Soundboards

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message -----
From: <ANRPiano@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: April 19, 2000 10:14 PM
Subject: Soundboards


> If my memory serves me correctly, Del mentioned laminate soundboards as a
> theoretically intriguing area some time ago in a Journal article.  Also
(if
> memory will serve me twice in one night) Mr. Birkett once said something
to
> the effect that a soundboard could be made out of nearly any material if
the
> maker knew what they were doing.

Aside from the obvious resistance to cracking, buckling, etc., there are
some other potential advantages to the laminated panel as a soundboard.

Its mechanical characteristics are considerably more predictable.  They can
be tailored specifically to the task at hand.  One of the drawbacks to solid
spruce or pine is that the mechanical characteristics vary so much with
grain.  That is the reason for all that ribbing.  To attempt to more or less
compensate for the flexibility of spruce across grain.

In terms of piano soundboards there are some really interesting things that
can be done by the creative designer.

Yes.  I am in favor of laminated panels for use as piano soundboards.  There
only real drawback is the bad rap they have received because of the rather
stupid way they have been used in the past.  Manufacturers have used them
strictly to save money which means that they have been used in the cheapest
way possible.  Yes, they generally sounded pretty bad in this use.  But
these pianos would have sounded just as bad with any other soundboard
material or style.  Cheap pianos are just that.  The manufacturer didn't try
to save money on just the soundboard.  The whole package suffered.

They also paid the price of manufacturers not understanding how pianos work.
I once encountered a situation in which the manufacture had a bunch of
pianos in which the ribs were contacting the back posts.  But only with the
pianos using laminated soundboards.  It seemed they wouldn't crown properly.
Now these folks used flat ribs and standard spruce panels in other pianos of
the same basic style.  They dried the boards down to nothing and slapped
those ribs on, pressed them in moderately crowned cauls and -- bang -- they
ended up with crown.  Now, they treated the laminated soundboards exactly
the same way.  They dried them down to nothing ....  But, they didn't crown
and now one could figure out why.  When they stuck a plate on there and
loaded them with what turned out to be way too much string bearing it was
enough to push the soundboard back until the ribs hit the back posts.
There, by the way, is the reverse crown someone else was talking about.

Anyway.  With the proper design and engineering and with even the most
elementary quality and production controls, laminated panels will make
excellent soundboards.

Del