Hi Anne Would you say that in general soundboards from pre 1880 were made without the use of compression... i.e. not drying out the boards enough before attaching the ribs to induce more then very very moderate compression levels ? cheers RicB I regularly work with pianos that are well over 100 to 200 years old with their original soundboards, and the boards are just are still "alive". I'm just starting a late 19th century 8'6" Viennese piano that is in original condition and will still knock your socks off. The only ones I find which die are very late 19th and 20th century pianos with soundboards installed with "tight" crowns, particularly compressed crowns. AA
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