<HTML>In a message dated 6/13/03 7:55:35 AM Central Daylight= Time, pjx2@runpoint.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Hello list, I just finished looking at an old upright for a friend and decided to try to= get some answers to this question:  At what point do old pianos become<= BR> dangerous?  I seem to remember hearing that the structure of a piano co= uld become compromised to such an extent that it could actually "blow up"  = under the weight of the string tension.  What can one look for to determine i= f old pianos are structurally sound?  This upright had a huge break in the so= und board.  The crack extended at a 45 degree angle the entire range of the= sound board and was over 1/2 inch wide at the most. I am not sure what role<= BR> the sound board plays in the stability of the structure of the piano, but<BR= > would love to hear your ideas.  I appreciate all your wisdom...thanks i= n advance. </BLOCKQUOTE> First of all, please sign your name, even if it's just your first name, so w= e know how to address you. To answer your question, a crack in the soundboard is not going to cause a p= iano to "blow up." It's the plate that would need to crack for the piano to = blow up. And then only if the screws are taken off with the strings still at= full tension. There is, however, the problem of structural integrity. If there are too man= y cracks in the soundboard, if the plate screws are loose, if the bridges ar= e cracked, if the case parts are unglued, then you won't have a solid struct= ure for the piano to stay in tune. Wim </HTML>