<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=windows-1250"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2604" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT face=Arial>Lot of chatter = today about this. Here's my 2 cents:</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT face=Arial>Mapes does a = fine job, I've sent a lot of money to #1 Wire Mill Road. They make Steinway's "genuine, = original" strings. They are set up for high speed and mass production. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT face=Arial>But having = talked with several custom string makers and techs who redesign scales I've come to believe this:</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT face=Arial>If you (and = your customer) are going to go to the trouble and expense of redesigning/rebuilding/rescaling fine pianos, why skimp on strings? The = custom makers can use different copper wire density = (softness/hardness?) and wind it much more slowly, checking each string carefully, and offering = experienced advice. Herein you can also develop a working relationship with the = actual guy running the machine, perhaps.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT face=Arial>Is there any = part of a piano more important when comparing a living room family picture holder = to a fine musical instrument? Didn't Steinway formerly make their = own strings, and techs thought better of them then?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=984181320-08042005><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. = Barnard</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN = class=984181320-08042005>As always ...</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT><SPAN class=984181320-08042005></SPAN><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=984181320-08042005>Ready, = Willing, and Able to be Wrong in </SPAN>Salem, MO</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>--<BR> No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.5 - Release Date: = 04/07/2005<BR> </FONT> </P>