soundboards

[Terry]

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The short answer is because of other factors such as the board losing =
its crown. Ribs can flatten and loose their crown (if they had any =
originally). The panel may be under quite a bit of compressive force =
that crushes wood fibers - depending on the soundboard design, that may =
cause a loss of crown. Violins do not see the kind of panel compression =
that many pianos experience.

Also, one may wish to alter the design of the original belly. In that =
case, the condition of the original soundboard might not be a =
controlling factor in the decision to replace a soundboard.

I don't think a soundboard ever "needs" to be replaced. It all depends =
on what the goals are for the piano. What is it you "want" to do?

I'd say more, but I gotta get out to the shop and cut up some Sitka for =
a new panel!

Terry Farrell

www.farrellpiano.com
  List,
      I would like to start a thread about soundboards. =20

      Many technicians replace soundboards, when the soundboard is =
'dead'.  Is it because the wood is 'dead' and will no longer amplify the =
sound, or is it because of other factors such as the board losing its =
crown, etc? =20

      Where I'm going with this is that I find it interesting that piano =
technicians are changing soundboards regularly, if that is their area of =
specialty.  Contrarily, violinists seem to be wanting older instruments =
because wood sounds better over time.  If the wood sounded that much =
better over time, and a soundboard was still intact, wouldn't people be =
begging for the old klunker pianos and rebuilding them as opposed to =
replacing the soundboards?  These two ideas are seemingly contrary.  In =
saying this, I do acknowledge that pianos are far more mechanical than =
violins and I realize that there are other factors in a piano such as =
worn out actions, pin blocks, split boards, hammers, dampers, separated =
ribs and the like.  I also acknowledge that some older pianos were never =
great piano, even in their day, and will never be made to play like a =
quality vintage piano. =20

      My point is to determine if these soundboards really need to be =
replaced?  If they do, is it because the wood has gone dead over time, =
or because of external factors such as splitting or separation have =
forced it to need replacement, were the wood in the board itself may =
still be good?  I don't hear violinists replacing tops because they have =
become dead.  They seem to be wantign them older and older.  Am I =
missing something?  =20

      I would welcome any viewpoints on the subject, especially from =
those who replace boards.

  thanks

  Ron Shiflet


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