<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.3700.6699" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello list,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am slowly getting ready to restore an = old (1896 as it turns out) Bluthner 6'3'' grand. </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I will most probably float the = soundboard in the deep base. I won't need to glue new ribs and there are none in the far = corner that would interfere. I will probably also replace the board (and ribs) = as it has collapsed and I am wondering just how long should this float = (cut/rip) should be. What are the criteria involved in deciding on the length of = the cut? How do factors such as thickness of the board, distance of bass bridge = to rim come into play here?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Another question I have been wondering = about is whether anyone has ever floated the soundboard at the high treble end, = along the short side, perpendicularly to the end of the bridge. What are the = likely results of such an experiment. Btw the treble end float idea is just = theoretical curiosity.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Can someone with experience in this = matter share a few thoughts ?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks,</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peace,</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jean-Jacques Granas</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Warsaw, Poland</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>