<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Ron wrote</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> <FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Maybe assumptions are being made that aren't the case. The <BR>boards I'm building, and the boards Del's building too (from <BR>his descriptions), aren't stiffer than new CC boards, except <BR>possibly in the treble. A new and well made CC board is <BR>overall stiffer ( <U>has a higher spring rate under full bearing <BR>load) than the boards I'm building.</U> </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><STRONG>Ok, stiffer from the git go & a steady reduction of resistance over time also changing it's impedance</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> But my boards have a <BR>spring rate higher than the failed, cumulative compression <BR>damaged CC boards with the killer octave problems.  <U>Lacking <BR>significant panel compression, my boards don't have the steep <BR>progressive spring rate of both CC, and RC with panel support <BR>boards, like you're building.<BR></U><BR>Is that any better?</FONT></DIV> <DIV>  Ron N</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>  Yes but Define steep progressive spring rate.  I assume we're  talking non linear </STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG>  </STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG>       Yes and perhaps assumptions are being made in my case too.  I've been ribbing at about 6% lately so my evolutionary process continues. At what point is panel compression a virtual non factor any way?  I find my overall Crown compression to be  a bit more in the tenor area than in the treble and  I've measured  2.5 to 3 mm residual crown in the killer octave lately & I continue to monitor this. I think variable amounts of rib radius designs are getting pretty common so were likely to  document more similar results.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG>  I'm typically using the Ronsen Wurzen or Steinway hammers with a medium density feel to the felt when I needle.  Anyway hammer stiffness is another cool way to bench mark belly assembly stiffness.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG>  Dale</STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR><BR></FONT> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>