It’s not like I need another distraction, but I have been dreaming of having a cajun accordian (technically a diatonic accordian in the German melodean style) ever since I fell in love watching Andre of the Lost Bayou Ramblers playing the summer of 2005 (that is how the inspiration for the Concertina Lace Socks design came about).
Well, my dream has come true finally. When I was over in Lafayette, Louisiana last month for Festivals Acadiens, I went by the Martin Accordians shop beforehand and ordered an accordian to be custom-built for me by Junior Martin. I got a call from him mid-week that he had completed it (yay!), and John picked it up for me on his way over here this weekend. So now I am the proud owner of this beauty in birdseye maple.
Of course, Andre makes playing his accordian look effortless and sound so good (and he is good-looking, too!). I have a LOT of practicing ahead of me to anywhere reach near to that level, lol.
I found your site when I googled cajun diatonic accordian; I’m a guitar player from upstate NY and have been so bitten by the zydeco bug during the last 6 or 7 years that I could not stand it any longer and asked for (and received) one of these instruments as a Christmas gift. I’ve also ordered an instructional DVD to get me kick started on this because I can recall how much time I would have saved learning to play guitar if I had gotten some good advice from the start. Feel free to email me with your progress, I’d like to hear how someone else is doing with this!
I’ll look forward to hearing this at upcoming trade shows!