What do you play?

[Stéphane Léger]

Hi James!

I'm from Montréal, in a band of 7 playing the Pogues as a tribute to your richness Irish Lyrics, energetic spririt that never seem's to stop driving people crazy, and we're enjoying it in studio as on stage!

I'm actually playing with a Welmeister Cassotto(1985)120 Bass,41 keys, but I'm not quite satisfed with the sound...My question is: What accordion, model, type, should I get to match your sound?

Thank you!
Stéphane

[JamesFearnley]

Well, over the years I've used a few and each one sounded different. The small Hohners I've always had, and which are now in the menders (Dave's Accordion and Dance School in Atwater Village) were always the best, but were never able to withstand the way I played them on stage. Then there was a phase when I had a Paolo Soprani, with a honky musette, which you'd be able to hear on Rum Sodomy and Lash, a lot, not all the time, but particularly on Sickbed of Cuchulainn. That went out on the road with me until it broke. After that was the enormous Hohner Atlantic, two of them, whose bellows went to shit after a while. I enjoyed my time with the Atlantic, even if my biceps and legs didn't. Now, I have a Hohner Amica, which is lovely to play, with it being newish and everything, but soundwise not a patch on the Hohner Tango and Verdi that are in the mender's. The thing I'd like more than anything, would be a Hohner Corona, but I think that's a button accordion, which I just can't get the hang of, and besides, it's just too small for showing off with. I had an unfortunate and difficult relationship with a Giulietti which an accordion salesman said would excite the ears of Americans, just before we went to the States for the first time. I actually listened to him. What was I thinking?

[Mick Molloy]

The small Hohners I've always had, and which are now in the menders (Dave's Accordion and Dance School in Atwater Village) were always the best, but were never able to withstand the way I played them on stage.

Haha this sounds familiar. Our accordian player (who is a keen fan of yours) has the same problem. One or two gigs and some of the notes are broken