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Handmade Cajun Accordion, Pt. 3: Bass Box Construction The accordion gains its more resonant side with the construction of the bass box. From "Handmade Music" episode DHMM-310

The Savoy Family band plays authentic Cajun music.

The accordion is the centerpiece and "heart" of Cajun music. Along with fiddles and guitars, it drives the distinctive rhythm that defines the the traditional and authentic Cajun sound.

According to Marc Savoy, among the chief defining features of authentic Cajun music is that it makes you want to dance. "In fact," he says, "if you're not dancing when you hear it, then maybe you should check into the morgue—because you're dead and forgot to fall."

It's that energy and enthusiasm in the Cajun music and lifestyle that has kept Marc building accordions for forty-five years. He's refined his craft over the years and now he shares his knowledge with Handmade Music.

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Accordions have four major components. Those are the treble side (with forty reeds), the keyboard that powers those reeds, the bass side (with six reeds), and the bellows in the middle of it all.

The accordion makes music only when air passes through it. The instrument's keyboard is manipulated with the right hand, but the left hand is just as busy with the "bass box", and that's the focus of builder Marc Savoy at this stage of construction.

	Figure A

Bass Box Construction

Materials:

walnut stock
table saw
glue
sanding belt
cloth webbing
felt
pre-manufactured metal buttons
varnish

Steps:

• Using 1/4" stock, Marc glues a rectangular box together with predrilled entry holes along both long sections (figure A).
  

• Marc adds a triangle of pine to the interior of the box (figures B and C). This will ultimately regulate the passage of air to specific parts of the accordion.

• After adding a top to the box, Marc takes his creation to the table saw and begins shaping it to a contour more appropriate for a musical instrument.

• With a sanding belt, Marc continues shaping the box until it fits perfectly in his hand.

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  
  
  

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  RELATED PROJECTS: Handmade Gourd-Banjo, Part 1: Preparing the Gourd Body Handmade Gourd-Banjo, Part 2: Building the Neck Handmade Gourd-Banjo, Part 3: Shaping the Neck and Peg-Head Handmade Gourd-Banjo, Part 4: Pegs, Tail-Piece and Strings Old-Time Banjo, Part 1: Stock for Neck Old-Time Banjo, Part 2: The Neck and Fingerboard Old-Time Banjo, Part 3: Shaping the Neck Old-Time Banjo, Part 4: Banjo-Rim Basics Old-Time Banjo, Part 5: The Tone Ring Old-Time Banjo, Part 6: Internal Resonator Old-Time Banjo, Part 7: Dowel Stick and Rim Assembly Old-Time Banjo, Part 8: Dowel-Stick, Logo and Banjo Technique Old-Time Banjo, Part 9: Decorative Inlay and Engraving Old-Time Banjo, Part 10: Frets and Rim Completion Old-Time Banjo, Part 11: Sanding and Finishing the Neck Old-Time Banjo, Part 12: French Polish & Finis

  
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Handmade Cajun Accordion, Pt. 3: Bass Box Construction
  	Handmade Cajun Accordion, Pt. 4: Front Plate and Engraving