-- non-subscriber, please reply to sender and MMD --

I recently obtained one of Spencer Chase's e-roll systems for
self-installation.  This report is simply to relate how easily the
installation procedure went, and the very good results that were
obtained with it.

Background: The piano is a Steinway 1925 (I think) walnut grand
of about 6' length.  It was completely restored about 12 years ago
(including new strings, hammers, felts, etc.) and has been playing
mostly re-cut rolls (and a few original rolls) ever since, with very
good results.

After hearing about the e-roll system, I was immediately attracted to
the ability to play multiple rolls without having to change the rolls.
Another attraction is the availability of several thousand rolls that
have been transcribed for the Duo-Art, and Spencer has done a great job
of preserving and transcribing the rolls.  The idea of computer control
also was a factor in ordering the system.

Although the installation instructions are not complete at this time,
they are quite adequate for the basic setup.  As I have not even looked
under the piano since it was returned reconditioned, I was unfamiliar
with the basic layout of all the Duo-Art parts and pieces but have
read about the system and am generally familiar with how the system
operates.  I am a retired physicist and one of my hobbies is clock
repair, so I do have some mechanical ability, but I must say that
anyone with even a modest mechanical ability should be able to install
this system without many problems.

Spencer was quite helpful with the few questions I had, and only two
phone calls were necessary to complete the installation.  One of these
questions concerned the location and connections to the dynamic valve
box.  This was cleared up easily and all of the connections via tubing
were quite easy on the Duo-Art.  (You will need about 150-200 feet
of suitable rubber tubing for the connections).  Spencer was able to
arrange getting this tubing from a piano supply company that would not
sell to me because "I was not in the trade".

One note of caution when installing the tubing: when routing the
tubing around the pedal lyre, you must be very careful to allow routing
around the various control parts and the pedal lyre itself, as it is
very crowded in this area.  I found out, after replacing the lyre, that
one tube was pinched and as a consequence, one note was missing from
the scale (D4).  Running the test file that Spencer supplies quickly
located this problem and I had to remove the lyre and add a small
length of tubing; this was the only problem I had with the physical
installation.

As for the playing ability -- it is remarkable!  The system will
reproduce even the fastest trills and the expression is just great.
I have had more fun and listening experience in the past two weeks
than years of prior roll playing.

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have, but I think
this system is a great advance in technology and Spencer Chase and
Gene Gerety must be congratulated on not only a labor of love, but also
a significant contribution to the history of mechanical music systems.

Sincerely,
Donald Landstrom
dkland@ameritech.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]