Rib grain orientation

[Ron Nossaman]

>Sure, but I was wondering if we shouldn't be choosing to cut it with the 
>rays vertical, if there is a choice, to gain the benefit of the slightly 
>higher modulus of elasticity along the line of the ray.

The difference I measured was well within any differences between 
identically sized samples cut from different planks. And that's just the 
differences in wood samples. Less than a half millimeter of rib depth, a 
slightly varying feathering, or even rounding off the bottom of the rib a 
slight bit more or less here and there will lose the difference in the 
background noise of manufacturing tolerances. That leaves the possible 
difference in creep rates under bending load, which I haven't found mention 
of in any technical literature. Of course, there's always the probability 
of some other tech sliding underneath, pointing, and saying 
"THATAIN'TRIGHT!". But there's always that, whatever you do.


>True, but ideally aren't we trying to achieve the highest panel stiffness 
>with the least weight?

To a point. Adding mass in the treble increases sustain, and too little 
mass up there makes for a lot of weird untunable noise. You've mentioned 
the difference in tone quality with a taller stiffer bridge, but it also 
had considerable added mass with the height increase. I can't say for sure 
to what degree each factor contributed to the improved tone, but I suspect 
both did.

Ron N