OK. But how does this compare with the electromechanical driver (essentially a heavy-duty loudspeaker driver) that Schimmel (I think) marketed for some time--perhaps it is still available?--that is basically the same thing as you describe? Except in this case the wood panel was left in the piano to continue functioning as a soundboard. These things were fitted to both vertical and grand pianos. As I recall, you could input a signal from your stereo, keyboard or whatever, to an onboard amplifier and use the soundboard as a speaker diaphragm. You could then play along with the orchestra and have the whole thing coming from your piano. As well, using your PianoDisc installation, you could block the hammers and feed the midi signal into the device and hear yourself play without any direct mechanical link between your fingers and the soundboard. It also sounds something like an idea someone at Baldwin experimented with for a time. The idea was to use a pickup of some kind on the bass bridge, amplify the signal and use it to excite an electomechanical driver attached to the soundboard. The basic concept was aimed at making a spinet sound like a concert grand by simply moving the soundboard a bit more. It didn't work, apparently, (at least not with the intended results--something about regenerative feedback!) and the idea was (mercifully) dropped. And how does it compare to the Yamaha loudspeakers of, perhaps, 20 or 30 years ago which were essentially small, composite piano soundboards hooked to an electromechanical driver, again much like a speaker driver on steroids. I'd like to see the patent claims on this 'new' development. Del ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phillip L Ford" <fordpiano@lycos.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: January 28, 2002 4:31 PM Subject: Re: Piano electric soundboard [Fwd: Re: just guitars?] > >> >-------- Original Message -------- > >> >Subject: Re: just guitars? > >> > Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 17:00:56 +0800 > >> > From: Petros Guitars <petros@petrosguitars.com> > >> > To: Greg Newell <gnewell@ameritech.net> > >> > > >> >This would work great for a piano. We hold the patent for that as well. > >> >One would probably need a bigger soundboard for a really big piano sound > >> >and we have not developed it as of yet. What we have now is ideal for > >> >guitars, mandolins, violins and possibly cellos. We use Sitka > >> >spruce. Thanks for the note. > >> > > >> >-- > >> >Sincerely, > >> >Bruce Petros > >> >
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