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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To those who delve into piano design =
(and loose
sleep over such things)......</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My understanding is that the bass/tenor =
area of the
typical modern grand piano soundboard poses a challenge from the design
standpoint because in pretty much the same location you want a very =
flexible
soundboard for the bass and a stiffer soundboard for the lower tenor. =
This
necessitates compromise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes - is that true?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wouldn't a straight-strung arrangement =
work better?
Seems to me that designing a piano with performance being the #1 =
criteria, a
straight strung (or parallel or whatever - you know what I mean) =
arrangement
would offer the designer the luxury of designing the soundboard to meet =
the
needs of the various sections of the string scale - and not having to =
make the
same area suit two different needs. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now keep in mind that I ask this =
question strictly
from the performance (musical) standpoint and not the standpoint of how =
well a
design might sell. I believe it is the case that one can design a piano =
with
longer bass strings for a given piano length with an overstrung design - =
if the
marketing department is put in charge of piano design. I'm talking about =
eliminating the marketing department and the accounting department and =
just
dealing with how to build the most acoustically pleasing piano. (I know, =
silly
idea.) Now rememeber - no marketing - we can make the case ANY shape we =
want (we
don't have to have a flat side on the bass side)!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Without having to concern yourself with =
factory
sales, would you rather design a straight-strung or overstrung piano? =
Which
approach give the designer more freedom to design an optimal =
piano?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks. Tomorrow in the shop will pivot =
on
this..... ;-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>FWIW: Seems to me that straight-strung =
offers
significant design benefits because each area of the string scale =
occupies a
unique area of the soundboard - and hence that area of the soundboard =
can be
designed to optimize the performance of that area of the string
scale.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry =
Farrell</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>