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I found a photo of a Pianocorder Vorsetzer...



There isn't really anything secretive about this, but it wasn't sold in great numbers, and it hasn't been on the market since 1987. I am pretty sure Piano World member grandpianoman still owns one of these. Maybe he can relate his experiences with it.

Great, thanks so much bob- I look forward to maybe hearing some recordings

I have contacted QRS in USA, and they think the price is around $3000 + $1000 shipping to UK.

I contacted QRS Europe, and they seem to think the price is around $8000, but they don't seem 100% sure and keep saying they'll get back to me. So far, I've been emailing them and waiting some time, and neither US or Holland departments have managed to come back to me with answers to my questions. They either just don't reply, or answer the first question and leave the rest unanswered.

I'm thinking about just taking a trip to QRS in holland to get this all sorted in person, because trying to get them to give me any in depth info or sell me this item over the phone/email is proving to be quite a challenge!

But bob, so far you've been a great help, thanks

Thanks for that Mark- interesting! It does look a little big for my portable needs

There is another robot player piano system out there at Logosfoundation.org/instrum_gwr/playerpiano.html.

They seem to have lots of specks about building your own player. I looked at them a couple of years ago but would take too much time for me.

Thanks for that link. I saw a Trimpin concert using that system back in the late 1990s and it was quite an experience!

Hey bob, just wondering... did you try it out this weekend?

Matt,
I was able to check out the noise on the playola systems. When I lift the rail off the keys, There is some noise as the solenoids move. I had not noticed it before as the piano was also making noise. I tried to record this but I can't seem to capture it right. I think the best thing to do is to see one for yourself.

Bob

My search is over. I have found and purchased a slightly used Playola. It will be here in a few days

Congrats Rod,

I will be curious what you think of it. Can you get it to play softly? I have trouble at low volumes.

Bob

Bob,

I'll find out soon. I will be delivered on Wednesday.

I have never seen one in use. All I really need it to do is pound out my rebuilt pianos so I can stabilize the regulation like some factories do before delivery.

I hope it makes what I do, better,longer.

It will be fun to hear my pianos being played while I work.

I hope to put the unit on a timer overnight to play scales up and down for many hours. I don't want to be here for that.

Well, in my opinion it is nothing like a built in unit. The pianos I tried it on sound like honky tonks. Not what I would expect from an expensive unit.
Since I did purchase it used I can't say if it works like it should since I have never seen one in use.

For the reasons I purchased it, it's fantastic.
(Break in new actions)
But if you want to record with it I don't think it would serve that purpose.

Those of you that have one have any suggestion on how to make it work better?

I have adjusted the height 3 different ways.
High,low and neutral. I would say neutral is what it is meant to be set at. Correct?

Can the solenoids be adjusted? Some seem to have more power than others and push the keys down further than others. Hence the honky tonk sound, I think.