>Sure, but I was wondering if we shouldn't be choosing to cut it with the >rays vertical, if there is a choice, to gain the benefit of the slightly >higher modulus of elasticity along the line of the ray. The difference I measured was well within any differences between identically sized samples cut from different planks. And that's just the differences in wood samples. Less than a half millimeter of rib depth, a slightly varying feathering, or even rounding off the bottom of the rib a slight bit more or less here and there will lose the difference in the background noise of manufacturing tolerances. That leaves the possible difference in creep rates under bending load, which I haven't found mention of in any technical literature. Of course, there's always the probability of some other tech sliding underneath, pointing, and saying "THATAIN'TRIGHT!". But there's always that, whatever you do. >True, but ideally aren't we trying to achieve the highest panel stiffness >with the least weight? To a point. Adding mass in the treble increases sustain, and too little mass up there makes for a lot of weird untunable noise. You've mentioned the difference in tone quality with a taller stiffer bridge, but it also had considerable added mass with the height increase. I can't say for sure to what degree each factor contributed to the improved tone, but I suspect both did. Ron N
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