<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> Here you hit the nail on the head David. BANG !! Square on it. I agree word for word with the following paragraph... one hundred percent. The thing is tho this has to be applied even handedly accross the board. Things go both ways. John Hartman responded to Ron Overs in a recent contribution to this general thread recently... read through this segment..   <blockquote>> This endemic problem of not making waves is killing the potential that > we have to move forward in our industry. I find it frustrating when I > hear comments from talented people who seem to be resistant to the idea > of progress unless it comes from one of the hallowed manufacturers. But Ron, I am making waves! Just that my waves say that we have been failing to meet the challenge of developing the craft and aesthetic understanding that is vital to getting the most out of the many fine pianos we technicians are likely to come across in our careers. If we would just do this many of the these engineering issues will fade into the background. If there is an "endemic problem" I think it is with putting science before art and craft.</blockquote> I couldnt aggree with John more. Its not the John Hartmans or the Robin Huffords who are telling the world not to do things their way. They are simply pointing out the bottle's been spinned around and is in reality pointing the other direction. At least thats how I see it. Let each and every one make their own pianos in their own way... and leave it at that. Share your views and your experiences in that effort.. but leave the rest out of it RicB   David Love wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>The practical point of this discussion is that when you have a piano in the shop--yours or someone else's-- you have a one time opportunity to adhere rigidly to the original design, or implement changes small or large to improve the performance of the instrument as you see it.  The more information you have, the better off you are to make an intelligent decision about what, if any, changes you will make.  That information will always have to be combined with a personal aesthetic choice that we may not agree on.  But just because we may not agree doesn't mean we shouldn't have the courage to make a choice.  Neither should we condemn those because they do or do not.  I hope that people can take the high road on this discussion and openly share their information and opinions.  Self-indulgent, verbose and insulting tirades are really not in keeping with the spirit of the list and the sharing of ideas for our mutual benefit. David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net</blockquote> -- Richard Brekne RPT, N.P.T.F. UiB, Bergen, Norway <A HREF="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A> <A HREF="http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html">http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html</A> <A HREF="http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html">http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html</A>  </html>