Hi Roger,

        The person who should really be answering your questions is Don
Dusenbury at PianoDisc.  However, I expect he will first ask you a
question: "Have you been through the PianoDisc Installation/Training
Seminar?"  I will assume (always dangerous!) that from the nature of your
questions you have not, otherwise I believe most of them would have been
answered.  Please do not interpret this as a flame!  Not everyone can take
the time to attend the seminar, and in fact, PianoDisc does not normally
offer the training to independent technicians who are not somehow
affiliated with a dealership which can offer the product for sale.  This
is not a hard and fast rule, however, and Don would be the one to ask about
attending.  (The ability to PURCHASE units is still reserved to bona fide
dealers.) Since you are so close to Sacramento (relatively speaking) I would
encourage to to take the seminar if at all possible.  You have to pay for
your transportation and lodging (they get special rates at a nearby
motel) but they give you GREAT lunches and the training is otherwise
free.

        One of the reasons for the current PianoDisc sales and artistic
success is that they DO control the installation process as tightly as they
do.  There are sound technical and business reasons for their policies.
They insure that installations are done by fully qualified personnel who
have the benefit of the latest techniques from the factory.  While the
installation is not that difficult, there are an almost limitless number of
subtle ways to screw it up, leaving the impression with the customer that
the product is at fault, not the installer.  Another VERY important policy
is that, in most cases, installation by anyone who has not been certified by
the factory voids all product warranties.  Put yourself in their management's
place for a moment and I think you will see the business wisdom in this
policy.

        Sorry, didn't mean for this to start sounding like a lecture!

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Good luck.  -John Grant¶
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