All three of these systems have advantages and disadvantages in regard
to the questions previously asked.  In regard to roll issues, it is
possible to build a nice library of music with any of these systems.
Right now, the recut roll supply is probably the best for the Ampico,
as Keystone Music Rolls and Precision Music Rolls are major suppliers.

Keystone issues periodic bulletins but they do not keep a back stock.
Precision has a superbly produced library of 1930s rolls and they are
never out.  Many of the rolls in the Precision catalog are ones that
would be very difficult to find originals.  There are other roll
cutters who have limited offerings available.  Check on the main
MMDigest web site.

Duo-Art rolls are more difficult right now but, from what I have been
told, Keystone is planning on starting to reissue Duo-Art rolls later
this year.  If that comes to pass, it will be a real service for those
of us with Duo-Art pianos.

Duo-Art, Ampico and Welte all had comprehensive libraries of music.
Unfortunately, the Welte library is older and the last masters were
made in about 1931, Duo-Art and Ampico rolls were made until about
1941.  Keep in mind that in the 1930s, when Aeolian and American Piano
merged, most of the new rolls issued were the same, only coded for
Ampico or Welte.  I have a serious collector friend with exquisite
pianos in all three formats who maintains that the 1930s performances
were coded better for the Ampico than they were for the Duo-Art.  That
is his opinion and not all readers may agree.

All three systems have different artists and of course varying
arrangements.  It is fun to compare how a particular song was done in
each format.  Each system would have artists or songs that the others
did not have.  Personally, I typically like the Ampico arrangements the
best but that is not always the case.  Ampico seemed to embellish more
than Duo-Art.  Again this is a personal opinion.  There are some
absolutely amazing performances also on Welte.  If you want a library
of recuts, the supply is more limited for the Welte although a lot of
music has been recut in the last generation for this system.

As for the mechanics, the Welte works on crescendos, the Duo-Art on
steps and the Ampico has both steps and crescendos.  The person who
rebuilt my Ampico many years ago, preferred the Ampico A as his first
choice, he did not like the Ampico B.   He hated Duo-Arts for several
reasons.  Most of the grands have tubing that go through the keyboard.
If the piano action needs work, it is a very labor intensive process
to disconnect all the tubing to get at the action.  This was corrected
on the later ones.

The Duo-Art also has more mechanical linkages and it tends to be
far more difficult to adjust.  If properly restored in an instrument
that is in really good shape, their performance can be superb but
condition of the piano and quality of the rebuild are essential
elements.  (Steinways are notorious for verdigris issues with the
action.  This affects a Steinway's ability to do subtle expression).
The Duo-Art and the Welte also have the ability to play an 88-note
piano roll well.  An Ampico really needs Ampico rolls.  They just do
not play an 88-note roll well.

A reproducing piano of any kind is far more touchy than a standard
88-note player or a typical coin piano.  Just because an instrument
has been rebuilt does not mean that it was rebuilt well or right.
Any of these instruments can be breathtaking or they can sound like an
88-note piano.  It depends upon the little things.

We tend sometimes to turn up our noses at the Fischers, Stecks,
Marshall and Wendells, etc., but if you bring up their original cost
to modern dollars, even these less expensive instruments were extremely
costly in their day and out of the reach of many of the middle class.
I do not know if this is true, but my rebuilder used to maintain that
some of these smaller pianos actually were superior to the big
instruments in regard to their ability to express as they did not have
to deal with really heavy actions, etc., and in the long run, they
would play longer.  That may or may not be true.

My 5'4" Fischer Ampico had a castor up rebuild 20 years ago.  To
this day, it still plays well and it expresses nicely.  It is lovely
instrument that has amazed visitors for many years.  I recently bought
a Mason and Hamlin 5'8" Ampico RA and I am going am going to be going
through the restoration process of this instrument.  This is going to
take some time but it is going to play right.  The toughest part of
this whole process is not buying the instrument but it is getting it
restored so that it plays to its capability.  Just my opinion!

Randy Hammond