evaluating sdbd. crown & bridge downbearings in a new piano

[Pianogreig@AOL.COM]

I'd appreciate feedback from experienced techs regarding the measuring and
evaluating of soundboard crown and bridge downbearings as well as the 
importance
of these readings along with the impact of factory hammer voicing on the 
quality
of tonal production on a new high quality instrument.

Yesterday I examined, while a client played, 6-7 new & "slu" $52K  pianos in 
NYC.
I measured crown with a thread adjacent to the longest rib & bridge bearings 
with
a Lowell bubble gauge.  Of the 2 best sounding (treble sustain, singing 
quality and
sonority) one had very "positive" measurements while the other a nearly flat 
board
with a slight rise toward the treble side.  The "positive" one had obviously 
been 
voiced more brightly while the second one projected beautifully with less 
brilliance.

I'm also curious as to the long range effects of what appear to be "pressure 
ridges" -
the client even noticed these and asked me about them.

Bruce Greig, RPT