The Soundboard bit.. was Steinways / David Andersen

[Farrell]

I think one of the big differences between the design/manufacture of a 
Yamaha soundboard vs. a S&S soundboard is that the S&S utilizes flat ribs, 
whereas - I think - I'm pretty sure - but I could be wrong - Yamaha uses 
curved ribs cut to some radius. I think most other manufacturers also use 
curved ribs - but I am definitely not up on who uses what. Are there any 
other manufacturers that use flat ribs?

I believe that a soundboard built with curved ribs will tend to maintain 
some crown even after significant compression set has occurred in the panel, 
whereas the flat-ribbed soundboard has only the panel to support any crown - 
once the panel gets squarshed enough, the thing goes flat.

So I guess you could call a S&S board a pure compression-crowned soundboard 
and something like a Yamaha soundboard (if, of course, I am correct about 
their general soundboard manufacturing methods) as having compression and 
rib supported crown.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
> Get over it.  I don't think we're all saying that only S&S boards are 
> [bad] or whatever.  I think the main point here remains that a company 
> that claims to be the best in the world, should be producing a top quality 
> product. Their soundboards are not.  Neither are their actions, for that 
> matter.  So if it confuses the issue for you to think that S&S pianos have 
> problems with soundboards in addition to other problems, I think that is 
> for you to reconcile, not the list.
>
> Interesting, though that you point out:
>
> "Now why only Steinways... who are a bit more moderate then some in how 
> much they dry out their panels then some to begin with....."
>
> Do you think that the fact that their boards are not dried as much could 
> contribute to problems?
>
> Best,
> William R. Monroe
>
>
>> You see... this just doesn't wash.  How can this be explained ?  Yamaha 
>> dries out their boards to a 4.5 %. I have that straight from the mouth of 
>> the head of the soundboard department in Hamamatsu whilst I was at the 
>> Academy.  Ok... so maybe he lied to me ???   Steingræber gets them as dry 
>> as he possibly can. Schimmel experimented with RC boards didnt like them 
>> and when back to CC boards also drying them severely. One can go on and 
>> on with companies who build boards this way.  Now why only  Steinways... 
>> who are a bit more moderate then some in how much they dry out their 
>> panels then some to begin with,  can experience soundboard problems 
>> relating to the CC board in general and yet one nearly never hears this 
>> criticism directed at any of these other companies.... well until I hear 
>> a satisfactory explanation I just have to remain very much in doubt.
>>
>> Cheers
>> RicB