Which system to buy? Which one sounds better? Which has more rolls
available today? Those are easy questions to answer:
The one that sounds better is that one that was restored better in
a better piano. Assuming all things equal (a top piano restored to
perfection with the reproducing action performing flawlessly), you will
have superb performances with both systems.
Both? Why limit yourself to two ? What about the Welte Mignon?
Several will tell you that they outperform the others.
Which has more rolls available today? Do a quick search on eBay --
you'll find that the Duo-Art and Ampico are close contenders one day
more on one system, the other system may have more a week later. With
recuts, there are excellent recuts available for both systems. Keystone
Music Rolls is doing pretty much Ampico, but Meliora has both systems,
and I've ordered rolls for the Duo-Art from Julian Dyer and BluesTone
music rolls (though I haven't received the rolls I ordered from
BluesTone yet, the titles are tempting).
The only answer I can give is to buy whichever one you fall in love
with. Look for a superb piano and go that route.
By the way, after restoration my Weber sounds better than larger
Steinways. In the shop it was sitting side by side with two Steinways
that had gone through a full restoration by the same technician. We
both agreed that in the treble and tenor sections the Weber was far
superior, in the bass section the Steinway sounded better, but if you
really think about it, for home use, you don't need that much of a
resounding bass, so the tenor and treble of the Weber won me over.
Eli Shahar
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