heretical on soundboards

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Stephen Birkett wrote:
> 
>    Why are 180 year old unvarnished soundbaords still in perfect
>    condition while thickly varnished contemporary soundboards have an
>    expected life of perhaps 20 years?


Stephen,

First, I would question that any 180 year old soundboard is still in
"perfect" condition. We really have no idea what that soundboard was
like 180 years ago. Not even yours truely is that old yet, though
sometimes I feel like it.

Second, to compare the soundboard from a 180 year old instrument to one
found in a "modern" piano is to compare onions to garlic. They simply
aren't the same thing. No soundboard in a 180 year old instrument ever
had to stand up to the stresses common to modern soundboards. What would
have been the individual string tension in one of these scales? What
about the total scale tension found in one of these instruments? How
much downforce would have been typical? Etc.

Third, I seriously doubt that soundboards built 180 years ago were
bellied in the same manner as modern soundboards. How thick were they?
How much crown would have been typical to one of these boards? What was
their moisture content when they were ribbed? Nor is it likely that they
were ribbed in the same manner. How many ribs would have been used? What
was their shape? (Perhaps you could elaborate on the construction of
soundboards of that era. Please.) 

I still maintain that in a so-called "modern" piano, it is best to seal
the soundboard as well as possible from the elements surrounding it.

Regards,


ddfr