<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> I’ve come across a couple of uprights, owned = locally by the public school district, that are new Schumann’s.  This = is the U 822 model, Serial #HHA01131.  As I’ve gone in to tune, = I’ve noticed that both have had bass strings broken and repaired, roughly in = the same area.  One of them is missing an F2 string.  I’m = guessing that these bass strings were broken in the move, or = delivery.   I’ll order another to replace it with, but = I’m curious if 1) this has been an issue that has come up before with the = Schumann, 2) who now makes this critter, and 3) where are they manufactured?  = By looking at the felts, cabinet, and hammers, my guess is that it is a = fairly recent model, within the past 8-10 years.    My primary vocation is as a music minister in a = church, and I’ve only been tuning ‘on the side’ for about 9 or 10 = months, although I’ve played for 30 years.    Any advice or insight would be greatly = appreciated.   Monty Nichols </div> </body> </html>