Killer Octave CC & CC&R

[Andrew and Rebeca Anderson]

Ric,
We've been enjoying a Sauter here.  I hadn't looked into soundboard 
construction methodology.  Would your description coincide with 
Compression Crowned and Rib supported--CC&R?
It has been my understanding that the loss of sustain in the fifth 
and sixth octaves of Steinway pianos (New York I haven't worked with 
Hamburg) is due to inadequate support of the belly-rail (secondary) 
and inadequate rib support of the soundboard/bridge assembly in that 
particular area (primary) of the piano.  Does that coincide with your 
experience?  I haven't encountered and old Sauter yet to see how 
gracefully it ages...

Andrew Anderson


At 02:14 AM 11/20/2006, you wrote:

>Hi Andrew
>
>I have a number of newer Sauters under my care and can agree 100 % 
>with your assesment below. With regard to the killer octave bit 
>tho... it should be noted that Sauter uses a CC board through and 
>through.  They try and get their panels down as low a 4 %  before 
>glueing on curved ribs according to the information I have.
>
>The Omega 7' is a particularly nice piano.  Bostons kind of remind 
>me of them... tho not really in the same class of quality.
>
>Cheers
>RicB
>
>
>
>Ed and others,
>
>Alternate bridge capping is being done by a number of 
>builders.  Some are using boxwood to cap bridges in the 
>treble.  Sauter uses two cross laminations of ebony in the two upper 
>treble breaks for the Omega 7' and  concert grands.  The Sauter 
>concert grand can be heard on their website.
>
>Those of us accustomed to fighting with the S&S killer octave(s) 
>will enjoy how this piano really sings through all of the treble.
>
>Andrew Anderson