Why i nearly didnt buy my Duo-Art Reproducer.
Gday all When i was shopping around to buy a pianola , the thought of actually having a reproducer was bit of a wishful dream. As here in Australia they are not in great numbers compared to say the UK and USA.Sometimes on ebay a 1/2 reproducer would turn up and then would still need a full refurbishment done to enjoy it. So i set out to get a general pianola, that i could enjoy and use that was in good condition.I have to say that i shopped around for a good 6 months looking at every ebay ad , newspapers ,shops and even noticeboards. One day i took the next step and wrote to a pianola restorer asking what they had in stock in my price range, and did he sell reproducers as well?. He was kind enough to write back with a current lisiting but then i also got a a lecture that "if i wanted a reproducer i may as well just go out and buy a CD player and put in a piano instrumential CD to listen too".He went on further to say that "a real pianola is a peddle player and the reproducer is more of a fake and cannot really be enjoyed in the same way". I have to admit i was taken back by his comments and thought that perhaps i was on the wrong track of things and should just stick to a peddle player only. About 2 weeks latter i came across an old ebay ad that had been listed on ebay but had finnished, so i wrote to the owner asking about his Duo-art and was it still availabe?.To my delight i got a response that it certainly was ,and he was willing to drop the price further as he had a ampico baby grand on the way.He is a passionate collector and with all the other instruments in the house he was pretty full to the rafters. Well i now have my Duo-art here and its been in my procession for 4 months and i still have a the biggest smile on my face. Im glad i followed my heart and not just someones opinion , everyone who i show it too really enjoys the playback from it. So anyone else who reads this , experts out there may be experts in there field but there not always correct with there opinions.Always follow your own heart and desires and you will always make the right choice. Regards Daniel :)

Hi Dan I am really pleased that you like your Duo Art so much....But just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons I do have a sneaking sympathy with your expert :) . Of course it is always better to hear a real piano rather than a CD - but to me, trying to put my own interpretation into the music is far and away the most satisfying part of playing with pianolas. The good thing about the Duo Art of course is that you can do both. My dream player would be a good responsive pedaller with an effective theming system, automatic tracking and most of all a really special piano - say a Bluthner or similar. BTW Have you seen Julians video on Youtube? With the push up he is using you can play on any piano - so you could find that Bluthner! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A6ZXZwl3nA

"BTW Have you seen Julians video on Youtube? With the push up he is using you can play on any piano - so you could find that Bluthner" G'day Neil , yes i have seen this and its an Excellent demostration! Yes i have to admit i love my DA , but im not centred minded on just one type of player ,i also plan on getting a normal pumper in due course as i do have the space here for 2 or 3 instruments* :D In regards to the DA , when i use the Accent levers in conjunction with the temponamic knob its great to pull the theme down and let the base slightly overide or vice versa when playing a roll. It can get done to the point where you can play entirely the base or theme and the opp is just about non exsitent.Its great for those 2 vocal songs (say a male and female singer duet) as it makes it feel like more life like as the music travels left and right. Regards Dan :) *Would love a normal 88 pumper and also a Ampico Baby Grand on my wish list.