My approach
From the early days of my career as an instrument maker, my purpose has been to craft diatonic high quality accordions. I make my instruments within my own artisan workshop and production is therefore limited.
I choose to use local types of wood rather than imported ones. My research and experience led me to favour walnut as the main material, as this wood produces the finest results.
I carry out most of the work (designing the instruments, making the boxes, keyboards, blocks, etc.) on my own and assemble, decorate and varnish all my accordions myself. In addition, I work in close collaboration with highly skilled craftsmen in some specialised fields (e.g. reeds, bellows or mechanical components).
Musical tuning specialist Stéphanie Simon puts the finishing touch to this long and elaborate crafting process.
Thanks to constant research, my diatonic accordions have become more and more refined in terms of musicality and acoustic projection of sound, as well as precision and reliability. Meeting talented artists has been instrumental in the evolution of my craft: Joe Burke, Tony Mac Mahon, Jackie Daly, Joe Derrane, Benny Mc Carthy, Stéphane Milleret and Norbert Pignol, to name but a few.
I work essentially for musicians who are extremely demanding in terms of quality, yet very aware of the amount of time involved. My diatonic accordions are designed to be played over a span of several decades. Each and every model is equipped with the best Italian reeds, BlueStar by Voci Armoniche, and made with top-quality components (wood, mechanisms, bellows, etc.). I take special care not to overload the instruments. I feel it is essential to let them “breathe” so as to reach the best dynamics and the richest expressiveness on the entire keyboard range.
My customers are based in many European countries, but also in North and South America, Australia, Japan, etc. Since these musicians come from a variety of musical horizons, all my instruments are custom-made. Keyboard and bass layout and tuning are customised and tailored to each client’s individual needs.
After welcoming Joseph Fandre to my workshop for a long-term internship, which proved very successful, I decided to hand over the running of Bertrand Gaillard accordions to him. We will now be working together on the manufacturing side for as long as it takes to pass on all my know-how to Joseph. From January 2026, Joseph will be managing the activity and communicating with musicians. He will then gradually take over the various stages of manufacturing, under my guidance.
Joseph and I share the same goal of optimal quality. I particularly appreciate his determination to continue perfecting the instruments. I hope that this shared commitment will give accordionists full confidence in the value of this handover.
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