Sounds all very reasonable... but I still have not heard yet a better instrument than the so called Magnificent Steinway (or other beautiful make). But again, nevertheless, If I ever hear a substitute just as impressive I will bow deeply. Untill then. Friendly greetings from, Antares >Andy wrote: >> ...It is just the fact that IMHO, piano design >> as been about the same for 80 years and the builders has become rather >> stagnant. >> >I would say longer than this and *completely* rather than "rather" stagnant. > >There is absolutely no reason to continue to use spruce for soundboards, >or wood at all. The soundboard is only a simple membrane whose >acoustic-mechanical parameters determine its behaviour. Suitable >parameters could be duplicated in many different materials. The problem >with new materials is the expense and effort entailed in R&D to make them >work. What happens is a manufacturer either: (a) invests next to nothing, >rushes in half-cocked, and shoots themselves in the foot by producing >something woefully inadequate (cf teflon bush.) OR (b) invests nothing and >sticks to "tried-and-true" spruce panels, with an absurd definition of >"quality" wood that is "necessary" for a high-quality soundboard. Next to >nothing is certainly worse than nothing here, but even (b) is stupid and >pure sales-gibberish with no technical basis - almost any wood can be made >into a high-quality soundboard, certainly even the shittiest spruce. For >most of the century the industry rode on a wave crest and could afford to >do nothing. This ingrained attitude is the source of the stagnation you >mentioned and will probably eventually cause the demise of the industry >unless someone comes to their senses soon. > >Stephen > >Stephen Birkett Fortepianos >Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos >464 Winchester Drive >Waterloo, Ontario >Canada N2T 1K5 >tel: 519-885-2228 >email: birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca > >
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