Accordion buying should be fun and easy but you need to know what questions to ask the seller. In shopping for a used accordion here is a list of items you should know about before you buy.

1. Compression: Does the accordion have any air leaks? The answer should be "No." You can test for good compression by pulling the bellows out without playing any keys. It should be very difficult for the bellows to move in or out when there are no keys or buttons being played. You should also not be able to hear any notes playing if there are no keys or buttons being played.

2. Tuning: There are many opinions in the industry on this subject but you need to know the difference between dry and wet tuning especially if you have heard an accordion you like and expect to hear a certain sound. They are not all the same. To put it in very simple terms dry tuned accordions are best used for jazz music, and most American popular music. Wet tuned accordions are favored by most ethnic and folk musicians. Wet tuning is also referred to as tremolo or musette tuning.

3. Age: Some accordions age very gracefully depending on how they were made, where they have been stored (no attics, garages, or damp basements please), and how well they were cared for over the years. The outside may look great but the inside could be a disaster area. There is a lot of wax and leather inside an accordion and this material can easily deteriorate from environmental conditions such as heat or cold. Any accordion over 40 years old should be inspected on the inside to see if the wax and leather is still viable. Rust on the reeds can also be a major problem to repair. Since you can't see the reeds from the outside be very cautious if you see any rust on the outside of the instrument.

4. Guarantee: Does the Seller guarantee the condition of the accordion? If the Seller is not a player, has he had the accordion inspected inside and out by a professional accordion repair technician? With mail order purchases try to get the Seller to at least agree to return your money if you are not satisfied with the accordion once you receive it.

5. Shipping: Taking the accordion home from the showroom is the best way to buy an accordion but there are many people who need or just want to buy online or through a catalog. Accordions must be well packed in order to arrive safely through commercial shippers such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. The most common problem is having the bass mechanism damaged from the impact of a sudden drop even when a cardboard carton is used and the instrument is in its own case. Accordion dealers know how to avoid this problem when they pack an accordion for shipping but if you have any shipping damage, call your nearest accordion repair facility. Shipping damage repairs usually require a professional technician. You may have to search online for such a place but they are out there. Try, if possible, to buy the accordion from a reputable dealer and you probably won't have this problem.