Hi Gang,  We just got back from visiting Craig and Ellen Brougher,
and had a _great_ time.  We also learned a lot from the visit.

Craig has a Ampico model "B" that we both really gave a workout.  This
piano will flawlessly play "A" rolls, From the softest whisper to the
loudest crash, threatening to peel off all the wallpaper in the room!

Bear in mind that this piano is only a 5' 4" grand on a carpeted floor.
Only about 1% of the reproducing pianos I have ever seen will give a
rendition that you can feel in your very soul.  This one can.  It's a
model "B", and it will put forth an unbelievable performance from an
"A" roll, despite what has been said about them.

It would be easy to dismiss me and my statements -- citing the fact
that I have never rebuilt a reproducer and I have no way of knowing --
except for one fact: I am a pianist, and I can tell you that this piano
will perform as well or better than any pianist living or dead.  It is
really a moot point discussing ball bleeds verses primary valves,
springs, regulators and pumps, model "A" verses model "B", all these
discussions are important, and there is no absolute or final word on
rebuilding these parts.

What I am pointing out is that Craig's finished piano WILL play Ampico
"A" rolls, and do it expressively, and flawlessly.  No mechanical noise
comes from under the piano either, and it has no belly cloth.  Fast
repeated notes play at a whisper.  It doesn't skip at low suction, or
show the slightest hint of dropping out.

If Craig's Ampico "B" can do it, I would think that all model B's
should too.  If not, there has to be something that is preventing the
piano from doing so.  When they were new, they worked properly.  If not
American Piano Co. would have gotten their pants sued off.

I wouldn't dismiss the model "B" Ampico as a second rate performer.  To
those of you who think so, I would be more than happy to haul it away
for you and leave you any piano I have in my stable!  If I had to pull
the action hundreds of times, I would do so until it played like
Craig's (and probably call him that many times too).

This article cannot sing forth with the soul-stirring music that I
heard from that little grand piano, but believe me, it sounded much
bigger than 5' 4".  I will never forget it.

Craig is the most unique man I ever met.  instead of just telling you
to do things a certain way, or being rigid like some other rebuilders,
he takes the time to show you why.  He proves his point by ingenious
but simple tests.  His methods takes you into a new realm of
understanding, and I will guarantee that if you will apply his approach
to pneumatic designs and rebuilding, your piano will play like never
before.  Mine does.

Chris and I learned things in the last few days that would have taken
years otherwise.  We would like to publicly thank Craig and Ellen
Brougher for a wonderful time.

Andy & Chris Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls