floating the soundboard

[Farrell]

Hi Dean,

Are you replacing the soundboard? Or are you considering this as a retro-fit? A traditional rib position will likely give you a some trouble. A fanned rib array where the tail-most rib is approximately parallel to the belly rail lends itself much better to floating the bass.

With a traditional design (compression board) I would also be very concerned about panel support. In a RC&S board, a well-placed and dimensioned rib is down there at the tail to do it's job. On a compression board you don't have that.

I'm not saying to not do it, but rather that there are a lot of things to consider. When RC&S belly designers design a piano belly, they consider the entire system - string scaling, rim shape, ribs, everything. I suspect it is often difficult to pick one feature out of a modern RC&S design and apply it to a traditional compression board successfully.

Food for thought......

Not trying to burst anyone's bubble!

If you try it, let us know more details and how things work out. Maybe it has more chance of success than I might think.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dean May 
  To: 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:07 PM
  Subject: floating the soundboard


  I have a small grand in the shop now I'd like to experiment with floating the soundboard at the bass end. I don't see much in the archives. Were there any Journal articles on it? I'm particularly needing info on adding appropriate stiffeners at the cut edge.

   

  Many thanks

   

  Dean

  Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

  PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

  Terre Haute IN  47802

   
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