The Soundboard bit.. RC&S

[Stéphane Collin]

Hi Ron.

My speculation was based on a small and simple experiment anyone could try 
at home (else I couldn't have done it).  Take a panel with no ribs, made in 
wood chosen for it's presumably good acoustic properties.  Do with the panel 
what they did to choose that wood : knock on it and hear how it sounds 
(average pitch, sustain, volume and, why not, subjective aesthetical value). 
Now, put the panel straight up, lean on it with all your weight (this asks a 
little practice to do safely) and again knock on it.  Hear again how it 
sounds (average pitch, sustain, volume and aesthetical value).  In my 
experiment, it was clear that the second version had more aesthetical value 
than the first one.

Now how this experiment relates to the real world of piano soundboard in 
situ, you will most certainly be much more able to tell with some 
pertinence, absolutely no doubt.  I'm just trying to understand.

Best regards.

Stéphane Collin.



snip

Until then, speculation without experience is of
little value in understanding how these things work.

snip

Through the years, I've built both high
compression rib crowned boards and low compression rib crowned
and supported boards, and the low compression RC&S boards give
every indication to me to be a much more efficient assembly.
If that were not the case, I'd still be building high
compression boards.
Ron N