I'd second the recommendation of Marinoni for a good value in a semi-custom frame in the classic spirit. I've been riding a Marinoni squadra (Columbus SLX) for three years now, and they recently did a lovely job repainting a 70s vintage Falcon I sent them. I think there's a big price difference between a Marinoni and a true custom from someone like Richard Sachs, and that difference has to be reflected in both the fit and the attention to one's individual riding style. I still yearn for a Sachs, an Ericson, a Bohemian or a Columbine. But with the Canadian dollar as low as it is, a Marinoni frame is an astonishing value for a U.S. customer. And of course there's Mariposa and Ryffranck if an American buyer wants the benefit of the exchange rate and the free-trade agreement AND a true custom.
Ron Cooley
Saskatoon Canada