I fully agree with Karl Peterson about playing mechanical instruments
as background music.  I, too, have an Ampico grand (a Marshall and
Wendell A) that performs very well as originally intended.  Unless
I feel that my guests have a real appreciation of the music that the
instrument plays, I usually don't turn on the Ampico unless they
specifically ask to hear it.

Most people today are so musically unaware of anything except the
same homogenous noise that they hear on commercial radio and TV.  They
expect all musical devices to have a volume control which they can turn
down and then talk over.  I "Listen" to my instruments and enjoy them
thoroughly!

David Oppenheim
Savannah, Georgia