Hello Del, Hope you are well. Since we last talked early this year I have continued to think about laminate soundboards. The cumbersome burden of making a living continues to impede my progress however. In talking with you, reading, researching and thinking, I have come to the conclusion that before I can develop a different soundboard a thorough understanding of the current type of soundboard design is necessary. I am currently working on a M&H BB that was rebuilt by someone else with a new board and bridge cap on the original root and a c-8 speaking length of 40mm. The bridge was in no way close to its original position and I will be replacing the bridge cap and soundboard. I have always used the original board to define the design of the new board; likewise I have always used the original speaking lengths to define the scale. I believe that this method, while somewhat safe and consistent in my experience, is not ideal despite moderate improvements through rib crowning, addition of wound strings on the treble bridge wire gauge changes, ect. Additionally this piano in its already modified state provided no reliable information other than rib placement. I am however concerned about redesigning the board, rib set and scale with out a clearer understanding of what the hell I am doing. I am hoping that I might call on you again for some consulting. I would like to have a better understanding of log scaling and soundboard mechanics so that I can confidently make judicious changes to this M&H BB. Working with the scale has raised many questions (like: it this right?). I would very much like to do all of the evaluations and calculations myself but would at the very least need guidance in interpreting the results. I have already determined a location for the original bridge root based on the plate design and the known speaking lengths of notes 88 and 21. Based on this placement I have attempted to create a semi-log scale on the original bridge cap. I have a basic knowledge of scaling and can see that this semi log scale produces results that are not comparable to other scales that I have worked with. So I can see differences, some more marked than others, but I do not understand what effect these differences will make in the piano. If you are agreeable, I would like to send along the data I've compiled and phone you at your convenience after you've received it. Thanks very much Joe Perkinson dolce Piano Decatur, Ga 30030 404-310-5939
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