<html> I have some recordings of Cyprien Katsaris playing Liszt transcriptions of the Beethoven Symphonies on a Mark Allen concert grand.  The recorded sound is bright but very good.  Big, powerful sound. Bob Johannesen at Ronsen Hammers used to sell hammers to Mark, and Bob told me that apparently Mark would literally submerge them in lacquer in order to get the type of sound he wanted.  Low weight, low density hammers with lots of densifying. Don Mannino RPT At 06:50 PM 1/4/2002 -0500, Christopher D. Purdy wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>   This may be pure gossip, but I remember my friend telling me that he was supported by a Scientology institute and they had  parted ways.     I too had wondered what happened to him and his pianos.</blockquote> That makes sense actually.  The record album that I quoted liner notes from in my post was recorded at the Delphi school in Oregon. That is, or was, a scientologist school and Chick Corea is a follower of L. Ron and his merry gang.  The back of the cover also has a small picture of Chick playing the piano.  The only thing about the piano you can tell from the picture is that the name "Mark Allen" is written in huge letters on the treble side.  Probably twice or three times as large as Steinway ever dared. chris -- -Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.  -School of Music, Ohio University -Athens, OH  45701              -<a href="mailto:purdy@ohio.edu%A0" eudora="autourl">mailto:purdy@ohio.edu </a> -(740) 593-1656 office  -(740) 593-1429 fax</blockquote></html>