thanks for the advice on the rims/drilling. i like the 32 holes/more options bit
re: the masi, i found it on cl santa barbara of all places. it's a custom built frame, but the guy i'm getting it from is not the guy who had it built.
he doesn't know a whole bunch about it other than that it's lugged and was built in the early 80's, so i'm guessing it was built in california.
but for $300 i figured it'd be hard to go wrong.