Ron, You Wrote, No, I'm still on the first one. I doubt the rest will never be addressed, but I'd still like an answer to this one. If I ever get it, we'll try the next. If the crowned bridge supports soundboard crown, as you said, This is what I originally said to Owen: "I am no scientist and I don't have a degree in engineering but it seems perfectly logical and consistent to machine the bottom of the bridge to more or less follow the crown created by the ribs. I would think this would add to the overall strength and durability of the whole soundboard. I don't know what it does to the tone but a soundboard that lasts longer will sound better longer." Ron, Please note I did not say "the crowned bridge supports soundboard crown" .Don't paint me into a corner by misrepresenting what I said. And you wrote further: why do so many Steinways (with crowned bridges) have negative soundboard crowns before they even get out of the showroom? There is a fundamental contradiction here I'm trying to get you to answer to. My answer: "We see these problems because of a lack of craftsmanship not necessarily because crowning the bridges doesn't work. I don't know if it really helps or not but if it doesn't help it is not necessarily an explanation for why the pianos made today have these problems. Your question is loaded with a contradiction. The reasoning of the your question is: Steinway Pianos have problems with negative crown. Steinway pianos have crowned bridges. So crowned bridges don't support crown." I am sorry but I am not biting on this hook any longer. John Hartman RPT John Hartman Pianos [link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015] Rebuilding Steinway and Mason & Hamlin Grand Pianos Since 1979 Piano Technicians Journal Journal Illustrator/Contributing Editor
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