I am working on building an orchestrion from a standard player
piano.  I am out of space inside and still need something to
simulate a bass drum.  I was pounding on inside case parts with
a bass drum beater when it was playing in order to find something
that would work.  Of course, nothing worked as well as hitting the
soundboard.

I know there were a few manufacturers in the old days who put
a drum action in and struck the soundboard for a mass drum effect.
I have never seen such an orchestrion myself.  What I need to know
is if this throws the piano out of tune especially quickly.  It
would seem so.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on doing it this way, or if you'd have
any other suggestions.

Dave Vincent