soundboard troubles

[Farrell]

I KNOW I am not qualified to provide a complete answer to your questions,
but here goes because no one else has posted a response. The first question
is should we replace or rebuild the soundboard. If you want it like new, for
sure, replace it (doesn't really matter about the cracks - it's 80 years
old!). If the client would rather not replace it if not completely
necessary, then if it had some crown AND it is not warped, consider
rebuilding it. Make sure to check for a wavy/warped soundboard. Do the
string test under the soundboard and look very closely in the area of the
bridges. Sometimes a soundboard with "crown" will be sunk/inverted in the
area of the bridges.

If you have a good shape AND the board is not falling out of the piano (glue
joints appear adequate), AND the owner isn't interested in making the piano
as good or better than new, rebuild it. Big cracks and separation at the
cracks is the rule rather than the exception. I use the Spurloc system for
routing out the crack. Go as wide as you need. Don't hesitate to go REAL
wide if needed. After routing, use little clamping boats (I'll email you
pictures if you want) to reglue the edges that have separated from the ribs.
Glue in shims. Walla! Amazing things you can do to an old soundboard.

My info is that an A.B.Chase is a good to very good quality piano. If the
owner wants to make the piano really nice, REPLACE the soundboard. AND I
highly recommend rescaling and installing PREMIUM bass strings. I use
Sanderson AccuString for both and would not consider using anyone else.

Brian Trout is in PA, has done a number of soundboards, and will be real
honest with you. You might want to chat with him.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
To: "Pianotech, forum" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 3:10 AM
Subject: soundboard troubles


> Greetings folks,
>     I need the advice of you treasured people who are so kind to find
> the time to teach those clueless people like myself.
>     I took in a piano for a customer who was having a property of theirs
> demolished and needed to get the piano out in a hurry. She is having and
> A.B.Chase (early 20's vintage) refinished, restrung, and action
> overhauled for her family. I have had this piano in my home for about
> three months acting as a big surface upon which to gather many many
> useless items. I recently was preparing to begin the restringing process
> and took down the tension on all the strings and removed the bass
> strings. I plan to have Newton redesign the scale for this while ,
> hopefully teaching me how to do it for future piano I may inflict my
> talents upon. Since I took down the tension about a week ago I found
> something rather startling. What began as one very shim able but not yet
> seperated crack in the board has now become 6 or more two of which have
> separated from the ribs at spots and are wide enough to see daylight
> through. I would call the main crack to be about thick enough to slip a
> thin guitar pick through. This particular one has the wood being uneven
> on both side of the crack indicating it's separation from the ribs.
> Naturally this big one is right through the center of the board.
>     I'd like the opinion of this list as to whether these cracks can or
> should be repaired or is it time for another board? I've never left
> tension off a piano for this long before. Did I do a no no? If it is
> your opinion that a new board and bridges are necessary then how would
> you go about telling the customer of this added cost? Do you know anyone
> in the Cleveland, OH area of perhaps PA area that you can recommend to
> install a new board and do a job I could be proud to offer? Are there
> any pitfalls along the way I should look out for? What could I expect to
> pay for a board and bridges?
>     I've only subcontracted once before and I got bit really bad that
> time so I'm really gun shy. Thank you for the time and effort to
> respond. I hope the coming days, months, and years bring you all
> continued growth and prosperity.
>
> Greg
>
> --
> Greg Newell
> Greg's Piano Forté
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>
>
>