<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16441" name=GENERATOR><o:SmartTagType name="PostalCode" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=purple link=blue bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Virginia State University bought a D a couple of years ago. It seems to be without major issues. Another tech over juiced the hammers in octaves five and six. I'm gradually knocking that back some. The tone is not quiet as dark and rich as I might prefer, but only by a very small margin. I feel that the school got their money's worth with this one. So, there really ARE some excellent instruments out there on showroom floors. They just have to be hunted down patiently.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robin Blankenship</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=dporritt@smu.edu href="mailto:dporritt@smu.edu">David M. Porritt</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">'College and University Technicians'</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 20, 2007 9:21 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [CAUT] New</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A few days ago I wrote about our killer half-octave and asked for suggestions.  Again I want to thank all who responded with many good suggestions some of which I’m going to try to implement soon.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">There are some (many?) who think the only solution is purchasing a new D so I’m asking you all for your experience.  Have any of your schools bought a new D recently that was really great?  I have to say that the new Ds I’ve seen lately – including one we bought in 1993 – have been somewhat less than wonderful.  I’m hoping that my experience is atypical and that many of you have seen and worked on some wonderful ones.  I really need honest answers from you.  As much as I would prefer to have a remanufactured/redesigned piano, the We-Need-A-New-D people might have a louder and more credible voice than mine.  If this be the case I’d love to think that we have a chance to have a really good piano.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Thanx!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">dave<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">__________________________</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Meadows</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> of the Arts<o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Southern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Methodist</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Dallas</SPAN></FONT></st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">TX</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">75275</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">dporritt@smu.edu</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>