M@H 'A' board

[Farrell]

"So I guess I could always just get a duplicated pre-crowned board from Bolduc..."

I have always wondered about a practice of "duplicating" a board. You can cut it out to the same size, you can make the ribs the same size and put them in the same positions. But how on earth are you going to duplicate the crown at each rib? This is critical! What was the crown originally? What method was used to attain that crown - dish pressed or not, flat ribs or machined ribs (and to what radii), dry board down to what moisture content to rely on how much compression crown? I should think that unless you know these things you will never "duplicate" a board. You will always be creating an original board - even if it looks a lot like the old board.

This is nearly the same as saying that two people the same height, weight, number and location of arms, legs, ears, nose, etc. are duplicates of one another. Obviously, not even close.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marcel Carey" <mcpiano@globetrotter.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 10, 2002 11:34 PM
Subject: RE: M@H 'A' board


> Thank you Jack.
> 
> The A in question is an X2. The serial # is 18953. The ribs in the treble
> are smaller and really closer to each others. This is why my original
> question came about. I appreciate your concern about the practice on less
> valuable piano, but now I own the thing and the board is out of the piano
> and will be replaced. The only thing remaining is will I just have it
> duplicated or will I change it? This is where you guys come in the picture.
> I'm not going to rush this thing, but I would like to make it at least as
> good as it was when originally built. So I guess I could always just get a
> duplicated pre-crowned board from Bolduc... or make it better or worse on my
> own...
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
> JWyatt1492@AOL.COM
>   Sent: 10 aout, 2002 21:38
>   To: pianotech@ptg.org
>   Subject: M@H 'A' board
> 
> 
> 
>   Marcel & Del,
> 
>      Del,  there was a Mason "A"  that had three
>   extra one half size ribs in the high treble.  The
>   last one that I replaced the board in I took out
>   the small ribs and replaced them with standard
>   size and number of ribs. It did not seem to make
>   any difference.  It was a player and I think that it
>   was  an  'A- 4'.
> 
>       I have an A-3  #21158 in my shop now.  It has
>   the standard number and size ribs.
> 
>        Marcel,  If you don't have much experience in
>   replacing  soundboards it may serve you well to
>   practice on a less valuable piano.  Also let us know
>   witch "A"  this one is.  You can find this number in
>   the left back of the plate.
> 
>   Regards to All,
>   Jack Wyatt
>