• Concertina Repairs
• Accordion Repairs and Old Accordions
• Accordion Maintenance
• Appraisals of Used Accordions
• How to check out the condition of an accordion
• Repair Tips for Do-It-Yourselfers
  
• How to Ship an Accordion safely
  
• More details on these and other squeezebox subjects can be found on the page "The Pretty Complete Guide to Squeezeboxes".

Concertina Repairs The inside of a concertina is jam-packed with little tiny moving metal parts with narrow tolerances, many of these subject to the shrinking and expansion of the surrounding wood due to changing environmental conditions, or prone to pieces of dirt lodging in small crevices. Annoying minor problems, such as sticking buttons, buttons lost under the keyboard, mushy action, slipping springs, buzzing, squeaking or silent reeds, etc., are a fact of life in the concertina world. It would be wise to learn to do your own repairs - most of these little twiddly problems are easily cured with a little mechanical ability, dexterity, care, and common sense. As time allows, our accordion specialist is capable of doing simple minor repairs, for a minimum charge of $20 (no mail orders). More delicate or involved repairs are shipped to one of several repair shops we use. Estimates are free, except for any shipping costs. Alternatively, you could look for a shop near you in the Concertina FAQ. If you are in the New England area, we highly recommend the Button Box in Massachusetts, also excellent for melodeon repairs (be prepared for a wait, as their services are very much in demand, and for prices commensurate with their level of expertise, competence, and uncompromising professionalism). If you own a valuable antique or handmade instrument, this is the best way to go. Most minor mechanical repairs are relatively simple to perform, requiring only a little dexterity, patience, readily available materials, and some common sense. We recommend the Concertina Maintenance Manual if you want to try doing your own repairs.

Accordion Repairs and Old Accordions

Most HMT accordion repairs are done by a trusted local repair shop. At the present time, we do not do in-house repairs except very minor adjustments, when our accordion specialist is in the store. We cannot give repair estimates over the phone or via email - the instrument must be brought to the store so that our repairperson can inspect it.

If you are shipping an accordion, it is very important to follow our instructions at How to Ship an Accordion to avoid damage in transit.

Estimates are free, except for the shipping cost. More info on our Used Instrument Services page.

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.