At 14:32 18/08/01 -0500, Ron Nossaman wrote: > > Hi Ron-----I'm sure it is so. If not mahog. it's walnut.-----Best--Dale > >Erwin > >Sons of guns. Thanks John and Dale. Looks like I'll have to pay closer >attention. Concerning the material used for inner rim laminations, I wonder how critical it really is tonally. The inner rim, of course, has several functions -- 1) to provide an immovable surround the for the framing (back or Rast) into which the braces can be securely dovetailed, 2) to provide a solid medium into which the string-plate bolts can be screwed, 3) to add rigidity to the outer rim when this is glued on and 4) to provide, at its outer edges only, and in combination with the outer rim, a massive and solid frame for the soundboard. For this last function, 'hardness' of the material is probably not significant especially as the glue line will increase this, within reason (hemlock might make a difference!) but mass might have a tonal effect and mahogany, in spite of its 'softness' in comparison to beech or maple is actually significantly denser than either. Oak 0.625 g/cc Beech 0.69 g/cc (much used in Europe rather than maple) Maple 0.795 g/cc Ash 0.845 g/cc Mahogany 0.852 g/cc (Source: The Timber Merchant's Handbook) The old Erard grands had both inner and outer rim entirely of horizontal laminations of ash, which, besides its good density, is also very suitable for walking-sticks and bent rims. It is the tight structure of beech and maple that render them suitable for the uses we put them to rather than their actual density. JD
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