• Concertina Repairs
• Accordion Repairs and Old Accordions
• Accordion Maintenance
• Appraisals of Used Accordions
• How to check out the condition of an accordion
• Tips for do-it-yourself repairs
  
• How to Ship an Accordion safely
  

  More details on these and other subjects can be found here:
  The Pretty Complete Guide to Squeezeboxes

Accordion Repair Information & Policies

Currently, HMT does not have an accordion expert on staff but many of us have bits of knowledge and will do our best to help you, so don't hesitate to contact us!

We work with a local accordion repair shop that does expert repairs, and estimates are provided free of charge. If your accordion is in need of repair, you may drop it off at our store anytime during our open hours, and we will get it to our repair shop. We generally do not like to accept shipped accordions for repair except under special circumstances. (please contact us)

Our accordion repair shop is generally very backed up, and even minor repairs can take several weeks. You should expect to have to wait several weeks before receiving an evaluation/estimate. This is due to a number of factors: the shop only operates on a part time basis, they handle accordion repairs from all over the country, and they have a very small staff. They do excellent work, but it's just not quick! If you require a rush accordion repair, contact us first and we'll see what our shop can accommodate.

Accordion Repairs and Old Accordions

Estimates are free, except for the shipping cost. How to Ship an Accordion

Almost all older accordions are in need of varying degrees of repair. Their keys and buttons are usually noisy, some of the keys may be misaligned, and many of the reeds may not be speaking properly. In the case of very old piano accordions, an overhaul is usually called for, including a keyboard leveling, a full retuning, new leathers, and rewaxing of the reed plates - the shelflife of reed wax is only about 30 years. This is not cheap because it takes a great deal of time - a big repair job might require as much as 20 hours of work. Sometimes it's worth it and sometimes it's not. See appraisals, and how to check out a used accordion.

Hidden Problems

You should not expect to be able to find a very old accordion of any kind that will give you consistently trouble-free service, unless it has been overhauled.
If you need a reliable instrument for the long haul, you should either be looking at new instruments, or well-maintained good quality instruments no more than 15 years old, or be prepared to invest whatever it takes, perhaps as much as $1000, in overhauling an old accordion. The alternative is to be trudging into the repair shop every couple of months, every time yet another reed, or key, or button, or valve, or bellows seal, develops a problem.

Customers frequently walk into our shop with lovely old accordions, moldy and corroded, that have been living, neglected for years, in a damp basement or musty attic. In many of these cases the cost of repairs would far exceed the value of the instrument. However, repair estimates are free, and you are always welcome at HMT, especially if you have an interesting antique to show us.

If you are wondering if you can do some of the repairs yourself, you may want to invest in the book Accordion Repairs Made Easy. You may also want to check out our Accordion Parts & Supplies.

Routine Maintenance

Even if an accordion is not obviously in need of repairs, it should go into the repair shop for a maintenance checkup at least every couple of years. Professionals with heavy touring schedules often do this annually. The technician will give it a thorough cleaning and lubrication as necessary, inspect the action, the leathers and the wax, touch up the tuning if necessary, look for potential problems, and be in a position to correct them before they turn into major expensive repairs. It is a wise investment in the health of your instrument.