<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3059" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Bob,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I'm not sure I can answer your questions fully, but maybe I can pacify you a bit until Del chimes in.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Below is a picture of another Del redesigned soundboard that will get the loose foot with stiffeners (1890s 6' 4" Knabe). High grain angles also, as is typical with his designs.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT><IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="cid:007501c7744a$ef182f50$0501a8c0@DESKTOP" align=baseline border=0></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Below is a Del Fandrich redesigned Baldwin M belly. This is a real soundboard mounted on a faux rim that I bring to conventions and display at my boot in the vendors hall. I use it to show some of the unique design elements in Del's work and how I build them. This display unit very clearly shows the loose foot design (installed to rim, but no plate in the way). The foot is cut free right along the rim.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="cid:007601c7744a$ef182f50$0501a8c0@DESKTOP" align=baseline border=0></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>On the backside, you can see the cut-free foot and the additional stiffener on the bottom of the panel. You can see how rib #1 defines the loose-foot cut.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="cid:007701c7744a$ef1aa050$0501a8c0@DESKTOP" align=baseline border=0></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I think I can answer the float fairly accurately. The cut-free panel obviously frees up the soundboard's motion in that area. The stiffener simply keeps the bass area of the soundboard vibrating in a unified manner. If I'm not mistaken, he also finds that the added mass helps the bass vibrate in a more beneficial manner. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Have no doubt - let's hear from Del before you go to the bank with my definition.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>With the grain angle, I don't know much more about it than you. I think Del feels that increasing the angle in the treble enhances the treble tone and increasing the angle in the bass works against the bass - it's a trade-off. However, he feels that it is easier, and the designer has more options to make a good bass section, and it is more difficult and you have less options to enhance treble performance. So he feels that the trade-off to enhance the treble, and help the bass in other ways (loose foot, no cantilever, long back scales, etc.) provides an optimal solution.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Again, don't go to the bank with my comments.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>As to how the grain angle change actually causes the results, I don't really know. I think it makes the treble stiffer - and thus you can make the treble stiffer without adding mass (like panel thickness). But that is really just a wild guess.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Del?  (How badly have I stuck my foot in my mouth?)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hope this is interesting anyway.....</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Farrell Piano</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><A href="http://www.farrellpiano.com">www.farrellpiano.com</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message -----  <BR>> It looks like the grain angle on your board is really<BR>> different than the original.  If it is, how do you<BR>> determine what grain angle to use?<BR>> <BR>> Why do you float the end of the soundboard (isn't this<BR>> for more flexibility?) and then you turn around and<BR>> add a veneer to stiffen it and add impedence?  These<BR>> seem antithetical.  What am I misunderstanding?<BR>> <BR>> Bob Hull</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>