Castagnari Marie Nicole III vs Dino Baffetti Alpha III
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Sometimes the most interesting comparisons happen simply because two instruments end up sitting next to each other.
We recently had a Castagnari Marie Nicole III and a Dino Baffetti Alpha III here at the same time.
Both were D/G. Both had an Anahata layout. Both were professional three-voice Italian melodeons.
Once we started comparing them properly, the question became less about which was “better” and more about something rather more interesting:
How much difference is there between them — and what exactly are you getting for the additional £696 when you move from the Dino Baffetti Alpha III at £2,599 to the Castagnari Marie Nicole III at £3,295?
Castagnari Marie Nicole III vs Dino Baffetti Alpha III – What’s the Difference?
At a glance
| Feature | Castagnari Marie Nicole III | Dino Baffetti Alpha III |
|---|---|---|
| Key | D/G | D/G |
| Treble | 21 buttons, 3 voice | 21 buttons, 3 voice |
| Bass | 8 bass | 8 bass |
| Treble stop | Yes – removes low reed | Yes – removes low reed |
| Bass stop | Yes – removes thirds | Yes – removes thirds |
| Layout compared | Anahata | Anahata |
| Tremolo on instruments compared | Approx. 3–4 cents | Approx. 4–5 cents |
| Weight measured by us | 3.84 kg | 4.10 kg |
| Action | Traditional wooden action | Metal action |
| Reeds | Not specified here as Tipo a Mano | Tipo a Mano |
| New price compared | £3,295 | £2,599 |
The specification immediately shows why this is such an interesting comparison. These aren't instruments from completely different worlds. They are aimed at a very similar sort of serious player.
Much closer in specification than you might expect
Both instruments have two rows, 21 treble buttons, eight basses and three voices on the treble.
Both also have a treble stop which removes the low reed. That gives the player a full three-voice sound when wanted and a lighter two-voice sound when the low reed is taken out.
Both have a bass stop which removes the thirds, giving considerably more freedom when accompanying tunes where a fixed major or minor third may otherwise get in the way.
If you are interested in how the Alpha III fits into the wider range, our Dino Baffetti melodeon buyer's guide explains the differences between the principal Baffetti models and reed options.
Weight – our actual instruments were heavier than the published figures
Published weights are useful as a guide, but they don't always reflect the exact instrument that ends up in front of you.
So we weighed the two actual D/G instruments we had here.
- Castagnari Marie Nicole III: 3.84 kg
- Dino Baffetti Alpha III: 4.10 kg
Both were somewhat heavier than figures you may find quoted online.
More importantly for this comparison, the difference between them was only around 260 grams.
For that reason, we wouldn't make weight a major deciding factor between these two instruments. In practical terms they occupy very similar territory: both are compact three-voice professional melodeons.
For us, the much more meaningful differences are in sound, action, construction, finish and price.
Their tuning is surprisingly close too
The two instruments we compared were both D/G and both had an Anahata layout.
The Marie Nicole was tuned at approximately 3–4 cents of tremolo, while the Alpha III was around 4–5 cents.
There really isn't a huge gulf between them.
The Castagnari sounds slightly drier. The Baffetti has just a little more movement in the sound and its tremolo helps it cut through particularly well.
That becomes noticeable in a busy session or anywhere the instrument needs to make its presence felt without simply being played harder.
Sound – refinement versus immediacy
This is where specifications stop telling the whole story.
The Marie Nicole has a lovely sound. It is slightly drier, controlled and refined, with the character many experienced players associate with Castagnari.
The Alpha III is different rather than lesser.
It feels more immediate. There is a little more life in the tremolo and it projects extremely well.
It has that familiar Baffetti ability to cut through, but the Alpha III is considerably more sophisticated than the old idea of a Baffetti simply being a loud melodeon.
Its Tipo a Mano reeds respond very well at relatively low bellows pressure, meaning it can be played with control and subtlety as well as power.
That is an important distinction.
The Alpha III isn't simply a box for sessions, Morris or outdoor playing. It is a genuinely expressive professional instrument.
You can see the current specification and availability of the Dino Baffetti Alpha III D/G melodeon here.
The keyboard action is another interesting difference
Both instruments have very good actions.
The Castagnari is smooth and comfortable, but with the two instruments side by side we found the Alpha III action slightly lighter and faster.
There is also an important difference in construction.
The Alpha III uses a metal action, whereas the Marie Nicole follows the more traditional wooden approach.
That doesn't make wooden construction inferior. Traditional wooden actions have been successfully used in quality melodeons for generations.
But from a working player's point of view there is something appealing about the stability and robustness of the metal Baffetti mechanism.
It contributes to the Alpha's quick action and makes sense on an instrument that may spend its life travelling between sessions, festivals, stages, cars and marquees.
What about the bass end?
Again, there is little to criticise on either instrument.
Both have a bass stop allowing the thirds to be removed, increasing the harmonic flexibility of the instrument.
The Alpha III we compared also had a particularly well-balanced bass end.
That matters on a three-voice instrument. The treble has plenty of presence, but the bass feels properly matched to it rather than becoming overpowering or disappearing underneath it.
Where the Castagnari earns some of its extra money
The Marie Nicole is beautifully finished.
Its ornate grille and decorative details show the amount of skilled handwork that goes into its visual refinement.
That craftsmanship has real value.
The Alpha III takes a more understated approach visually. Its finish is still important, but its appeal is driven more obviously by the things you feel and hear when you play it — the Tipo a Mano reeds, response, fast action and projection.
So the difference is not simply that one instrument is better than the other.
It is about where each maker has chosen to put the value.
The £696 question
The current new price of the Castagnari Marie Nicole III is £3,295.
The Dino Baffetti Alpha III is £2,599.
That's a difference of £696.
Nobody should choose a musical instrument on price alone.
If you play the Castagnari and fall in love with its sound, traditional construction, detailing and feel, then the Marie Nicole may be exactly the instrument you should buy.
But turn the question around.
What are you actually giving up by spending £2,599 on the Alpha III instead?
You are still getting:
- A professional Italian three-voice melodeon
- Tipo a Mano reeds
- A treble stop
- A bass thirds stop
- A fast, light action
- A robust metal mechanism
- Strong low-pressure response
- Excellent projection
- A well-balanced bass end
- A handsome walnut instrument
That is where the Alpha III starts to make a very strong case for itself.
Who is the Dino Baffetti Alpha III for?
We don't think there is one answer.
It could be the developing player who has reached the point where their first instrument is beginning to hold them back.
It could be an experienced session player, somebody playing for dance, or a performer wanting a responsive instrument they can depend on.
It could equally be somebody who has started looking at premium Italian melodeons above £3,000 and simply asks:
Do I actually need to spend that much to get the instrument I want?
And there is another group: the player who simply recognises good value when they see it.
If you are comparing other instruments as well, you can browse our current range of new and used melodeons or see the complete Dino Baffetti melodeon range.
Is the Castagnari Marie Nicole better?
That's not how we would describe the comparison.
The Marie Nicole is a stunning instrument.
It has refinement, traditional craftsmanship and a particular Castagnari character which some players will choose immediately.
But the Alpha III isn't trying to imitate it.
The two instruments have different personalities.
What surprised us when we put them side by side was just how little separated them in the areas that actually affect what you can do musically.
Both are three voice. Both have the same fundamental stop arrangement. Their weights are broadly similar. Their tremolo is relatively close. Both respond extremely well and both have excellent actions.
Both are entirely credible instruments for a serious player.
The differences increasingly become questions of sound, construction, visual refinement and personal taste.
Professional performance without the premium price
That, ultimately, is why we find the Alpha III so interesting.
Its appeal isn't simply that it costs £696 less.
A cheap instrument that doesn't perform is never good value.
The Alpha III is interesting because you are giving up surprisingly little in musical capability for that saving.
In some areas — particularly its quick metal action, projection and Tipo a Mano reed response — it has strengths entirely of its own.
The Castagnari Marie Nicole remains a beautiful, desirable professional instrument.
But put these two side by side and the Dino Baffetti raises a question that is difficult to ignore:
How much professional melodeon do you really need to buy?
At £2,599, the Alpha III provides a remarkably persuasive answer.
We currently have a Dino Baffetti Alpha III in walnut available to try.
And with instruments at this level, that is still the best way to decide.
Forget the name on the front for ten minutes. Play them. Listen to them. Feel the actions. Then decide which one you would rather take home.