DIRECTORY OF CLUB MEMBER ACCORDION-RELATED SERVICES

The Salt Lake Area Accordion Club provides the opportunity for its members to inform others of their accordion-related services. The lists are alphabetical.

Teachers

Club participants who are Teachers

1. Tim Eriksen---Phone: (208) 547-4051.  Address:  290 East 3rd South, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276, (Mid-April to about December 1 only.)
2. Ralph Hubrich---Phone: (801) 949-2463. Email: ralphhubrich@aol.com. Address: Sandy, Utah.
3. Yvonne Mueller---Phone: (801) 495-1530. Email: mennovy@comcast.net. Address: Draper, Utah.
4. Janet Todd---Phone: (801) 272-3263. Email: jaja64@msn.com. Address: 4987 Fairbrook Lane, Holladay, Utah 84119.

Performers for Hire

Club participants who Perform for Hire:

1. Tim Eriksen---Phone: (208) 547-4051.  Address: 290 East 3rd South, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276. (Mid-April to about December 1 only).
2. Garry Garff---Phone: (801) 280-0525.  E-mail: ggarff@networld.com.  Address: Salt Lake County.
3. Mindy Garff---Phone: (801) 280-0525.  E-mail: ggarff@networld.com. Address: Salt Lake County.
4. Richard Kaumo (Kaumo Polka Band)---Phone: (307) 382-2250 (H). Email: rgkaumo@msn.com.  Address: 1227 Eleventh St., Rock Springs, WY, 82901.
5. Steve Keen---Phone: (801) 467-8026. Cell: (801) 232-6906. Email: stephen.keen@comcast.net. Address: 365 East Coatsville Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84115. Website: www.klezbros.com.
6. Keith Lewis---Phone: (801) 360-4307. Email: accordionhands@yahoo.com. Address: Utah County, Utah.
7. Yvonne Mueller---Phone: (801) 495-1530. Email: mennovy@comcast.net. Address: Draper, Utah.
8. Jerry Royer---Phone: (801) 966-8777. Email: trixnjer@hotmail.com. Address:Kearns, Utah.
9. Janet Todd---Phone: (801) 272-3263. Email: jaja64@msn.com.  4987 Fairbrook Lane, Holladay, Utah, 84117. Website: www.janettoddmusic.com.

Volunteer Performers

Club participants who are Volunteer Performers:

1. Wayne Eckman—On occasion.  Phone: (801) 298-4451. Email: wayne.eckman.h7m2@statefarm.com Address: 701 West. 2350 North, West Bountiful, 84087.
2. Tim Eriksen---Civic Service, resthomes. Phone: (208) 547-4051.  Address: 290 East 3rd South, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276. (Mid-April to December 1 only).
3. Garry Garff---Phone: (801) 280-0525.  Email: ggarff@networld.com.  Address: Salt Lake County.
4. Mindy Garff---Phone: (801) 280-0525. Email: ggarff@networld.com. Address: Salt Lake County.
5. Donna Marchant---Civic service, church programs, senior citizens.  Phone: (435)-783-5230. Summit County.
6. Richard Stayner and "The Bountiful Bunch"---Richard Stayner--- (801) 295-2212. E-mail: dick@pnmc.com. Address: Woods Cross, Utah.

Accordion Repairs

    When a Salt Lake Area accordionist was recently told locally that the only way the accordionist could get aging and brittle leather flaps covering the reeds replaced was to send the accordion to Italy, the person couldn't believe it!

     Neither could we. There are a number of excellent qualified accordion repair personnel in the nation, fine accordion restoration craftsmen also. If you have a similar concern, here are some places to turn: Rocky Mountain Music in Nephi toll free at 866-375-6362; Petosa Accordions in Seattle at 206-632-2700; Michael Arralde in Seattle at 253-639-7000; Castiglione Accordion & Distributing in Detroit at 586-755-6050; Tom Bruno in New Kensington, PA at 742-339-1507, are just a few. Monarch Accordion in Denver at 303-681-3728 can give assistance as well as several craftsmen in California we've not met but know exactly who to call for information regarding them. If this doesn't meet your needs, let us know and we'll give you other contacts.

   If you have a question about accordion repairs or tuning or a question you think might be of interest or use to others, call us at 272-3263 and we'll see if you can receive qualified expert help and also perhaps use your question for the benefit of others.

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    Several articles published in the Register have elicited much favorable and frequent comment—apparently from great interest and need. One of them was on accordion repairs. Thus, many will be interested in Mike Foster’s recent positive experience:

    “After reading several good reports on the Internet, I decided to ship my accordion to Bell Accordions in New York . (www.bellduovox.com; bellketron@aol.com; 800-734-5418; Bell Duovox Corp., 711 Executive Blvd. (S-B), Valley Cottage, NY 10989) I talked to Aldo Mencaccini, founder and president of Bell Accordions. He is said to be the country’s most experienced accordion builder, designer, and a master technician. He actually worked in the original Excelsior factory in N.Y. He’s quite a character to talk to. He rebuilt the keyboard, relined the bottom of the bellows, replaced some of the leathers, adjusted some piccolo reeds, re-waxed the top reeds, replaced a bellows gasket (someone had put the pins in the wrong holes, causing a leak), and he “cut” all the leathers. (He said it would make them less noisy. He said it’s the difference of two hands vs. one hand opening and closing the valves. Two hands don’t have to work as hard or make as much noise.) He said the felt was fine and the tuning, done originally by a friend of his in the N.Y. Excelsior plant, was excellent. I never knew the action could feel so good. And it now sounds fantastic! He also added a few touches, like a rubber sleave over the bellows straps so they wouldn’t catch on my pants. He also gave me some hints about maintaining it. Like, after playing outside where it might be humid, when you bring your accordion inside pump the bellows with the air-release button 7-8 times to get the moisture out. Helps prevent rust. Bottom line, he charged me about $500 and said my accordion is as good as new. Everything has turned out as good as he said it would.”