Guy Klucevsek plays a Titano Royal Convertor Piano Accordion, designed and manufactured by
Titano Accordion Corporation, Mineola, New York.
This is a "convertor-style" instrument: i.e., while the right hand side has a
standard accordion keyboard, albeit extended to 45 keys (e-c), the bass button
board (left-hand side) contains both a 120-bass Stradella (or standard) Bass
system of bass notes and pre-set chords; and a 4-row, chromatic free bass system,
consisting of all single tones, with a range of over 4-1/2 octaves. A convertor
switch is used to go between one system and the other.
The free bass system makes it possible to play left-hand melodic lines over several
octaves, open voicings, chords in any inversion, non-diatonic harmony and single-octave
drones and bass lines; while the convertor system allows the performer to still have
access to the Stradella Bass for standard accordion accompaniments which are invaluable
for use in folk and world musics.