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Ronald Olsen's YouTube Channel Recordings
By Piotr Barcz

A bit of a social plug, if you will! I'm making my recommendation
for anyone who loves beautifully restored and maintained reproducing
pianos to check out Ronald Olsen's YouTube channel at
https://www.youtube.com/@masonhamlinrbb 

My compliments to Ronald for the fantastic instruments and for
maintaining bizarrely good audio quality even though it's only a phone
mic on new recordings.

I highly recommend checking out the older videos of the Mason & Hamlin
RBB Ampico as well, as even though the piano hadn't been tuned in
8 years it sounds nearly perfectly in tune with a few warbles in the
unisons. (Ronald told me this in a comment reply, as I recall; someone
correct me if I'm wrong.)

Those recordings were done with a Zoom recorder as the microphone,
too, I believe and the quality is simply outstanding.

I also envy the 6'2" Baldwin C Welte as it is far and away one of the
finest I've heard save for Ralph Nielsen's Howard (also a Baldwin) Welte
grand. And of course an honorable mention to the fantastic Steinway
Duo-Art in his collection as well although I've not listened to it as
much as I should have already.

Ronald's recordings I personally think are quite severely underrated
(and under viewed) hence this short (I think) review of his channel.
I hope more people check out his work.

Piotr Barcz

[ Here's a Welte Deluxe pop tune I really like:
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BLY89ZFME4&list=RD1BLY89ZFME4&t=20s
Attachment thumbnail [ Cryin' For The Carolines, Welte-Mignon # 75482 pb Jack Wehrlen [ -- Robbie

(Message sent Wed, 5 Nov 2025 09:58:06 -0800 , from time zone -0800.)

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