You can play most American reproducing piano rolls on a regular 88-note player piano if you tape off the last few tracker bar holes on each end of the bar with masking tape... which won't leave a sticky residue. If you don't tape off the holes, the end few notes will play constantly ("thumping and tinkling"), from the expression holes.
Are 88 note rolls playable on the smaller 64 key pianos? I noticed that most player pianos play within the middle 64 keys. Not being a piano player... I am seeking advice.
As far as I know, those player 64-note spinets made in the 1960's by Aeolian, etc. play regular 88-note piano rolls. However, not having the full keyboard, they have a special tubing arrangement where the notes outside of the keyboard range will play in other octaves. For example, a note hit in either the highest or next-highest octave of the roll (88 notes) will only play in the lower octave on the spinet.
To make things even more confusing, the first widely-popular type of piano roll was the 65-note player piano roll, which was used by Aeolian and Chase and Baker push-up piano players, and a few inner-players. These rolls are the same paper width as a regular (later) 88-note roll, but the holes are larger and the spacing is wider. Also, the 65-note rolls are "pin end" rolls whereas the 88-note rolls are "hole end".
Yea this is true, I have a Weber 1904 upright with the Aeolian Metrostyle 65 note player. These rolls (pin rolls) are getting harder to find, and Im lucky to have what I got. They came with the piano when I bought it for $700 in 1991.
Can you tell me how you work your player piano?
bandobendi87crosby 2 weeks ago
I love it! Just fantastic!
tenderheart17 2 years ago
BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA CURSE OF THE INSANE EVIL PLAYER PIANO PLAYING CARMEN!! lol <3 this song
leinaalaomeliac 4 years ago 5
Comment removed
pm0501 4 years ago
Thanks - good to know.
HarborGuy 4 years ago
I think it must be a Ampico, their rolls would not play on other pianos if I remember correctly....
HarborGuy 4 years ago
You can play most American reproducing piano rolls on a regular 88-note player piano if you tape off the last few tracker bar holes on each end of the bar with masking tape... which won't leave a sticky residue. If you don't tape off the holes, the end few notes will play constantly ("thumping and tinkling"), from the expression holes.
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
Are 88 note rolls playable on the smaller 64 key pianos? I noticed that most player pianos play within the middle 64 keys. Not being a piano player... I am seeking advice.
pm0501 4 years ago
As far as I know, those player 64-note spinets made in the 1960's by Aeolian, etc. play regular 88-note piano rolls. However, not having the full keyboard, they have a special tubing arrangement where the notes outside of the keyboard range will play in other octaves. For example, a note hit in either the highest or next-highest octave of the roll (88 notes) will only play in the lower octave on the spinet.
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
To make things even more confusing, the first widely-popular type of piano roll was the 65-note player piano roll, which was used by Aeolian and Chase and Baker push-up piano players, and a few inner-players. These rolls are the same paper width as a regular (later) 88-note roll, but the holes are larger and the spacing is wider. Also, the 65-note rolls are "pin end" rolls whereas the 88-note rolls are "hole end".
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
Yea this is true, I have a Weber 1904 upright with the Aeolian Metrostyle 65 note player. These rolls (pin rolls) are getting harder to find, and Im lucky to have what I got. They came with the piano when I bought it for $700 in 1991.
bandit289 4 years ago
Listening to this through my laptop speaker doesn't give me half of the effect. Good video though and definitely worth watching and/or listening too.
CyclePat 4 years ago
sound like a song off of tom and jerry
oh well thats cool.
pianoviolin89 4 years ago
I love seeing old players working, its almost like a cartoon or the merry-go-round at the fair!!
joeab09 4 years ago
Thats pure entertainment! Its something that I love to see with all player pianos!
anibeth39 5 years ago
is it an ordinary 88-note pianola or is it a true ampico?
pianoman1984 5 years ago
i think it's ampico! i'm not sure - i will check in a bit.
gabbymiller 5 years ago