<HTML>In a message dated 10/4/0= 2 1:34:34 PM Central Daylight Time, collin.s@skynet.be writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-= LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Hi list. May I ask all of you this simple question ? How long (following your experience) does it take to a newly restored pi= ano (soundboard shimmed, new strings, new hammers), before it reveals it's f= ull musical potential ? Immediately ? 1 week ? 1 month ? 1 year and much playing ? 5 years and lots of hanging round ? Thanks Stéphane Collin. </BLOCKQUOTE> A rebuilt piano is like a new pair of shoes. I bought a pair of shoes on= ce which didn't quite feel the way I wanted them. The salesmen said they wil= l adjust to my feet, and then feel great. They got a little more comfortable= , but I tried for two year to get them to feel good, and they never did. I think it's the same way with a rebuilt piano. If it doesn't sound the = way it's supposed to when you get done rebuilding it, then it never will. Th= is is presuming the piano has been tuned about 6 or 7 times, the action has = been regulated, and the hammers have been voiced. It also doesn't take into = consideration that over the next 5 years, the hammers will adjust to playing= , and will sound different. Whether that different sound is better or not de= pends on what you, or someone else, defines as "better." So to answer your question, I would have to say immediately. Wim </HTML>