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Accordion Repairs

Fixing sticky keys, leaky bellows, and more with care.

No job is too small (and really, small jobs are preferred)

Key Fixes

Repairing sticky keys, replacing key pallets, and smoothing action. Keyboard cleaning. Bass mechanism problems.

Close-up of an accordion keyboard with a hand gently adjusting a key.

Bellows Care

Sealing leaky bellows gaskets by replacing the gasket. No tape jobs sorry.

Wax and leathers as necessary. Spot tuning to keep your accordion sounding just right without extra cost.

Reed Service

Hands rewaxing reed blocks on an accordion with tools nearby.

Accordion Repair & Maintenance

Accordion repair is complicated in many ways. It's technically challenging because of hundreds of handcrafted parts. The parts are old, sometimes generations old. It's financially challenging, because when large repairs are measured in weeks, it can be cheaper to buy a new one than restore the old. And accordions are emotionally challenging - many of these instruments belonged to our grandparents and their parents. What price would we pay to hear those sounds again?

I focus on practical repairs and maintenance for accordions that are in generally good condition but need some attention to play their best. Think of it like first aid for accordions: fixing sticky keys, bass mechanisms, securing loose reeds, cleaning, basic adjustments, and spot tuning to get your instrument back in playing shape. By focusing on first aid, I can get more accordions out of closets and into the hands of musicians.

Pricing & Experience

Repair appraisal will be given first, for $10, where we go through the accordion and identify any problems. This takes approximately one hour. If we are lucky and I can fix it in that one hour, all you owe is the $10. After that, quotes will be given before I start any work. The work is billed at $20 per hour. This is less than half what you'd pay at more experienced shops. I've been a hobbyist since 2023, but I can get instruments playing again and will be honest about their condition and what they need.

The Reality of Vintage Accordions

The nature of vintage accordions means I have to be selective about what work I take on. If you open an accordion and one reed is loose, chances are they'll all become loose soon. This puts everyone in a difficult spot: do you repair the one reed and wait for the others to fail? Or pull them all out and rewax - turning a one-hour job into a 40-hour job? And if the accordion is only worth $1,000 in its best condition, a full restoration may cost more than buying another instrument.

What I Don't Do

I don't offer specialized services like custom musette tunings, electronics, full rewaxing, water damage repair, custom or remade bellows, or major reconstructions (including body work). For that level of work, I'd recommend connecting with one of the excellent high-end restoration shops. There's a point where it's cheaper to buy another accordion rather than restore the one you have. As an example: rewaxing one reed block for a piano accordion can take 6+ hours. Accordions can have 4, 5, or more blocks.

My sweet spot is getting solid, playable accordions working reliably again without the cost of a full professional restoration.

Get in Touch

If you're unsure whether your accordion is a good candidate for the repairs I offer, reach out with photos and a description of the issue. I'm happy to give you an honest assessment and point you in the right direction.

Repair FAQs

What repairs do you do?

I can clean accordions, fix sticky keys, whistling notes, leaky bellow gaskets, bass mechanisms, hardware, straps, and more. My preference is to work on accordions that are in "good condition" but need a little help to get into enjoyable, playing condition.

Can you tune my accordion?

I offer spot tuning to keep costs low but not full or special tunings.

Are you a professional repair technician?

I'm an amateur hobbiest but have repaired six accordions in various conditions and can handle most jobs outside of more complicated tuning tasks.

Do you charge for appraisals?

Yes, I provide appraisals for repair services and for you to sell your own accordion. Appraisals for repair services are $10 and we identify what is wrong. Appraisals for sellers allows you to get photos and valuation of your accordion. This is $50. For more info see "Selling Your Accordion"

How long does a repair take?

Repair times vary but I aim to complete jobs promptly.

What parts do you replace during repairs?

I replace reed leathers, valves, key pallets, and rewax reed blocks as needed.

Can you fix bass buttons that are stuck?

This is a common problem and is usually easy to fix. Where it gets complicated is if the bass mechanism uses old shrink wrap technology and the shrinks have to be replaced individually. But I've only seen this in old Scandalli types.