[CAUT] soundboard crack

[Ted Sambell]

I am astounded to learn that a 'reputable rebuild shop' considers it normal 
for a new pinblock to 'drop'. Over a long period I have seen the problem 
several times in rebuilt Steinways. The pinblock does not drop, it bows 
downward . The reason is that the new block has not been glued to the 
stretcher (which Steinway calls the cornice). Steinway plates are lighter 
than most other makes, and will bow under the tension load of the strings, 
so it is essential that new pinblocks be installed as they were originally. 
If one is evaluating a Steinway grand for a client ,this should be checked 
with a thicknees gauge or palette knife, and the pianoo  rejected if the 
pinblock is not glued. Gluing also adds greatly to the integrity of the 
overall structure of the piano.As for the soundbaord, it is easy to tell if 
it is original. Just look at it from below. It is almost impossible to 
re-varnish an old board. on the underside, and many good looking sounboards 
from above are anything but from underneath.

Ted Sambell
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Debra Feiger" <debra_feiger at yahoo.com>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 6:36 PM
Subject: [CAUT] soundboard crack


>I have a private client with a Steinway M, from the
> late 20s, rebuilt by a reputable rebuild shop in NYC
> less than two years ago.  I do not know if they put in
> a new soundboard or it is the original.  I am in the
> process of finding that out.  The piano has a Roland
> quiet time system installed and I installed a dampp
> chaser system Jan 2005.  I have subsequently moved to
> San Diego, but still return to NY periodically to
> service some of my clients.  I went to tune this piano
> (it had been 5 months) and also do some minor
> regulation.  It was more out of tune than it should
> have been and when I went to push the action back in,
> it wouldn't clear the pinblock.  I called the rebuild
> shop and they said that the pinblock to be planed and
> that it was common for a pinblock to 'drop' a bit.
> I've not experienced that yet in my 4 years as a tech.
> I didn't have the tools with me to do the repair, and
> was concerned that I might damage the quiet time unit.
>  They sent another technician to my client a few days
> later.  He handled the pinblock repair, but there was
> a loud buzz and he identified a crack in the
> soundboard.  I didn't see (or hear) it, but from
> talking with the client it seems to be running
> parallel to one of the ribs.  The rebuilder/owner was
> going to go out to look at the piano, but is instead
> sending another technician (experienced with
> soundboard repairs) and he seems certain that a rib is
> separated.  I didn't look under the piano to see if
> this was the case or not.
>
> Here are my questions - Is it possible that a
> combination of the heat from the Quiet time system and
> perhaps the dehumidifier rods from the Dampp Chaser
> system could have helped cause the crack?  I have been
> wondering since I started installing the DC systems,
> whether the heat generated could do damage?   Also,
> what type of warranty should the rebuilder offer if,
> even after the soundboard is shimmed and the rib
> repaired, the soundboard continues to deteriorate?
> Thanks for  your collective thoughts and experience.
>
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