Cordovox: a legendary name in accordions
The Cordovox name is probably most well-known for accordions. They were made and distributed by CMI (Chicago Musical Instrument Company), which also distributed Farfisa organs in the US. The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. The accordion is often used in folk music in Europe, North America and South America. It is commonly associated with busking. Some popular music acts also make use of the instrument. Additionally, the accordion is sometimes used in both solo and orchestra performances of classical music. A trend of 1900s extending up to the 1960s, in popular music, it is now generally considered exotic and old-fashioned to include the accordion, especially in music for advertisements. However, some popular acts do use the instrument in their distinctive sounds.
Cordovox reached the zenith of their popularity during the 60s and were heavily promoted during that era when accordion manufactures were scrambling to compete with the electric guitars and when there was a severe decline in accordion interest. The early models required special control boxes and amplifiers to make them work. However, the later models would work with a foot control through a standard amp.
The most well-known and sought-after Cordovox model would have to be the CDX-0652 with a built-in Moog synthesizer. With its ultra-cool plastic cases these are sometimes referred to as "White Elephants". The rock Group "Beck" has been seen with what appears to be a White Elephant
As a sampler the following are the Controls of this model
Top Panel:
* Tab: Moog On/Off
* Buttons: Piano, Sax, Guitar, Flute, Banjo, Clarinet, String, Trumpet, Horn, Preset
* *Tabs 1: Octaves: 1 & 2 Modulation: Rep, Sine/Square, Vib, Trem
* *Tabs 2: Glide, Sust
* *Tabs 3: Brass: Mute, Open Reed: Thin, Hollow, Full, Bright
* *Tabs 4: String: Bow, Pluck Strike, Pick Bell, Lunar
Left of Upper Keyboard:
* Knob: Tuning
* Black Sliders: Flute Voices: 16', 8', 5-1'3, 4', 2-2'3, 2' Mixture, Volume Lower, Volume Upper
* *White Sliders: Filter: Contour, Color, Emphasis Modulation: Rate, Depth Glide, Volume
Left of Lower Keyboard:
* Buttons: Coupler, Sustain, Bass
* Sliders: Bass Min/Max, Guitar Bass, Vibrato Depth
Right of Lower Keyboard:
* Buttons: Percuss, Repeat, Mono
* Sliders: 8', 4', 2-2/3', 2', Decay Short/Long, Repeat Rate Slow/Fast
The cordovox is a perfect brand for the older music loving crowd, steeped in nostalgia, an ambiance of past memories combined with the same music that was such a big part of those memories. Their vintage charm is one of the biggest unique selling points of the cordovox legacy. Apart from accordions, cordovox also includes other musical instruments such as amplifiers, organs, tube amplifiers among others. Owing to their vintage value and the associated romanticism of the blues, soul and folk generation, you will be hard pressed to find authentic cordovox merchandise in most stores. The web and its vast resource of online retailers is the most appropriate route to take if you are looking for that special unique piece. The prices will vary according to vintage value of the piece and its state of maintenance.