrument with a service and tuning occasionally.
Norman English stated he loves the Roland Digital Accordion for different reasons.
Pros of a Digital Accordion: Fantastic range of different Accordions available within this instrument; Orchestral voices to die for, with the ability to change the character by the way it is played; Headphones for practice; Wireless connection for cable free playing; Ability to hook up to a computer for music writing and audio input; Cons of a Digital Accordion: Necessary not to over look the charge up for cable free playing; The advice offered was "Have one of each" You cannot take your money with you when you depart the planet so have fun with both instruments for the different styles of music you play.
It was acoustic Piano Accordion V Acoustic Piano Accordion.
The only decision to be made was what size of Accordion 48/72/96/120.
Which make? And what price could you afford to pay.
Norman started out with a Hohner 48 Bass and graduated to the Hohner verdi 3.
Later he purchased his first Italian Accordion a Marinucci which Norman told me he really enjoyed playing before moving on to purchase a Hohner Morino 1v.
Norman's first encounter with the Electronic Piano Accordion was when he purchased a Hohner Electrovox Deluxe.
Boy was that a different breed of Accordion.
No bellows just a small amount of movement to control the volume.
It needed an amplifier and after a few years playing the Blackpool music scene with the electronic instrument Norman went back to the traditional Accordion.
Years later, whilst working with his current employer the Roland FR range of digital Accordions arrived.
Norman is now an enthusiastic owner of a Roland FR7 and also a traditional Guerinni 120 Pro Piano Accordion.
During his working life Norman has had the pleasure of playing all the following Piano Accordions: Beltrami - Stephanelli - Crucianelli - Borsini - Fantini - Hohner - Weltmeister - Paola Soprani - Salterelle.
Norman admits his love of playing a good quality Piano Accordion and aspires to a Beltrami 96 Bass Compact.
It is a bit smaller in size and lighter, and made to a very high standard with quality in mind.
It is made by Claudio Beltrami himself, the master builder of bespoke Accordions in Italy.
Norman claims he would then have the best of both worlds a top end traditional Accordion with a top end Roland digital Accordion.
Pros of a traditional Accordion: No need to hook up for recharging.
Just pick up and play.
Cons of a traditional Accordion: The requirement to look after this instrument with a service and tuning occasionally.
Norman English stated he loves the Roland Digital Accordion for different reasons.
Pros of a Digital Accordion: Fantastic range of different Accordions available within this instrument; Orchestral voices to die for, with the ability to change the character by the way it is played; Headphones for practice; Wireless connection for cable free playing; Ability to hook up to a computer for music writing and audio input; Cons of a Digital Accordion: Necessary not to over look the charge up for cable free playing; The advice offered was "Have one of each" You cannot take your money with you when you depart the planet so have fun with both instruments for the different styles of music you play.