<html> <body> Thanks, Tom. Arkleycenter not arkelycenter! Shanme on you, Dale! :-D Avery At 11:07 AM 2/26/2007, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Eureka, you have found it, Dale. A fitting home for the magnificent D. And I found it at <a href="http://www.arkleycenter.com">www.arkleycenter.com</a> Tom Cole Fenton Murray wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Dale, I'm thrilled to hear the wonderful completion of your D's journey through your hands, I plan to visit it. Something's wrong with your link to the theatre. Fenton <dl> <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</a> <dd>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> <dd>Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 10:16 PM <dd>Subject: Custom-built pianos <dd>Ā  HiĀ  David <dd>Ā  Of course ,I'm beating that drum with you.Ā  I didn't see Dave PorrittsĀ post. Can some one e-mail it to me. <dd>Ā  Black Beauty....My D, did sell ....finally...for the figures mentioned but it was worth more than that in reality & in time these custom built pianos from a variety of small shops will (hopefully)have the kind of reputationĀ required to command higher prices than the mass produced one. <dd>Ā  I as David A. stated I did deliver the D to it's location at the Arkely center for the performing arts in Eureka Calif just yesterday.Ā Ā The CenterĀ is a 1920's theatre that has been meticulously restored & is a perfect acoustic location to enshrine this wonderful full voiced piano. <dd>Ā  After setting it up, those of usĀ there walked about the auditorium to hear how it spoke in the room. <dd>Ā  I was totally & completly gratified that, after the arduous restoration, sweat, tears & joy of experienced music in concerts & tedious /marketing that, IMHO, it's final acoustic destiny was worthy of the effort & will be a center piece of the musical performing community on the extreme Northern Calif coast for years to come. See <a href="http://www.ArkelyCenter.com/">www.</a> <a href="http://www.ArkelyCenter.com/">ArkelyCenter.com/</a> <dd>Ā  Thanks to all those, who upon hearing Black Beauty In Rochester,The Atelier & the 05 Sacramento Convention uttered Ā words of praise , encouragement & enthusiasm. <dd>Ā  Kindest regards <dd>Ā  Dale Erwin <dd>Ā  <dd>On Feb 23, 2007, at 4:42 AM, Porritt, David wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dl> <dd>This is the way of all the top instruments. Ā </blockquote> <dd>That's exactly right. Custom restoration, custom building. It's all in the quality and THEN THE MARKETING, which most artisans don't have a clue about, or are afraid to spend or don't have the money (they think) to spend on the crucial third leg of the stool--- <dd>1. excellent design & impeccable, stand-out capabilities to produce a super productĀ  <dd>2. reliable means of production <dd>Ā  3. effective marketing/branding.Ā  <dd>Lack of this last one, along with cash flow issues, kills most artisan efforts, or keeps them in the perceptual "doghouse" vis-a-vis not being a "serious player at the high end."Ā  <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dd>The top French horns, flutes, violins etc. are all made in very small shops.Ā  The fact that we now have a few pianos being made this way is progress.Ā  </blockquote> <dd>Yup. And I'm determined to build a brand and a desire for my and other artisans' truly hand-built custom pianos. <dd>I think the scoreboard proves it's possible: I've sold, in the past 6 months, a Mason & Hamlin concert grand for $78,000, a Steinway "C" for $66,000, and I'm about to sell my Hamburg "B" for $55,000---and I could sell it to this guy for $10K more if I hadn't put the $55K figure on my website and handouts---he flat fell in love with the instrument, and has been looking at "B's" between $65-75K; Dale Erwin sold the "D" I had for a while to a venue in northern California for at least $75 or 80K---so I think I can say with certitude that there's a market for our best work, and that that market can be found <dd>and served by artisan rebuilders.Ā  <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dd>The best factory made instruments of any type will never approach the small shop output in quality.Ā  Itā€™s just that in our history this phenomenon has excluded pianos.Ā  Now it doesnā€™t. </blockquote> <dd>Hooray. <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dd>dp </blockquote> <dd>David Andersen </dl> <dd>Ā  <dd>Ā  <dd>Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations <dd>4721 Parker rd <dd>Modesto, Ca. 95357 <dd>Shop 209-577-8397 <dd>Web site <a href="http://www.erwinspiano.com/">http://www.Erwinspiano.com</a> <dd>Restoration & Sales of <dd>Steinway & Sons & other fine pianos. <dd>" Soundboards by Design" <dd>AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at <a href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/1615326657x4311227241x4298082137/aol?redir=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaol%2Ecom"> AOL.com</a>. </dl></blockquote></blockquote></body> </html>