Re 990215 MMDigest.  The idea that one or two rolls can be used to
adequately regulate any reproducing piano is a bit short sighted.
I am sure that several rebuilders will parrot this remark.

In my own experience, not only do I use the test rolls as a starting
point of regulation, I also play many, many performance rolls.  Playing
any less than thirty diverse rolls will result in incomplete
regulation.

The Duo-Art is the most challenging.  Playing the test roll correctly
on that piano seldom translates to a satisfactory, musical, perform-
ance.  The real fine tuning can only be done after about 100 hours of
playing real rolls.  Most rebuilders I know keep the freshly rebuilt
reproducing  piano playing all day while they work on other projects.
The rebuilder's keen ear picks up small flaws which he/she later ad-
dresses.  During that period of time, all freshly rebuilt components
have adequate run-in time to assure proper operation.

The Ampico B probably requires the least amount of testing and regu-
lating, followed by the Ampico A and Welte, with the Duo-Art coming 
in as a very distant fourth.

Rebuilding any pneumatic playing system is only a mechanical craft.
The art occurs in the regulation.  Great sounding reproducing pianos
are works of art and are products of many hours of very skillful
regulation.

Bob Taylor