Re: Gulbransen Instruction Rolls
By Bob Conant
> ... a set of four Gulbransen Instruction rolls which attempt to
> teach the proper way to play your player!
> Is there a possibility that you would consider making this set
> available as a recut edition? It would be welcomed be those of us
> dedicated artists who haven't been blessed with a great foot (or feet)
> for music.
>
Several people have written in about the Gulbransen Instruction Rolls including the above suggestion about recutting them. I have run across three sets in the last three years. They don't seem to be that rare. I sold a set last year that was absolutely mint including all the little tags that were to be fastened to the various levers on a Gulbransen piano, plus the instruction book that came with the set. I question whether it would be feasible to recut them with all the sets still out there in fairly good condition. These rolls did not get played very much and the ones left are usually in pretty good shape.
For someone looking to learn the subtleties of player piano peddling, I would suggest that you pick up the copies of the AMICA Bulletin published over the last couple years. They ran a series written by Doug Henderson that explains in excruciating detail all the theory behind the operation of the player piano. Reading through it all is sometimes a little rough sledding but there are real nuggets buried in there like the following: In order to gain additional emphasis for a particular note, besides providing a sharp punch on a foot pedal, quickly reduce the tempo to zero; this will make more vacuum available to the stack to further increase the force with which the note is struck. Of course, the tempo must almost instantly be returned to its original setting so as not to interrupt the playing of the music. Some trick. It isn't easy to do. There are many more insights into player operation included in the six installments of his dissertation. The articles include all you ever wanted to know about the subject and then some.
Bob Conant
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(Message sent Wed 18 Sep 1996, 23:29:23 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.) |
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