Welcome to the Black Diamond Accordions website

Instruments from China - sounds from Italy

The finest piano accordions in the world are hand-crafted in Castelfidardo, in Italy. They are of superb quality and justifiably very expensive.

 

BUT not every aspiring accordion player can afford one. And that's where Black Diamond Accordions can help.

 

Black Diamond Accordions are highly affordable instruments, made in the oldest-established accordion factory in China, but using the finest quality hand-made Italian reeds.

 

In other words, Black Diamond Accordions offer the very next best thing to an Italian piano accordion - but at about a quarter of the price! 

 

How long have accordions been made in China?

The first recorded 'free reed' instrument was the ‘sheng’, in the the 14th century BC, during the Shang Dynasty in China.

 

So, when the piano accordion was introduced into China at the beginning of the 20th century, it was actually something of a homecoming for the most advanced member of the free reed instrument family.

 

When Chinese manufacturers copied the Italian and German imported instruments, the piano accordion rapidly became the most popular instrument in China - a position it maintains today.

 

Black Diamond Accordions assessed several Chinese accordion manufacturers and approached one of the oldest established companies to produce accordions to our exacting specifications, using the finest Italian reeds for exceptional tone quality.  

 

Where can I buy Black Diamond Accordions?

Black Diamond Accordions are available exclusively through our stands at accordion and other music festivals across the country, via the online shop on this website (coming soon), or from our showroom, which you can visit by appointment to try the instruments for yourself. Drop us a line to arrange a convenient time (contact info and directions are on our Contact page).

 

Whether you're purchasing your first accordion, or you're an established player in need of a stylish new instrument with a great tone at an affordable price, a Black Diamond Accordion could be exactly what you are looking for.

 

To find out more, see our FAQ page, visit our BLOG, join us on FACEBOOK, order your copy of our latest free CATALOGUE, and come and listen to our accordions - in West Mersea or at a music festival near you (see below for latest news on where we'll be showing our accordions next).

What do Black Diamond Accordions sound like?

You can hear our 96-bass piano accordion in four professionally recorded tracks played by Sam Pirt on our videos page. 

Where can I try out Black Diamond Accordions?

If you are within easy reach of Mersea Island, drop us a line and come and try out our instruments at our office.

 

To reach those further afield, we're in the process of booking a year's worth of appearances at festivals up and down the UK in 2012.  Confirmed dates so far are:

 

Cheltenham Folk Festival, 10-12 February

 

Frome Folk Festival, 18 February

 

NAAFC 38th Annual Accordion and Fiddle Championships, Polmont, Falkirk, 3 March

 

Lunch Time ShowOff, 15 Queen Street, Colchester, 19 April

 

Mersea Island Food, Drink and Leisure Festival, 2-3 June

 

Round the Isle of Wight Race, 30 June-1 July (where we'll be sailing Black Diamond, the boat, around the IoW, raising funds for charity)

 

West Mersea Town Regatta, 25 August

 

Accordions International Festival, Pakefield, 7-10 September

 

Watch this space for more dates soon.

 

Black Diamond Accordions were also at The Accordions International Festival 2011, 11-14 November, Seacroft Holiday Village, Hemsby, Norfolk. Pictures on our Facebook Page  and there's a slideshow on the Pictures page here.