Thanks guys for all the great questions. I am not certain about how much time John and I will speak tomorrow morning, but I will try to get answers to many of these questions, some of them are quite interesting.
As some may have noticed, I've trimmed the fat in this thread. Frankly, I believe some people may be oblivious to the fact that Grado is one of the oldest hifi manufacturers in the world. Moreover, although Joe Grado has been inducted into the Audio Hall of Fame for things such as the invention of the moving coil cartridge among a myriad of other things all of which are patented, it was John Grado who resurrected a nearly dead company. Joe passed on the torch to John, but what once was a torch was more akin to a nearly burnt out horse-hair of a wick on a stub of a candle. With a renowned name and a solid history of products, it was John that reinvented Grado and projected the company into the realm it rests in today.
John has on numerous occasions opened up the doors to Grado Labs in Brooklyn for Head-fi Meets! In fact, he was the very first manufacturer to do so, and I believe the only one who has done so repeatedly. (maybe Wadia also? Can't recall)
John Grado is not just another manufacturer and this interview is not meant as anything other than gleaning some insight into the Grado products, the man behind the company and the musical goals he is trying to achieve.
That said, I'm not going to attempt to embarrass him, or myself in the process, by questioning comfort, style etc. These have all been discussed ad nausium with him before, either in the hi-fi press or privately from customers or would-have-been customers. Nor will I be so bold as to venture into anything financial, from his distribution policies to the pricing of his line-up.
I'm not Barbara Walters (thank God) nor am I even remotely interested in digging up any dirt if there is any to be found.
I have removed all questions that I felt went against the nature of this interview as I see it, if anyone feels they were somehow slighted by my deletion, sorry folks, it is how I feel and if I were on the other end of any of those questions or comments, my reaction would be less than pleasant. Moreover, if John Grado does read these forums (which is a good question btw) then how would it seem to him, such q's being asked in a thread regarding a favour, a courtesy he is extending to me and essentially the membership at large?
Grado Labs has contact information on their site, folks here are easily capable of contacting him and trying to get answers to their questions.
I have to work late tomorrow night, so I doubt I will have the interview up until Friday afternoon or so, but let me tell you, as excited as some or all of you are to read this, I'm even more excited to talk to the guy.
Cheers.