In Safe Hands: Accordion Tuning, Repairs and the Man Behind the Bench

In Safe Hands: Accordion Tuning, Repairs and the Man Behind the Bench

Squeezebox Marketplace Blog | Accordion Care & Aftercare | Repairs & Tuning

Buying a great accordion is just the beginning of the journey. To keep it singing at its best — year after year, gig after gig — you need someone who truly understands the instrument from the inside out. At Squeezebox Marketplace, we believe that exceptional aftercare is as important as the sale itself. That's why we work with Gordon Pattullo.

Who is Gordon Pattullo?

There are accordion technicians, and then there are people who have spent their entire life immersed in the instrument — who understand it not just mechanically, but musically. Gordon Pattullo is very much the latter.

Based in Perthshire, Scotland, Gordon is one of the most respected names in the Scottish accordion world — as a performer, composer, tutor, and now as one of the UK's finest accordion tuners and repairers. His story begins at the age of eleven, when he received his first accordion and quickly discovered a gift that would define his life. Just two years later, at thirteen, he entered the Junior Scottish Traditional Championship in Perth — and won it, competing against more than sixty rivals.

That early promise led to a remarkable performing career. In 1977 Gordon was introduced to the late Andy Stewart — the much-loved Scottish singer and entertainer famous for television shows including Andy's Party and Scotch Corner — and the two embarked on an eight-week tour of Canada and America together. For the next decade, Gordon was rarely off the stage, appearing with some of the biggest names in Scottish entertainment including Moira Anderson, Kenneth McKellar, Lulu and Dana. His television credits span the Jim MacLeod Show, Thingummyjig on STV, and multiple Hogmanay broadcasts across all three Scottish stations.

He has recorded over twenty albums, composed tunes that are played by musicians around the world, and lectured in traditional music at Perth College. His compositions — including the beloved Furrows End — have become part of the fabric of Scottish accordion music.

And now, with all of that musical knowledge and a lifetime of intimacy with the accordion, Gordon applies the same ear and the same exacting standards to the instruments that arrive in his Perthshire workshop.

What Gordon Does — and Why It Matters

Accordions are complex, beautiful instruments. Inside that carefully crafted exterior lies a world of reeds, valves, bellows, and mechanical action — all of which need to work in perfect harmony. Over time, through use, age, humidity changes, or the inevitable knock, things shift. Notes drift out of tune. Reeds fatigue or fail. Valves lose their responsiveness. Bellows develop leaks. Buttons stick.

Gordon's workshop handles every aspect of accordion and melodeon care:

  • Reed tuning and voicing — the most delicate and skilled work, requiring an experienced ear and a steady hand. Gordon tunes to the precise pitch and temperament the instrument demands, using quality parts sourced from Italy and Germany.
  • Full restorations — bringing instruments back from years of neglect or heavy use to full playing condition. From a complete reed replacement to a comprehensive overhaul of every internal system.
  • Bellows repairs — a leaking bellows robs your instrument of air and projection. Gordon diagnoses and repairs bellows issues with care and precision.
  • Mechanical and action work — stiff buttons, sluggish bass action, uneven key response. Gordon works on all of it, whether on piano accordions, diatonic melodeons, or chromatic button accordions.
  • Single reed replacements — sometimes it's just one note that's gone. Gordon can replace a single reed as efficiently as he can overhaul an entire instrument.

He also carries out pre-sale inspection and setup work on behalf of Squeezebox Marketplace — more on that below.

When Should You Have Your Accordion Tuned?

A well-used accordion will generally need a professional tuning every five to six years. Think of it a little like a car service — the instrument may be playing perfectly well to your ear, but internal wear is gradual and subtle. Regular tuning keeps everything in check before problems become more costly.

Beyond routine maintenance, there are several situations where you should seek a professional opinion:

  • A note or notes are noticeably flat, sharp, or simply not sounding
  • The instrument has been stored somewhere damp, cold, or for a long period
  • You've bought a secondhand accordion or melodeon and want to know exactly what you have before you start playing it seriously
  • The instrument has taken a knock or been dropped
  • The bellows feel less responsive than usual, or air is audible even when no buttons are pressed

If any of these apply to you, get in touch — we can help you reach Gordon directly.

How the Practical Side Works

Gordon works from his workshop in Perthshire and is happy to take instruments by appointment or by courier. For those further afield — and many of his clients are — posting your accordion is a perfectly straightforward option, and Gordon handles this regularly for customers across the UK and Ireland.

Customers of Squeezebox Marketplace can also benefit from our Glasgow connection. Our Scottish colleague Alan Shute — the man who first introduced us to Gordon — can facilitate in-person deliveries and collections for instruments heading to and from the workshop, making the whole process even more seamless for those in Scotland and the north.

Whether you come to us first or approach Gordon directly, the outcome is the same. We're not precious about the channel — we just want you and your instrument to be in safe hands.

Gordon and the Kingfisher Seal of Approval

When we were developing the Kingfisher accordion range — our own-brand instruments, designed to bring genuinely well-built, thoughtfully specified accordions to the UK market — we didn't just play them ourselves. We asked Gordon to open them up.

As part of introducing Kingfisher instruments to the UK, we sent them to Gordon's workshop for a full internal inspection. Reed quality, valves, action, bass mechanism — he examined everything with the same critical eye he turns on any instrument that arrives in his care. His verdict was unequivocal: the internal build quality matched what we had hoped for, and Kingfisher earned his clean bill of health.

That matters enormously to us. Kingfisher isn't about producing a cheaper accordion — it's about producing a better-designed one. Having a technician of Gordon's experience and standing validate that from the inside out is something we're genuinely proud of.

Caring for Your Pigini, Baffetti, or Premium Instrument

As the exclusive UK stockists of Pigini accordions and Dino Baffetti melodeons and accordions, we're very conscious of the trust our customers place in us when they invest in one of these exceptional Italian instruments. Pigini, Bugari, Fisitalia, Baffetti — these are instruments at the very top of the craft, and they deserve the very best aftercare.

Gordon has worked on instruments at every level of the market, from a beginner's first melodeon to professional-grade concert accordions. His use of quality Italian and German replacement parts, and his understanding of how these instruments are built and voiced, makes him the ideal partner for anyone seeking accordion care and servicing — whatever the instrument's provenance.

How We Found Gordon — and Why We Trust Him

Our connection with Gordon came through exactly the kind of community trust that defines this world. Our Glasgow colleague Alan Shute had been aware of Gordon's reputation for many years — through the Scottish accordion and folk music scene, where Gordon's name is well known both as a performer and as a technician. It was Alan who made the introduction, and from our first dealings with Gordon, the quality of his work spoke for itself.

We've been recommending Gordon to our customers ever since, and that recommendation has never let anyone down. In a world where good instrument technicians are increasingly hard to find — particularly those with the musical understanding that Gordon brings — we count ourselves fortunate to have him as part of the Squeezebox Marketplace family.

Need a Repair, Service, or Tuning?

Whether your accordion needs a single reed replaced, a full restoration, or simply its five-yearly tune, we're happy to point you in the right direction. Get in touch with Squeezebox Marketplace and we'll help you get your instrument booked in with Gordon.

You can also find Gordon at:

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