There was a series of articles on soundboard construction in the Journal earlier this year by Del Fandrich. In one of them, Del addressed that issue, describing that the soundboard is not an amplifier but rather a transducer. I don't recall all the technicalities of the difference. Something to the effect that the soundboard (nor any other part of the piano) doesn't increase the amount of energy output (string vibration), but converts it to another form (soundboard vibration??) which is more efficient in propagating the sound vibration to your ears. I'm working off of memory here without the benefit of having finished my coffee, but it's something along those lines. -- Jerry Hunt Dallas, TX USA
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