<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4611.1300" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT: 10pt = verdana; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV><SPAN class=270560320-06102001><FONT face=Arial size=3>Hi Dale,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=270560320-06102001><FONT face=Arial size=3>Do you = have an email address for Rick?  This sounds great.  I'd like to put this = info in the Journal.  Maybe Rick would like to write it up, or perhaps you would????  I'll contact him and see if he is ready to make this public.  </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=270560320-06102001><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=270560320-06102001><FONT face=Arial size=3>jeannie</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT = face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> = owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>BEATRIX ERWIN<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, October 04, 2001 7:55 PM<BR><B>To:</B> = pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Spruce Chase/New Sitka supplier<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV>  List</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    In Dec. I  entered a posting on the topic = of looking for a Sitka spruce /soundboard panel source. As I = really like working with Sitka and have had excellent tonal results I was = anxious to find either raw wood or ready to work panels. Rick Wheeler of Roseland = Piano company , The guy who makes new key sets), and I have talked = extensively about finding a reliable source of wood and or producing = panels ourselves.</DIV> <DIV> As it turns out those conversations have motivated Rick = ,who has the knowledge ,expertise and facility to produce boards, to commit to = a new Premium sound board making enterprise.  </DIV> <DIV>     He has been working with the wood broker = for the former Stein & Volk /Sound Woods soundboard panel supplier in = McCall Idaho. The Wood broker  has been able to locate adequate sources = of Sitka & Engelman Spruce as well as a Sitka cross breed.</DIV> <DIV>   Production will start soon.  Rick says the = quality of the premium Sitka will knock your eyes out. My previous experience = with panels from the now defunct Sound Woods Co.  were by far the finest = example of Sitka boards I have ever witnessed.</DIV> <DIV>   Ricks goal is to provide premium quality boards to independent technicians. He is currently working on perfecting his = tongue and groove assembly techniques for production as opposed to the standard = butt joint configuration. This joinery technique increase the strength and durability of the panels and resists compression swelling around = the glue joints which as  you know is where most of the cell damage occurs = in soundboards exposed to excess humidity over time. Rick is also a piano = tech./ rebuilder himself and knows what the guys in the trade want. What a relief.</DIV> <DIV>   It's always great for our business to have new suppliers including soundboard suppliers as there aren't that = many of them.</DIV> <DIV>  If any are interested in placing an order Call Rick at 1-503-654-1888 in Milwaukee ,Oregon.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>     Best----Dale Erwin<BR><BR></DIV> <P> <HR> <FONT face=Arial size=2>Incoming mail is certified Virus = Free.<BR>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (<A = href="http://www.grisoft.com">www.grisoft.com</A>). <BR>Version: 6.0.281 / Virus Database: 149 - Release Date: 9/18/2001<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML> <P><HR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Outgoing mail is certified Virus = Free.<BR> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (<A = HREF="http://www.grisoft.com">www.grisoft.com</A>). <BR>Version: 6.0.281 / Virus Database: 149 - Release Date: 9/18/2001<BR> <BR></FONT>