Laminated Soundboard Blues

[David Love]

Aren't Ron Overs' pianos made with a laminated soundboard?  Perhaps I am
wrong but I thought that was the case.   I'd have to say from my limited
exposure to his piano in Reno, the sound was not in the least
compromised.

David Love
davidlovepianos@comcast.net 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Richard Brekne
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 11:11 AM
To: Newtonburg
Subject: re: Laminated Soundboard Blues

Terry:

I would have to agree with the fellow on this point... at least with 
what he is essentially saying.  But then I do not for a moment by into 
the idea that you can create the exact same acoustical results with any 
assortment of soundboard assembly procedures.  Some will have it you can

simply take crate board, process it into the required dimensions, rib it

any way you want... and end up with a piano that sounds <<just like>> 
any particular instrument one wants to mention.

My own ears tell me this is obviously not the case. Indeed, 
argumentation on the subject by advocates of this line of thinking often

go towards pointing at acoustical  differences (given some attribute of 
a weakness) when touting the virtues of their own design philosophies.  
One obviously can not have it both ways I am sure we would all agree.  
Either there are hearable / performance / functional differences... or 
there are not.

In the case of laminated soundboards... I have to date to hear one I 
thought was more then minimally acceptable from a performance instrument

perspective.  That by no means says I do not believe a decent soundboard

can be achieved using laminants... it just says I've yet to run into
one. 

Cheers
RicB



> "Take two crystal glasses. You flick the first glass with your finger
and it 'binggggs' forever, 
> that's what I would refer to as a solid, wooden soundboard. Then you
take the other glass, 
> and it looks pretty,but when you flick it it goes 'plunk' and there is
no ring ... that is like
> a laminated soundboard."

> Arrrrrggggggggggg.

> Terry Farrell


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