"Jeff S." gentleman113@... says:

> Does anyone have any idea what the installed cost will be on this
> new player? I am considering a Pianomation system for my
> Chickering Grand, which I can have installed for around $5300 here
> in Oklahoma.

I have not heard anything definitive about cost. However, in
the interests of trying to be helpful, Wayne has kindly
established an email link for specific questions about his LX
solenoid system.

support@...

I have not seen nor heard Wayne's system in operation, but I
would expect it to be a high-end performer. Stay tuned for a
web site for his "Live-Performance" product, which I would
expect will appear soon.

If cost is an issue, and you are sufficiently technically
competant, you may wish to consider doing your own install of a
PianoForce kit. This kit appears to be a low-end option in
this market, play-back only.

I have personally seen and heard a PianoForce kit installed by
Richard Creasy in a new Heintzman 5' 8" grand in a gorgeous
natural wood "book-leaved" cabinet. To my tin-ears (2
hearing aids), the performance was acceptable. See:

http://www.pianoforce.com/

Like all solenoid kits, except for Wayne's LX system, the
PianoForce solenoid rail is mounted beneath the keybed, forcing
a rebuild of the trapwork, which is often more difficult and
time consuming to resolve than the solenoid rail itself.

Wayne's LX kit, being imbedded within the depth of the keybed,
does not interfere with existing trapwork, which should make
installation significantly easier.

My 45+ year association with this delightful slice of our
musical heritage has exposed me to countless pneumatic
reproducing pianos, so I am very much aware of what is possible
in a restored, properly regulated piano.

Thus far, the closest I've encountered in the solenoid piano
world is the Disklavier MK IV system, unfortunately pricey.
At the AMICA Convention in Minneapolis a year ago, a Pianomation
equipped Mason & Hamlin was available and my midi emulation
files produced an acceptable performance when driven from a
nearby laptop computer.

I understand that Wayne's initial production run of 45 kits has
been fully placed. Eventually, we can expect to hear from
new owners of his system, and get first hand accounts of
satisfaction. Perhaps we may even get lucky and see a photo
essay of an installation.

If anybody learns about who is installing these kits, please let
us know of names, location and email addresses. Also, we
will eventually need to know how our midi emulation files need
to be massaged, and with what utilities, for playback on the LX
system. And lastly, we would like to know if the LX system
can be driven from a nearby laptop computer with a USB/MIDI-IN
adapter cable.

Stay tuned.....

Regards,

Terry


Terry Smythe 204-832-3982 (land line)
55 Rowand Avenue 204-981-3229 (cell)
Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J 2N6 smythe@...
Preserving a unique slice of our Musical Heritage
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm