In a message dated 96-05-24 02:58:57 EDT, Bryan Cather writes:

>   I rather like the idea of an
> Ampico pumper, as I like to "interpret" rolls, and am sure a Marque
> Ampico would sound better than a straight  pumper (or even a Themodist
> piano), and, at least around here, Ampico rolls are more common than
> Themodist rolls.
> Bryan S. Cather
> BSnakeC@AOL.com

Bryan,

I have a Marque Ampico and the way it works is that you can turn the Ampico
expression on or off.  When the expression is on, you would try to pump evenly
and let the expression mechanism do it's thing and provide an interpretation
of the expression coded into the rolls.  Alternatively, you can turn the
expression off and provide expression manually by pumping action and by
operation of the manual expression buttons.  In this mode, the end holes on
the tracker bar are disconnected and you can play many types of rolls
including 88 note, Ampico, Duo-Art and others.  While you might try to put
expression into the roll while pumping and with the automatic expression
turned on, I think you would be fighting against the coding on the roll and
would find it somewhat difficult.  I do like the Marque Ampico as it is a very
sensitive pumper.  Since mine has an early expression system, it is not quite
as expressive as an Ampico A but soldiers on reasonably well.  My advice would
be to keep both and start saving again to restore the Themodist later.  This
is how collections are begun ! Good luck.

Bob Conant