Care, Maintenance, and Tuning

• Care
• Maintenance
• Tuning
  

Care

• Don't drop your instrument.
• Don't pull or press the bellows when there is neither a key pressed nor the bellows release open.
  
• Go easy on the bellows, especially during the break-in period of a new instrument
• You'll know by the feel when the bellows are broken in.
• If you can't tell, they aren't broken in yet.
• Don't pound on the instrument.
• Don't overblow the reeds.
• Harmonicas are a lot cheaper than accordions!
  
• Don't get the instrument wet.
• Avoid extremes of drouth and humidity.
• Avoid playing when the instrument is cold.
• Avoid smoke, dust, and salt air.
• Store the instrument in its case at room temperature.

Maintenance

• The instrument is made predominately of balsa wood.
• Each button connects to a spring-loaded lever opening and closing a valve.
• There are between two and five reeds to sound each direction for each button.
• Reeds are tiny metal tongues mounted in metal frames which are held in the wooden reed block by means of beeswax.
• Beeswax is fragile, ages quickly, and can need replacement once a decade or more often.
• Weather, dust, salt air and smoke have a tremendous impact on the accordion maintenance cycle.

Tuning