<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV><STRONG>In a message dated 1/24/2008 6:20:02 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, juderev@verizon.net writes:</STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2> </DIV> <DIV>Jude:<BR></DIV></FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ahh, so I can't have my cake and eat it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Still, doesn't an RC&S panel experience similar high compression loads when it's humid out also leading to the accelerated aging.<STRONG><EM> <FONT size=3><U>I hear what you're saying about wood, but if we're going to be consistent, why should there be accelerated aging on any type of panel if it's kept in a relatively stabile environment</U>.</FONT></EM></STRONG><FONT size=3> </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><EM><FONT size=3><U>  </U> </FONT><FONT size=2><STRONG>HI Jude</STRONG></FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  Maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick again........</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>The truth is there isn't much aging and when climates are moderated so aging happens over such along time it doesn't matter. The performance of all mechanical devices diminishes with age & use. It's a piano after all.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>    I think the practical question that needs to be asked is.....</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>   How long should a piano have to last to be deemed enjoyable by us here on the list & elsewhere.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>  </STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG> I give this case in point.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG></STRONG></EM> </DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG> I restored a Stwy German C for a composer pianist.  It has lived in the coastal climates of Calif for 103 years now. It was here long before heating & air conditioning.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>  </STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG> I was called to restore it.  The piano has dramatically healthy crown measured with a string test even in the trebles.  Unheard of  by me.... No bearing in the killer & not much elswhere. The panel shows about 14 faint  dark hairline anomalies.  Nothing open. Nothing looking really crushed. Average humidity 55 to 65 %.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>  </STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>  The complaint is the sound of the piano doesn't go anywhere.  As this thread has made clear.... crown with no bearing is like a car with no gas in the tank.  It doesn't go anywhere. Short story is ......The plate was lowered, the killer bridge cap replaced & made taller. Cracks in my dry climate opened only slightly.  Filled with epoxy. New action/everything &  Voila the piano is magic again. </STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>   It happens & out here we've seen it sooo many times. SO with moderate environments aging decelerates...(just like humans) & so many pianos will survive well and make great music. </EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>    </EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>Don't get me wrong,  I've enjoyed Making a variety of different style sound boards & I've learned much here but I don't have any agenda except quality</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>   I see it this way if the piano sounds good & is making music & we like it ....will we like less if we know that it's made such & so?</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>   Nahhhhhh!.</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  Dale</EM></STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG></FONT> </DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Who's never won? <A title="http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548" href="http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548" target="_blank">Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>