More CC vs RC questions was RE: Killer Octave & Pitch Raise

[Richard Brekne]

To begin with, you have to understand that there is not nearly as much 
understanding as to how piano sound is formed as one might get the 
impression from reading some of the posts here.  But it doesnt take much 
research, and precious little building expertise to constertate that 
known and recognized experts in the field do not agree on many 
fundamental issues. This is off course just as obviously reflected in 
the wide variety of pianos built and how the manufacturers go about 
building them. Recall the Bossie discussion of a few weeks back... I 
mean really.

That said... there are some things that have been measured, and in the 
isolated circumstances these measurements have been taken one observes 
certain rather consistent changes in SB behavior for certain structural 
changes made in the assembly.  If you read and re-read the five lectures 
till you have a good grasp of what is being said, get hold of a few 
books on the subject that are available, then most of what is actually 
<<known>> will become clear.  A good deal of that turns out to be more a 
matter of perspective then concrete knowledge.   Recall Robins posting 
of just a bit back.

So... does one soundboard produce stronger fundamental tones (from the 
strings) and weaker overtones then another ??  I'm not really sure that 
it works exactly this way....  The soundboard assembly has its own 
fundamental and overtone series.  The nodes for these partials are 
scattered about the assembly in identifiable patterns. Some manufactures 
actively identify these  and manipulate them through various techniques. 
The idea being to locate nodes in areas that cause the least problems 
for the job the SB is put to do.  The frequency and location of 
soundboard  partial nodes and anti nodes influence the sound of the 
piano to be sure... as do the end conditions for the soundboard, the 
nature of the casing... etc etc.  But none of this directly influences 
whether or not all the individual strings will have stronger 
fundamentals or not.  Whatever resonant frequencies are present in the 
soundboard will perhaps be accented to some degree or not.... depending 
on the location of their relevant nodes and their frequencies....  and a 
single string can easily be affected in this sense... but thats as far 
as it goes me thinks.

Cheers
RicB



So then, if I understand what you are saying, how do you (or anyone
else) imagine that the balance between the fundamental and partials
might be affected by CC versus RC&S?  Might the RC&S tend to produce a
stronger fundamental with weaker overtones?  

David Love
davidlovepianos@comcast.net <mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net>