Bonvicini Accordion Console

Wow. This is a Bonvicini accordion console. It's essentially an electric chord organ - but what a fabulous looking beast. This particular specimen appeared on Ebay a while back with a buy it now price of US $790. I would love to have one of these on stage for gigs.

If you've ever heard one of these then please leave a comment and tell us how it sounded. 

clipped from www.sellitallonline.com clipped from www.sellitallonline.com clipped from www.sellitallonline.com

Comments

[Jason]

I just found this place, great site!

I've got one of these in my basement recording studio. It was my mother's. Sounds great... very full. You control the volume with a foot pedal. The key action even feels extremely nice. Very cool instrument.

[Paul]

Hi,
I have one of these coming to me in the mail. I got it on Ebay. If you can't find it in their archives ( only go back a couple of weeks..used to go way way back,incidentally is there a site that keeps all of ebays's auctions from farther back? I'd like to know)
Anyway, if you can't see it in completed listings, then my name is paulj0557 if you go to my ratings page on Ebay and click on my feedback. I haven't got one yet since I just bought it 12/07. ANEEEWAY,,,sorry about the ramble, but these keyboards are so rare I have only seen 2 or 3 online, yet one person said they paid 1,000 dollars for one in the 1950's-60's.(wow!) and they said they were "common". Hmm' maybe in his town they made the darn organ and all his buddies bought all of them and that's how he thinks they're popular??Because they certainly are not popular anywhere else that I know of. I'll post some pictures as soon as it arrives in a few days. I paid for it around 12/15 and it's 12/21 now. It's the Holiday and so the U.S. mail is slower... So this one I bought looks just like the one pictured here on this page except no cool insignia and a few of the buttons have fallen into the organ ( I sure hope they are still in there rattling around. It has 2 cases, one for the top and one for the bottom- the two foot rests fold on swing hinges.and the pedal peg flips down like a motorcycle's kick start.
I think that because these are so rare that anyone who has one should take some good pictures and even some sound samples. I know I will. Maybe it will be my first Youtube flick.
I got it for a whopping $28! The shipping from Florida to Columbus Ohio cost $43 going parcel post. Come to think of it I bought a red Honer Melodica ( mouth organ with the piano keys) on Ebay for $8 in 1996-7? It was the very first month of Ebay- in fact I think it was the 2nd week! My sister kicks herself over being the exact 4,000th Ebayer and didn't buy stock. I know she singlehandedly got about 30 of us checking it out. I thought it would be a flop since you had to load pictures overnight, and buy a scanner...little did I know. As far as trusting the transaction, I had just a week earlier swapped via the mail sight unseen, but from 1 phone call and a classified ad , a complete Dynaco Stereo 70, Dynaco preamp, and Dynaco tuner for a Vox Bass. I think he got the better deal, but it was a smooth transaction and all arrived intact as described. I later evened it out trading the Vox for a Fender Mustang, which then was listed in a local trader magazine to my soon to be band mate and friend. Heck, my son wouldn't even be here if it was not for meeting my wife when I went on a housecall to repair an Orange amp head. So, ebay is great, but don't forget your local connections too.
Sorry, I got off track about accordions. Does having an 'accordion brain' count?

[Squeezyboy]

Hi Paul,

Do let us know when your instrument arrives. I'm sure we'd all love to see some piccies and a YouTube video.

[Jack Armstrong]

Read your article re: th Bonvicini Accordion. Earnest Bonvicini lived in Denver Co. and developed the T shaped Accordion and sold many of them in Denver. I took accordion lessens from him in the 50's and own the electric "T shape" accordion. It was developed to sit behind and play . It is less tiring. Any one need info on it , let me know.

[Squeezyboy]

Thanks for the info Jack.

[lorenzo bonvicini]

Hi,
My dad invented the electricord in the late forties with a guy named Diego Gobi in Italy. My dad held the patent and sales rights till the earlie sixties in U.S. It was my fathers idea but with the help of Diego, it bacame a partnership. I have three of the original, or what you see in this picture. Since this design, there have been other more modern ones produced... they look more like a keybord with an accordion left hand and all electronic. These were made very close to the Farfisa factory in Italy, so technoligies overlapped.
The "L" on the accordion is for Lorenzo...my grandfather's name and my name.
I have palyed the accordion since I was a little boy...I have 17 accordions. Along with cagun...bluegrass...zydeco...beatles...pop...classical, I play accordion songs like, "Pietros Return", "Dizzy Fingers", "Tico Tico" and a bunch more. I have an especially cool "Limex MIDI" outfit on one of my prized Bonvicini Accordions. Talk about about COOL! This accordion will not only play by it self... but it actually restoreith my faith... as my father used to say...that, "the accordion is commin' back!" I beleive him...if I made the committment...which it would take...I could do it. I currently play with a classic rock cover band....I have a 76 key Rolland Juno stage keybord........sorry Dad.

[Squeezyboy]

Wow, brilliant to hear from you Lorenzo.
Do you have any photos of any of the more modern ones, or your Bonvicini accordion ?

We'd love to see them.

All the best,
Squeezyboy