Unstrung Soundboards

[Jim]

To Lorlin:

It is pretty difficult to tell if the plate is exactly where it was
before the new soundboard was installed.  This is why most good rebuild-
ers use various means to insure the plate is relocated exactly the same.
Just a little change at the pinblock fitting can make a big difference
back at the bridge.  One can't rely on the plate scew holes necessarily
to relocate the plate.  Was a new pinblock installed?  This would
leave lots of room for sharing the responsibility of the mismatch.

Unless a picture was taken of the plate bridge
clearance before and after, you don't even know if the plate was
touching before.  If that were the case, how was the soundboard man to
know that unless he had the complete piano in his shop before disassembly?
Can you give more details on the before and after? Who did what when?
One of the telltale signs of plate location error is that the strings do
not fit between the damper wires in the agraffe sections. How do I know?
Don't ask.

Perhaps some of the other soundboard specialists could share their ex-
periences of similar situations.

Jim Coleman, Sr.


On Tue, 5 Nov 1996, Lorlin D. Barber wrote:

> I have been called to inspect an incomplete rebuild job by the plaintiff of a
> lawsuit. The rebuilder-dealership (defendant) has had the soundboard of a
> small grand replaced by a reputable rebuilder about 4-6 years ago. No
> restringing has been done. The defendant claims that the soundboard was
> poorly installed, and that the apron of the bass bridge comes in contact with
> the plate.
> I suspect that without downbearing, an extreme crown can develop in an
> uncontrolled environment. Any experiences on this?
> Pleadingly yours,
>
> Lorlin B. RPT
>