>Just a question regarding piano design/construction. I thought a soundboard >should idealy be fit snug to the outer rim. Are not Steinways built like >that? How else can the "sound be reflected back into the soundboard" if the >soundboard is not snug against the outer rim? Do you think that in cases >where there is a gap between the soundboard edge and outer rim, the gad >should be filled? Just curious. I hear of this "sound reflected back" thing >and wonder if some of that may be just bunk. Thanks for any thoughts. > >Terry Farrell Well, I'd prefer "energy" reflected back, rather than "sound", because sound is the result, not the medium. As to this energy reflection being dependent on the panel contacting the outer rim exactly, then what's the inner rim to panel glue joint for? If any measurable energy is leaking away as a result of the panel not contacting the outer rim anywhere, then it's because the panel's not glued down properly to the inner rim, in which case there are going to be a few other somewhat less than minor tonal problems to deal with. In practice, I haven't seen any evidence that it makes a smidgeon of a hoot of difference. Total contact, a thousandth of an inch gap, or a quarter inch, are going to sound the same because the impedance sink of the inner rim begins at the inner edge of the rim, where the glue welds the panel to the rim. Any gap resulting from a less than perfect fit to the outer rim can be filled, as a cosmetic concern, but I haven't seen any hint of it's being detrimental to sound production. The mass and stiffness of the inner rim, however, is much more critical and receives much less attention. Ron N
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