Hey.. I can buy that way of putting things every time. An expression of personal preference is an honest and straightforward statement that demands respect IMB. Given the respect I have for yours (and others on the list) capabilities, that kind of statement wheys in pretty heavy in my mind. Comparisons on an equal playing ground with others is as good a way as we have at getting a concensus about <<how good>> the instruments are, and I am afraid we are limited by that. Got to thinking about this racing car analogy, and since you bring it up as well... consider this. Guys who rebuild stock cars for the specialized use of various kinds of sporting events... from demolition races to Indy cars to monster trucks.... they dont spend a lot of time hacking away verbally at one or another manufacturer do they ? They get on with it. On the other hand... lots of times the manufacturers are standing their right behind some of these guys giving them all kinds of degrees of freedom for the promotional affect of having their name on the wining car.... There is a thought somewhere in there applicable to pianos me thinks. Imagine a different kind of piano competition... not about the pianists... but about the piano. Stock Bosendorfer with special modifications by Erwin, The Overs 225 in a Samick case with a modified Samick plate, A Farrel double cuttoff TI vibramassive Fazioli, and a Trichord eliminator D+ by Nossaman.... played at four successive concerts at Carnage Hall in da Bronx by the 4 best pianists in the world. Prize... 1 million USD to be dealt up according to points given by the 4 pianists. The New York Open ... or something like that. Heck.... with the right hype its a sure hit ! Might even get some interest pumped back into the piano world. Well,,,, as I said in my last... its fun to dream anyways Cheers RicB ------- Ric Ok throw out better, but how bout I enjoy the musical expression of this Custom Restored beauty over the other. Perhaps an A- B comparison of your favorite music played on a really good stock D Stwy piano sitting next to a Nossaman , Fandrich , Overs, Erwin or whoever re-designed it , Stwy D, would allow for a fair but subjective comparison. Better is just an opinion after all but it should be based on features, quality of construction & most of all performance enhancement of the whole Beast. Custom stuff usually takes a product out of the realm of hype & into the realm of folks who are willing to prove it at the starting gate. They don't race horses/cars/boats etc for nothing Know what I mean? Dale Erwin
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