A golf club shaft has a more attractive appearance than a coating of plating and also achieves a rustproofing effect within the shaft, while avoiding the problem of an increase in weight and processing of effluents associated with plated shafts. A coordination relationship among requested sound volume values, actual result sound volume values and amplification factors is defined in a coordination relationship storage section. The seatback frame comprises a first side member having an upper end and a lower end, a second side member spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first side member and having an upper end and a lower end and a cross-member extending between the first and second side members. The rings also protect foil caps from damage. The stream flowing through the conversion stage is maintained at a temperature which sustains conversion of SO2 to SO3, without diluting the stream with a cooling fluid or diverting the stream outside the channel contained in the converter vessel. The control element is disposed within the valve body for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.