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<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hey Ric, maybe you'll enjoy this one more =
- it goes
even further - from the Bluthner web site:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>At the beginning of piano making the =
soundboard
consisted solely of a thin wooden board, stiffened with bars glued on =
the
underside and the bridges on the upper side. Further development was =
derived
from the soundboard of a violin with its spherical crown. However the =
soundboard
of a violin is made of a thick piece of wood being shaped by grinding, =
chipping
and sanding into its final form.</EM></FONT></P><FONT face=Arial =
size=2><EM>
</EM></FONT>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>A piano soundboard is made from a =
thin board
being bend by force into this form. This method however produces =
disadvantages
comparable to those which one will experience when you try to put a =
sheet of
paper atop a ball.</EM></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>Studies made by Bluthner research and =
development
department have proven that tensions and compressions develop on the =
edges that
are inhomogeneous and not controllable. In contrast, the soundboard that =
Bluthner has developed has a cylindrical curvature so that the tension =
of the
soundboard can be exactly defined. The ribs are planed to fit the =
curvature
needed and therefore the tension of the soundboard remains intact over =
the
decades. In fact, even under difficult climatic conditions the curvature =
will
remain in a constant form since not only the rib structure will hold it =
in place
but also the red beech inner rim is preformed to the correct angle to =
receive
and retain the soundboard's curve tension. Because the soundboard is
pre-stressed in this fashion it can be fitted exactly and <U>remain =
under curve
tension permanently.</U> The bridge, of course, is adapted to the =
tension and
curvature of the soundboard in its optimum position. This ensures that =
string
vibrations in their full spectrum are transferred to the soundboard. By
utilizing the resonating surface, the special design of the Bluthner =
soundboard
generates tone significantly better. </EM></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ok, new terms now. "Curve tension" - any =
engineers
out there? Look that up in your old Engineering 101 book. Cylindrical =
curvature?
The top of their inner rim in not more-or-less planar (and the few that =
put a
slight rise in the concave curved side doesn't count)? And somehow the =
angled
inner rim retains the soundboard's curve tension! Also, how does one go =
about
adapting a bridge to tension and curvature? The curvature I can roll =
with, but
the tension? Who/what is pulling where? Or maybe they are just pulling =
our
leg?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fun thoughts.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Richard Brekne" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: "Pianotech" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial =
size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 1:53
AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Re: Permanent Soundboard
Crown!</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Grin...<BR>> <BR>> Funny how =
we keep
running into this from so many places isnt it ? You <BR>> =
simply have
to wonder :)<BR>> <BR>> Cheers<BR>> RicB<BR>> <BR>> =
Farrell
wrote:<BR>> <BR>> > From the Kawai US web site - enjoy!<BR>> =
> <BR>> > *The Drying/Re-Moisturizing Process.* Kawai =
employs an
inventive <BR>> > method to create a permanent soundboard crown.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>SNIP</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>