5 Best Electronic Accordion In 2023

Are you in search of the best electronic accordion?

Suppose you have been doing just that on the internet, you might have realized one fact: electronic accordions are hard to come by. There are not many electronic or electronic accordions in existence, and the ones that are, are eye wateringly expensive. There are some from Roland, but it’s not enough to create a large variety. Hence, finding the best electronic accordion is difficult.

In fact, you won’t find much about them unless you go on some forum, which makes the whole search a lot more complicated. This is why we took the trouble of finding the best electronic accordions that are the best and affordable. But before you go and add these products to your shopping list, you need to understand what you need to look for in a electronic accordion.

Buyer’s Guide/ Criteria For Buying Accordion:

Size And Weight:

Accordions are not precisely lightweight instruments. They are heavier than what you might expect and big. Hence, you need to figure out what size is most suitable for you and whether you can carry it with ease, especially if you are going to use them for traveling or concerts because it is not easy to carry these instruments for a long time.

Type Of Reeds:

For a top-of-line accordion, the reeds have to be of good quality, the most flexible, and the thickest type. Plus, you need to search for the accordion with 5 to 6 reed blocks on the treble side for a more comprehensive tuning range.

Type Of Accordion:

There are different types of accordions available for purchase. For example, a typical piano type comes with fixed with right-hand treble piano keys and bass on the left-hand side with bass keys. This is the most popular type with 24 to 45 piano keys.

On the other hand, you have the button accordion, perfect for beginners due to its ease of use. Typically, there is a single note button’s on the treble side, and all the buttons are fixed on the treble side. On the other side, all the brass buttons are situated, which can number from 12 to 120.

Diatonic Or Chromatic:

Another classification of accordions is the typical diatonic accordion and the chromatic accordion. There are not a lot of differences, but some make a notable impact. For instance, the pitch of both types is different.

Acoustic vs. Electronic:

Yes, there are electronic accordions, but to be honest, they are not exactly common. In fact, they are considered controversial in classical and traditional music. But again, they can replicate a lot of different tunes; no, nothing is wrong with that. However, their versatility is still not enough to beat the conventional acoustic accordion. They are loud and produce specific sounds characteristic of these instruments.

Number Of Buttons:

Accordions come with a different number of buttons. The minimum is 12, but that does not give enough flexibility. 48 buttons are familiar enough as they have the required flexibility with the reduced size and weight. These accordions are great for playing C, G, and F chords.

Next is the 72 button accordion, which has excellent flexibility but is difficult for beginners. This is actually the highest most players go for. However, there are accordions with more buttons, 96 and 120 to be exact. The former one offers four treble reed sets, which makes them unique. And the last one is suitable for Italian or classical music. However, there are accordions with 185 buttons, so there is a debate about the final number. Nevertheless, 48 and 72 button accordions are perhaps the best.

Playing Skills:

Are you a beginner, intermediate, or expert/ professional? Because if you are a beginner, then button accordions will suit you best with their easy playability. But on the other hand, for a professional, the piano type is far better.

Details:

Details like brand, material, finish, number of buttons, and other things also matter in the final price.

Now that you understand what you need to look for, let’s move on to the list of the best electronic accordion.

Best Electronic Accordion:

1. Roland FR-1XB Premium V-Accordion (Button Style):

When talking about the best electronic accordion, it is impossible not to mention Roland. The brand creates top-quality electronic accordions in the affordable range, which is surprising, considering its competitors triple the price for the same specs. The Roland FR-1XB Premium V-Accordion is a button-type accordion that comes with all the expected pros of an electronic accordion, USB connectivity, song recording, speakers, and many, many more.

 

Specs:

• Brand: Roland
• Model Name: FR-1XB-RD
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 22.3 x 20.6 x 14 inches
• Weight: 22.1 pounds
• Color: Red, black
• Style: Button
• Number of buttons: 62
• Key Action: Right hand: 62 buttons, velocity-sensitive, Left Hand: 72 bass buttons, velocity-sensitive
• Speaker Power: 2 x 7 Watts
• USB availability
• 7-segment LED
• Number of Sounds: 16 Accordion Sets (including 4 User Sets), each one including 14 Treble Registers, 7 Bass/Chord registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestra Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestra Bass registers, 7 Orchestra Chord registers
• Voices of Polyphony: 128
• Song Recorder: Audio & MIDI
• Storage Type: USB Flash Drive, Internal
• Connectivity: USB, MIDI
• Straps included

Key Features:

• Storage Type: USB Flash Drive, Internal
• Key Action: Right hand: 62 buttons, velocity-sensitive, Left Hand: 72 bass buttons, velocity-sensitive
• Song Recorder: Audio & MIDI

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• USB availability
• Numerous electronic features

Cons:

• Manual is useless unless you can read Japanese.

2. Roland FR-1X Premium V-Accordion Lite (Piano Style):

Not so surprisingly, the following entry is also from the Roland line, Roland FR-1X Premium V-Accordion Lite, to be specific. This model is, in fact, the piano counterpart of the previously mentioned instrument, so both of them are from the same line. This might be an odd choice because even though beginners can easily use it, it is not made for beginners exactly. The piano-type instrument has numerous electronic features that will make others weep with envy. Moreover, the instrument is also lightweight along with unmatched precision and unenhanced sensitivity due to advanced bellows-pressure circuitry. In short words, this is an accordion worth its price tag.

Specs:

• Brand: Roland
• Model Name: FR-1X-BK
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 24 x 22 x 15 inches
• Weight: 15 Pounds
• Color: Black, Red
• Style: Piano
• Full range high-quality speakers on board in the bass reflex box: 7 W x 2
• Right hand: 26 Keys velocity-sensitive (starting at B key)
• Left hand: 72 bass buttons velocity-sensitive
• USB memory port for Wave/MP3 player, new-sounds upload, data loading/saving
• Professional look with friendly user interface and 7-segment LED
• Standard and Free Bass modes
• 16 Accordion Sets
• 16 Orchestral sounds
• 4 Virtual Tone Wheel presets
• 8 User Programs
• Expected battery life under continuous use: 5-hours (speaker ON mode), 8-hours (speaker OFF mode) *With using Ni-MH 2000mAh batteries
• Straps included

Key Features:

• USB memory port for Wave/MP3 player, new-sounds upload, data loading/saving
• Full range high-quality speakers on board in the bass reflex box: 7 W x 2
• Professional look with friendly user interface and 7-segment LED

Pros:

• USB availability
• electronic features like memory, speakers, etc.
• Headphones can be used.

Cons:

• There is nothing wrong with the instrument itself; it’s just that the manual comes in Japanese, which is, well, hard to understand for any non-native. Hence, the manual is useless.

3. ROLAND FR-7X BK:

To be specific, the next one is another famous model of Roland, ROLAND FR-7X BK. This particular instrument is a beast compared to others with its various rotary orchestral organ sounds, including Slow/Fast with Vibrato, Chorus, Overdrive, and VK-Rotary. Not only that, but it also comes with micro tuning presets of 16 styles, which makes it a delight to be used. In short, this instrument is classic a=evidence of what you expect from a best electronic accordion.

Specs:

• Brand: ROLAND
• Connectivity technology: USB
• Power Source: Battery Powered
• Style: Piano style
• USB connectivity
• Internal memory
• Media player
• Right hand: 41 piano-type keys, velocity-sensitive, with aftertouch
• Left hand: 120 bass buttons, with velocity standard, Free Bass mode, Orch. Bass, Orch. Chord, Orch. Free Bass
• Micro-Tuning Presets16 types: Off, Dry, Classic, F-Folk, American L/H, North Europe, German L/H, D-Folk L/H, Alpine, Italian L/H, French, Scottish)
• Reverb: 8 types
• Chorus: 8 types
• Delay: 10 types
• Rotary for orchestral organ; sound Slow/Fast with Vibrato, Chorus, Overdrive, and VK-Rotary.
• “Cassotto” and “Sordina” Simulation
• Knob controls: Volume, Treble/Bass balance, Reverb, Chorus, Delay
• Display: 128 x 64 OLED type
• Rated Power: Output2 x 25 W RMS
• Speakers: 10cm x 2 speakers (using Neodymium Transducer Magnets), Tweeters x 2
• Power Consumption: 96W

Key Features:

• Display: 128 x 64 OLED type
• Speakers: 10cm x 2 speakers (using Neodymium Transducer Magnets), Tweeters x 2
• USB connectivity

Pros:

• USB connectivity
• Micro-Tuning Presets: 16 types; Off, Dry, Classic, F-Folk, American L/H, North Europe, German L/H, D-Folk L/H, Alpine, Italian L/H, French, Scottish)

Cons:

• None

4. Roland FR-8x BK V-Piano-Accordion:

The next one is the successor of the previously mentioned model. The Roland FR-8x BK V-Piano-Accordion is another powerhouse with a lot of acoustic and electronic features. The internal memory player, USB connectivity, and 8 hours long battery life provide you with long playing hours without any worries. But it’s the acoustic effects where this accordion truly shines. The list of sound effects makes it a proud addition to the list of the best electronic accordion.

Specs:

• Brand: Roland
• Color / Finish: Black
• Weight: 45.8 pounds
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 24.41 x 23.62 x 23.62 inches
• Style: Piano style
• Keys: 41
• Bass Buttons: 120
• Display: Colour LCD 2.4″, 320 x 240 pixels, illuminated
• Polyphony: 128 voices
• Connections: Output (L / Mono (Treble) R / Mono (Bass), Headphones, Midi In / Out, USB
• Accordion sets: 100
• Orchestra sounds: 180
• Organ sounds: 32
• Drum sets: 18
• Effects: Reverb (8x), Chorus (8x), Delay (10x), Rotary for Organ sounds, MFX (84 Typen)
• Loudspeaker included
• Power: 2 x 25 Watt
• Including Power supply, user manual, straps, reference caps for the brass buttons, rechargeable battery
• 41 velocity-sensitive keys
• 120 velocity-sensitive bass buttons
• 100 programmable Accordeon Sets
• 180 orchestral sounds
• 7 bass sounds
• Internal drawbar organ
• Effects: Reverb, Chorus, and Delay
• Right-Hand Keyboard Mode: Whole, Zone, High, Low, Looper Function
• Sounds via USB rechargeable
• Internal MP3 and WavePlayer via USB
• Wave Recorder on USB
• Speakers: 2 x 25 Watts
• Color display 2.4.”
• 8 hours battery life
• Instruction manual, power cable, bag, and strap

Key Features:

• 41 velocity-sensitive keys
• 7 bass sounds
• Internal MP3 and WavePlayer via USB

Pros:

• 120 velocity-sensitive bass buttons
• 100 programmable Accordion Sets
• 180 orchestral sounds
• 8 hours battery life ensures you can enjoy playing it for a long time.

Cons:

• None

5. Roland FR-4X RD V-Accordion Red Electronic Accordion:

It is a fact that modern accordions wouldn’t exist and become affordable if it wasn’t for Roland. And the last entry in the list of best electronic accordions is also from the same brand. The Roland FR-4X RD V-Accordion is a valid and tested electronic instrument by the accordion music community, and everyone agrees on one fact: this is a delightful piece of instrument.

Specs:

• Brand: Roland
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 48 x 27 x 43 cm
• Weight: 19.6 lbs.
• Color: Red
• Style: Piano style
• Number of Keys: 37
• Scale: Chromatic
• Buttons: 120 x Bass
• Presets: 100 x Accordion Sets, 162 x Orchestral, 32 x Organ, 3 x Drum Sets
• Effects: Reverb, Chorus, Rotary
• Audio Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (aux)
• Audio Outputs: 2 x 1/44″ (L/Treble, R/Bass), 1 x 1/4″ (headphones)
• MIDI I/O: In/Out
• USB: 1 x Type A, 1 x Type B
• Power Source: 10 x AA batteries, AC adapter

Key Features:

• USB: 1 x Type A, 1 x Type B
• Power Source: 10 x AA batteries, AC adapter
• Buttons: 120 x Bass

Pros:

• Presets: 100 x Accordion Sets, 162 x Orchestral, 32 x Organ, 3 x Drum Sets
• Effects: Reverb, Chorus, Rotary

Cons:

• None

Top Picks:

Roland FR-1XB Premium V-Accordion (Button Style):

An affordable instrument for both beginners and professionals.

Roland FR-1X Premium V-Accordion Lite (Piano Style):

The Roland FR-1X Premium V-Accordion Lite with 26 Piano Keys is the best affordable option for professionals.

ROLAND FR-7X BK:

A powerhouse instrument with a lot of features that would suit professionals.

FAQs:

Q: What is an electronic accordion?

Ans: Electronic accordions fall into the category of electronic instruments. These instruments combine the control features of a traditional accordion and a small piano-style keyboard or buttons for the left and right hand. This triggers a electronic sound module, which creates a synthesized accordion sound or a digitally sampled one. It also has a lot of additional electronic featu4res that come with a typical electronic musical instrument.

Q: What is the most affordable brand of electronic accordions?

Ans: The most affordable brand of electronic accordions is Roland. There are other brands, but most of them is that even though the model has the same features as that of a Roland, it still costs an extra triple amount that Roland does.

Q: What makes electronic/ electronic accordions different?

Ans: Electronic accordions differ from acoustic ones because of their electronic features. They have USB connectivity, memory function, speakers, LED display, and many more, making them a lot different from normal accordions.

Q: How much does a decent electronic accordion cost?

Ans: The entry-level accordions cost around $500 to $600. However, when talking about electronic accordions, the least price is $2300. The better instrument you want, the more you have to pay. This is because electronic accordions are not as commonly used as their counterparts.

Q: Are Electronic accordions better?

Ans: It all boils down to specs and user requirements. Some musicians like the feasibility and ease of use that comes with electronic features of electronic accordions. However, many people prefer the traditional accordion, as it is a more traditional and contemporary used instrument.

Conclusion:

And there you have it, our list of best electronic accordions. Electronic accordions are hard to come by, especially the affordable ones, which is why it takes time to find the best one suitable for your needs. So what you need to do here is search hard enough to find the perfect one.

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