Introduction
By Mike Amoroso
Hi Jody...
Got your name from a friend of a friend that helped me restore my reproducing piano. I have seen some samples of the articles from your digest and enjoyed reading them. I am interested in getting on the mailing list for the Automatic Music Digest.
I own a 1926 Chickering grand piano with an Ampico "A" reproducing system. The piano was fully restored about 5 years ago. I did the ampico system myself with the guidance of an expert restorer and friend Alan Pier (Alan passed away this past Tuesday, another victim of cancer). I had the case and piano action restored by experts in their respective areas.
I have made only one significant modification to the ampico system in this restoration. I was not satisfied with the performance of the roll drive mechanism. Although restored properly it's limits were being pushed with the larger rolls and at high speed settings. Especially since the piano was operating in New England's dry climate. I replaced the pneumatic roll drive assembly with a Bodine motor and control. An article by Martin Hersch appeared in the AMICA bulletin about 7 years ago which discussed his installation of an electric motor drive. I installed the same motor and controller but I did not like the "standard potentiometer" tempo adjustment. The model A uses a slide mechanism to adjust tempo so I fabricated a linear potentiometer (I run a thick film hybrid facility) which I fitted under the original tempo control. From all outward appearances this change is not visible but the difference in performance is very noticeable. The piano plays beautifully, sounds great, tempo is "spot on".
This is my first reproducing piano. I had an upright standard player for many years which I had restored twice. That's another story and anyway I gave the piano away just before we moved to Florida. I had a fairly sizable 88 note collection before the ampico, and since I have collected close to 400 ampico rolls. Since I like to play it a lot most of my rolls are re-cuts.
Several months ago I purchased a QRS Playola system. I was using a prototype solenoid rail until they just recently gave me a "real" production model. I am sure you are familiar with the standard pianomation system from QRS. The key solenoids are mounted under the keybed and push up on the action. In the Playola version a rail containing solenoids and drivers is placed on top of the keyboard (sitting on the cheek blocks), and the solenoids push down on the keys to play. This has the obvious advantage of being able to play a modern library of music on my reproducing piano without physically altering it.
If you are familiar with QRS's system you know that the midi signal is on the left channel and on the newer CD's the right channel is being used for accompaniment. I have purchased all of QRS's CD's and several videos. That alone increased my music library by a few thousand songs. In addition since this is a midi system all sorts of music is available from other sources. I have a Quadra 660AV macintosh computer and it is connected to the Playola system. I have the Pianist series of software which gives me another thousand or so titles to chose from. I have connection to the "net" and lots of midi there too.
At the moment I do not have any restoration projects going. I am in the market for a Mason & Hamlin large grand with ampico A (there were only 3 B's) or smaller Mason & Hamlin grand with ampico B. If you know of anything available I would be interested.
My e-mail is:
mamoro@vero.com or
mamoro@aol.com
My address:
Michael Amoroso
161 Island Sanctuary
Vero Beach, FL 32963
Thanks
Mike
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(Message sent Sat 28 Sep 1996, 23:05:28 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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