<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>Pierre said: "<FONT size=+0>A small Erard Square from 1804 that I?ve been restoring this year (with the</FONT> <DIV><FONT size=+0>original sound board) has a nice tone and a long sustain."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Hmmm? Because these instruments have a very low tension, the "tone" will be "nice" to your ear, IMO. Define "a long sustain",please. Most instruments of that period had little or no sustain, in my experience.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>"It is a verry small soundboard and the string pressure moved the board</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>downward causing a dip around the bridge."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>That is definately a "failure" of the wood. Especially, since those instruments had/have little or no downbearing to begin with, in my experience. The 1805 Clementi, that I care for, has a much worse soundboard scenario....it is buckled in the "killer octave" area. It has almost zero sustain and is pretty "thumpy". Definately  failure of wood structure, IMO.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>"Except for this the piano was remarquably well preserved (wich is not often</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>the case) and I suppose for that reason that the is still good enough to</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>produce a good sound. (the piano is tuned at 390 hz)"</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Again: Hmmmm? I'm curious why you are tuning this instrument @ 390cps? For that time, in Paris, (which was the mecca for Erard), most pitches were in the 400cps to 443cps range? I would have chosen 425cps as a pitch that would put the instrument close to it's designed pitch/tone and yet not overstress the structure too much. What you are hearing @ 390cps is NOT the true sound of the instrument, IMO.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Regards,</FONT></STRONG></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Joseph Garrett, R.P.T.</DIV> <DIV>Captain, Tool Police</DIV> <DIV>Squares R I</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>