<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; =
-khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Dale,<DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Well, I do hope that I get =
to hear and play one of your guys pianos at some point. I am personally =
happy with the present piano design (though not necessarily the =
implementation!), as some are very beautiful. But based on Ron's =
recordings I am certain that the work you guys do is worthy of a wider =
audience - though not necessary for the purpose of replacing the =
existing pianos :) I know that business is complicated, but what I'd =
really like is for companies like Steinway to be more personal and put =
the same pride in their workmanship as you guys do. I've played newer =
Steinways and I'm usually not particularly impressed.</DIV><DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>- John</DIV><DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR><DIV><BLOCKQUOTE =
type="cite"><FONT id="role_document" face="Arial" color="#000000" =
size="2"><DIV> <FONT size="3"> <STRONG>Hi =
John</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size="3"><STRONG> Very astute =
thinking & probably partially accurate</STRONG></FONT></DIV> =
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size="3"> You wrote:</FONT></STRONG></DIV> =
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: =
blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" =
face="Arial" color="#000000"> </FONT><DIV><FONT =
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face="Arial" =
color="#000000"><FONT size="3">Something occurred to me though =
today when considering the re-working of instruments to use new =
designs. Many pianists who own an ageing instrument or problematic =
one are delighted when work is done to restore the tone. <U><STRONG>Is=
it not possible that the delight of the</STRONG> <STRONG>customers =
you guys do work for are perhaps delighted because of the quality of =
work you guys to the piano in general,</STRONG></U> <STRONG><U>rather =
than the changes =
themselves?</U></STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> =
<DIV> <STRONG><FONT size="3"> Well I certainly yes & =
no hopefully more. </FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT =
size="3"> Let's say your a wine expert guru & you've had =
some of the very best whatever & you've tried most everything. =
Then You have a buddy who says I know where you can get the best wine =
ever. It's made a different way... modern techniques plus secrets of the =
masters & it's better than any other. </FONT></STRONG></DIV> =
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size="3"> Certainly the power of suggestion =
is strong but when you are an aficionado you know. Now you taste the =
new wine & you realize it really is better than anything you've ever =
had. </FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT size="3"> It can =
be this way with tone too & many sensitive players have played many =
pianos & have formed a tonal opinion that they are accustomed to. =
</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT size="3"> Then they play =
one of ours or Ron's or Dels They hear something very unique. Something =
that accentuates the very best qualities of the best =
<EM><U>pianos</U></EM> they've heard.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> =
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size="3"> Do you think they care what you did. =
No they only Know what they hear & feel & it's all =
good.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; =
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"> <DIV><FONT =
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face="Arial" =
color="#000000"><FONT size="3">Even a properly prepped piano can =
have a big impact on someone used to non-prepped or poorly functioning =
pianos.</FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><STRONG> <FONT =
size="3">Of course, But some folks are not very astute or tonally =
sensitive which is why we have our share of hacks in our =
business.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; =
MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"> <DIV><FONT =
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face="Arial" =
color="#000000"><FONT size="3">Also, plenty of people are ecstatic =
to get their old Steinway rebuilt from the factory, to probably what =
is less quality in workmanship and parts than what their pianos were =
when new.</FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><STRONG> ahh yes =
but it's an authentic Steinway with all the magic Stwy =
parts</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG> =
Dale =
Erwin</STRONG></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>=