Dear Readers, I can endorse the complimentary comments made by Jurgen
regarding Tom Jansen's roll cutting. Apart from having acquired some
35 excellent re-cuts from his existing list, I have been more than
happy to loan him a further 60 from my own collection of rare, and in
some cases unique, Welte Red rolls from which he has now made copies.
These are included in his latest listing. He is welcome to copy any
roll in my collection.
The hobby will only survive if collectors can easily acquire the best
rolls to play on their instruments and it is in everyone's interest for
them to be made available. When enthusiasts like Tom are prepared to
go to the trouble and expense of doing this valuable re-cutting work,
for what is in fact little financial reward, members should encourage
them even further by making their rolls available for copying.
Imagine, the complete Welte catalogue available again! Tom might also
consider making some Welte Green rolls available in Welte Red format
for music that was never issued in that format.
The collectors sitting on rare and sought after rolls might want
to consider, as I did, that playing them often can risk damage and
deterioration whereas having a re-cut means that you can play the piece
as often as you like while the important and valuable original can be
put on one side and be protected for posterity -- and what is more the
music can be enjoyed by all one's fellow enthusiasts.
Bob Senior
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