Clarence's info on Cajun Accordion Builders, Cajun Rubboards, Triangles and Fiddles in Louisiana



   
Clarence's info on Cajun Accordion Builders, cajun accordions for sale, Cajun Rubboards, Frottoir, Triangles and Fiddles in Louisiana:

Welcome to Clarence's info on Cajun Accordion Builders, Cajun Rubboards, Triangles and Fiddles in Louisiana. This site lists cajun accordion builders, cajun rubboards, frottoirs, cajun triangles, and T-fer's.

Cajun Accordion Builders

Basically, the price range of accordions are ~ $200 for the cheapo chinese manufactured one called Bonelli which is really hard to play. The next up one is the "Hohner Ariette" which goes for $300-$400. Then, you get into the range of the handmade in Louisiana accordions which are excellent and easy to play, but also cost much more - like in the range of $1500-$2500+

In terms of volume, the top cajun accordions for sale are "Acadian" brand accordions by Marc Savoy/Tina Pilione/Savoy Music Center, "Martin" Accordions by Clarence "Junior" Martin, and Bon Cajun Accordions by Jay Miller/Larry Miller. Larry Miller no longer makes cajun accordions and he has turned it over to his grandson Jay Miller. I am not sure if Jay Miller makes as many as Larry used to.

If you have any additional info for this page, please notify me at cajunclarence (type the at sign) gmail.com Last updated: September 2011

This is located at www.cajunradio.org/cajunaccordionsinstrumentstrianglerubboard.html You may be interested in Clarence's list of Cajun Music Practice Jam Sessions in Louisiana.

This is the cajun accordion builders list.
CAJUN ACCORDION BUILDERS: CAJUN ACCORDIONS FOR SALE
  • Acadian Accordions are built by Marc Savoy/Tina Pilione/Savoy Music Center .
    Acadian has accordions for sale.
    Eunice, Louisiana
    Phone: 337-457-9563 Email: [email protected]
    www.savoymusiccenter.com

  • Michot Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Andre Michot.
    Michot has accordions for sale.
    105 S. Saint Pierre St., Broussard, LA 70518
    (337) 962-4676 [email protected]
    www.myspace.com/michotaccordions (pictures of accordions built by Andre)

  • Bayou Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Donald Thibodeaux.
    Mamou, Louisiana

  • Bon Cajun Accordions (initially called Bon Tee brand accordion) are built by cajun accordion builder Jay Miller, Larry Miller.
    Bon Cajun has accordions for sale.
    886 McMillan Avenue, Iota, LA 70543
    Phone: (337) 779-2456 (shop), Phone: (337) 523-9070 (cell), Email: [email protected]
    www.boncajunaccordions.com
    members.cox.net/jireaux/larry.htm( contains great article)

  • Bon Temps Accordions for sale are built by cajun accordion builder Jude Moreau.
    4800 Grant Ave., Groves, TX 77619
    Phone: (409) 963-0135, Email: [email protected]

  • Cajun Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder John Roger.
    880 Lemmon Ln. S. # 7254, Ellijay, GA 30540
    Email: [email protected]

  • Cajun Accordion Brand Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Elton Doucet.
    2001 Richard School Rd., Church Point, LA 50525
    Phone: 337-684-6495, Email: [email protected]

  • Choupique Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Jesse B. Brown.
    Baton Rouge/Port Allen, Louisiana
    Choupique has Hand made 10 button cajun accordions for sale.
    I sell Dino Baffetti triple row accordions.
    I also sell parts for accordions like reeds, bellows, straps, etc.
    I do repairs (reed replacements, re-tunes, etc.)
    www.Choupique.com
    phone: 225-749-4809 email: [email protected]

  • Diamond Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Horace James Thibodeaux.
    800 West Sam Houston S., Suite 112, Houston, TX 77842
    Phone: 713-780-2212, Email: [email protected]

  • Falcon Accordions for sale are built by cajun accordion builder Randy Falcon.
    Falcon has accordions for sale.
    227 Norris Rd., Duson, LA 70529
    Phone: 337-981-3431 email:

  • Foreman Accordions (formerly Kajun Klassic Accordions) are built by cajun accordion builder Blackie Foreman.
    6324 Fuselier Road, Maurice, LA 70555
    Phone: 337-893-7629 email:

  • Heritage Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Rusty Sanner.
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    www.heritageaccordions.com
    Phone: 337-849-6072 email: rusty [type the at sign] heritageaccordions.com

  • La Louisianne Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Ken Guillory.
    5850 Lemongrass Circle, Lake Charles, La 70605
    Phone: 337-478-5664, Email: [email protected] or https://www.blogger.com/[email protected]

  • Landry Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Leo Landry.
    524 Choctaw Rd., Thibodaux, LA 70301
    Phone: 985-633-2585 email:

  • L'anse Grise Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Bryan Lafleur.
    75 miles east of Dallas (originally from L'anse Grise near Mamou Louisiana
    Phone: 972-979-1245 email: blafleur [type the at sign] hotmail.com
    https://www.lansegriseaccordions.com/

  • Le Capitaine Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Danny Dyson.
    855 Big Pasture Rd., Lake Charles, LA 79607
    Phone: 337-598-2686, Cell: 337-499-7236
    https://dandlmusic.com/lecapitaine.html

  • Longhorn Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Calvin Brisco.
    5321 Hemlock Drive, Baytown, TX 77521
    Phone: 281-424-5731

  • Martin Accordions for sale are built by cajun accordion builder Clarence "Junior" Martin.
    Scott, Louisiana
    Phone: 337-232-4001, Email: [email protected]
    https://martinaccordions.com/index.htm

  • Mouton Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Greg Mouton.
    23466 Crowley Eunice Hwy., Crowley, LA 70526
    Phone: 337-783-2246, Toll Free: 877-715-2768, Email: [email protected]
    Web: https://www.moutonaccordions.net/MoutonAccordions/

  • Poullard Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Ed Poullard.
    951 Hillebrandt Road, Beaumont Texas, 77705.
    409-656-3591 (cell), 409-835-7114 (home), Email: [email protected]

  • Professional Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Ervin LeJeune.
    4024 Ellis St., Lake Charles, LA 70601
    Phone: 337-436-5716
    (Ervin LeJeune, son of the late Iry LeJeune, is also co-author of Iry LeJeune: Wailing the Blues Cajun Style, which is available by contacting Mr. LeJeune.)

  • Reed Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Tim Reed.
    Phone: 630-370-9072, Email: [email protected]
    Web: https://www.cajuncraftedaccordions.com/Accordions.php

  • Swallow Accordions are built by cajun accordion builder Cecil Fontenot.
    Ville Platte, Louisiana

Cajun Accordion Builders who are No Longer Building cajun accordions:
  • Begnaud Accordions - Lee Begnaud (Retired)
  • Bellard Accordions - Floyd "Slim" Bellard Retired)
  • Magnolia Accordions - Fred Cormier (Deceased)
  • Crown Accordions - John Clifton Hebert (Deceased)
  • Bon Temps Accordions - Anthony Falcon (Retired)
  • LeJeune Accordions - Eddie LeJeune (Deceased)
  • Master Accordions - Charlie Ortego (Deceased)
  • Pointe Noire Accordions - "Dick" Richard (Deceased)
USED CAJUN ACCORDIONS FOR SALE:

A lot of people want to buy used cajun accordions for sale. There are several ways to find a used cajun accordion. One way to buy one is to contact the accordion builders listed above and ask them if they have any used accordions for sale. They usually will not, but it is worth a try. Sometimes someone will want to upgrade to a better accordion and the builders sometimes have leads. Another way to find used accordions for sale is to go to ebay and look up "cajun accordions". Cajun accordions tend to retain their value very well, so a lot of times the used cajun accordions tend to still cost a lot. A used cajun accordion for sale is sometimes available from cajun musicians. If you know a cajun musician, you might email that person and ask them if they have any they want to sell. Cajun musicians usually own multiple accordions and they sometimes want to sell one of their accordians.

DESCRIPTION OF THE LOUISIANA HANDMADE CAJUN ACCORDION:

Cajun accordion builders build diatonic type of accordions. "Di" meaning two. When you press a button on the diatonic accordion and squeeze the bellows together, it gives a certain note. When you press the exact same button, but this time, pull the bellows apart, then it gives a different note. Hence, the word Diatonic, meaning two notes to each button.

Cajun accordions for sale consists of 10 buttons on the right side of the accordion for the treble notes and 2 buttons on the left side of the accordion for the base notes.

You will find that cajun accordion builders build a handmade instrument that is vastly improved and easier to play than the accordions made from mass manufacturers. A lot of cajun accordions will feature Italian made reeds. The bellows on the accordion can be custom designed to have a picture show as the bellows are opened. I have seen anything from a basic diamond to a crawfish or to an LSU Tiger.

The buttons on the cajun accordion are usually either white, black or a chrome steel metal. The cajun accordion builder can use various types of wood for the exterior depending of the request of the buyer. The exterior wood type is mainly for show, it does not really change the sound of the accordion. The cajun accordion builder can add inlays and wood carvings as requested by the buyer.

Most cajun musicians use an accordion in the key of "C". Some will also use key of D or B. Also, an accordion can be tuned either "wet" or "dry". Cajun accordion builders usually use "dry" tuning. If you have order a new accordion, you can request that the accordion for sale is tuned wet or dry.

CHILDREN'S TOY CAJUN ACCORDION FOR SALE:
CHEAP, MASS PRODUCED, NOT HANDMADE, CHINESE CAJUN STYLE ACCORDION:
  • Basically, the price range of accordions are ~ $200 for the cheapo chinese manufactured one called Bonelli which is really hard to play. The next up one is the "Hohner Ariette" which goes for $300-$400. These are common on Ebay and are also available from places like Floyd's record shop.

MISCELLANEOUS ACCORDION STUFF:
  • Accordion Sheet Music is located at https://cajunsqueezeboxblog.blogspot.com/
  • Arsement Accordions has some accordions for sale available and instructions on how to buy accordions.

HISTORY OF THE LOUISIANA CAJUN ACCORDION:

Accordions were brought to Louisiana in the 1890s and became popular by the early 1900s. Early cajun music was mainly fiddle music, but the accordion quickly became a staple of Cajun music.

During World War II, Many of the German factories producing diatonic accordions for the United States market were destroyed. As a result, some Cajuns began producing their own instruments, based on the popular one-row German accordions but with modifications to suit the nuances of the Cajun playing style.

Since the end of World War II, the number of cajun accordion builders has consistently been growning in Louisiana as well as some in other USA states.

ZYDECO RUBBOARDS (ZYDECO FROITTOIRS) BUILDERS AND SELLERS, Froittoirs for sale: When looking to buy a zydeco rubbord for sale, select the size that you want. Rubboard builders usually make both a child and an adult frottoir. By the way, some people call it a washboard, others call it a rubboard, yet, the french name for it is Frottoir. There are only a few places that have zydeco frottoirs for sale. It is different than a clothes cleaning washboard by having a cuttout section at the top where your neck goes and it has a couple of strips of metal that bow over your shoulder blades. This frees up your hands to do the playing. Although some people use spoons to rub against the cajun rubboard, most people use a bottle opener attached to a wooden handle. The cajun rubboard builders will usually sell the bottle openers with the frottoir. If you are buying the cajun rubboard in person, then you can make sure the metal does not have any sharp edges. The builders are pretty carefull about this, but it does not hurt to check.

CAJUN FIDDLES, CAJUN VIOLINS BUILDERS AND RETAILERS:
  • What is the difference between a fiddle and a violin? There is no difference in the way that it is made. The only difference is in the style of playing. If you play a violin with a classical style of music, then you call it a violin. If you play a violin with a bluegrass, cajun, or country style, then you call it a fiddle.
  • La Famille Viator Violins Hand-crafted violins carved in the Louisiana Creole tradition out of Eunice Louisiana.
  • B and K music (Ken Smith owner and fiddle player B and K Music has lots of violins and other instruments for sale. Located in Kinder, Louisiana.

NOTE FROM CLARENCE:
CAJUN TRIANGLES (CAJUN T'FER, T-FER):

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