<html> <body> Ryan, I am glad to know that Ed is still working and busy.  I think that, overall, his concepts have good foundations; and that he, perhaps, extrapolates things a bit too far.  What I have heard and seen, I have generally liked - as you note, fine overall workmanship.  At the same time, I cannot help wondering about all the energy that we all seem to be so willing to put into making an instrument "perfect", when that concept, let alone the physical realities of the piano itself, preclude perfection. Hmmm...well, anyway, I would hate to see Ed's ideas/concepts arbitrarily tossed out.  He has a lot of good things to say; and the book is, overall, very well written.  It's sort of like riding a train.  Just because you're on the right track doesn't mean you have to go all the way to town. Best. Horace P.S. - How's the weather in Olympia?  It's been hovering just below 90 here....those of us with a bit too much mass are quietly whimpering... At 07:35 PM 8/27/2004, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Oh yes, he is still busy educating pianos in the Seattle area. He had the performing art center (Benaroya Hall) gig for a while a couple of years ago. I had a chance to play the D that he had educated for them. I remember liking the piano, however the administration decided the piano need to be re-educated so they hired Doug Wood, last I heard, to bring it back to the realm of normalcy, I imagine. I'm sure some of the Seattle techs are more up to date on all that.   I've also played a couple of his rebuilds in his shop in south Seattle. He also occasionally brings one of his pianos to a regional conference.   His instruments definitely have their peculiar character: Some thinks its great others can't stand it. I appreciate his excellent workmanship but I'm not sure its my cup of tea. David's Email <ilvey@sbcglobal.net> wrote: <dl> <dd>So Ryan, how many of Ed's pianos have you run into?   I haven't seen a one in the Bay Area.  I suppose the North Coast has a few...?  Does Ed still do this sort of thing?   <dd>  <dd>David I. <dd>  </dl> Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter Pianova Piano Service Olympia, WA Do you Yahoo!? <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/aac/*http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail/static/ease.html">Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete</a> - You start. We finish. </blockquote></body> </html>