I have had so many inquiries about how I install and regulate the early
Amphion Ampico grand player with the early drawer and upside-down valves,
that I've made a video of it.  It isn't together yet, but I've put things
on that video that most rebuilders would want to see, I think.

It begins with the bench regulation and survey of the drawer, details and
a modification that let the tracker system (which moves the trackerbar)
work better, and how to adjust everything before it goes into the piano.
Then the method I use to regulate the expression system, the intensities
and crescendos, how they are tested on the bench together.

It isn't true that if the intensities lock and cancel, that they will
work just fine in the piano! I explain how to tell if they are fast
enough to catch weak, quick signals from the roll.

Then I actually install the player in a grand right in front of you, and
show you how to do it when the strikers' only guide holes are on the
other side of the keybed.  Nothing, to my knowledge, is left out.  It's
amateurish photography to be sure! I'm doing it all with a remote control
and without a script.  But the lighting is excellent, and the camera
often fills the entire screen with just one tiny part.  You can
watch things work very closely that way.  It's a good study tape and
reference, I think.

The final section on the tape is regulation and adjustment, testing and
troubleshooting.  Along with the tape comes a complete checklist for
regulation procedures and a schematized drawing of the drawer showing,
from the top view, the tubing and where it belongs.  There is also a
small modification of the stack cutout/reroll valve which always gave
trouble because it lays on its side.  I show how to fix this problem,
too.

The final portion of the tape is a demonstration.  It will show anybody
that the old Amphion stack with the upside-down valves was an incredible
performer.

These video packages aren't ready yet, because I want to take a few
orders first to get a feel if anybody wants one.  There is a lot to learn
besides just how the old Ampicos were restored.  Some rebuilders have
even suggested laying the piano upside down to load the stack back in!
They are going to be surprised.  It will have taken me about two weeks to
get it all together.  I will sell the first packages for $39 plus
shipping-- whatever that is.  So if you want one, get your name on the
list.

Craig Brougher