<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>What type of system do you use to = loosen various glues, i.e., hide, aliphatic resin, that soundboards are glued = on with?  I’m trying to loosen a soundboard/hitchpin rail on a = harpsichord.  And I am serious...no monk jokes or trivial = patter...<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Joy!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Elwood<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Elwood Doss, Jr., = RPT</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Piano Technician/Technical = Director</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Department of = Music</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>145 Fine Arts = Building</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The <st1:place = w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName = w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> at Martin</span></font><font color=navy><span = style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font = size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:navy'>Martin</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State w:st="on">TN</st1:State>  <st1:PostalCode = w:st="on">38238</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>731/881-1852</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>FAX: = 731/881-7415</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>HOME: = 731/587-5700</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font = size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </span></font></div> <p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font = size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Calin = Tantareanu [mailto:calin.tantareanu@gmx.net] <br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Sunday, August 28, = 2005 4:29 AM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Pianotech<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: Soundboard = Removal</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>Calin said: "</span></font>In that case, I = =<br> would say preserving as much of the original substance as possible is = =<br> the priority. You don't want to turn it into a modern piano, but make it = =<br> sound the was it was supposed to in the 1850's."<o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Calin,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'>First I would have to take MAJOR exception with your comment, in = your previous post, that Americans don't have respect for Tradition! Many do = not, but a large percentage of Technicians, that I've met and talked with, = DO! I for one have such "Respect". However, in this post you say it will = sound like it did when it was built, ONLY if you use the original sound board. = To that I say B.S.!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> </blockquote> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Joe, first of all you make a = confusion, I didn't make the comments about American respect for tradition. That = another person, check the previous e-mails.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>And I didn't mean to say it will = sound the way it did ONLY with the original soundboard. I meant it is good to preserve the original substance (if possible and reasonable - that is, = not damaged beyond repair) because it is a historical instrument. I think in = such cases it is more important to preserve the original work and = materials.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>If one wants to really have it = sound like new, just make a copy of it, carefully measuring the original and using = the same materials. You would probably get quite = close.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I really don't approve of = discarding soundboards from historically significant instruments. That doesn't = include the average Steinway, Bechstein or whatever piano made in the last 100 = years or so, there are hundreds of those out there, which can be modified = without any concerns for destroying historically significant instruments. But a very = early piano is a different thing, which needs to be preserved, not = modernized.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Imagine one would put a new = soundboard and make a new string scale for an original Cristofori piano... what would = that be?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>That's how I see = things.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'>I just finished a complete Restoration of an 1867 Chickering, = 8', flat strung Grand. If I had used the original board, it would have sounded = like crap!!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Although, I'm sure, that originally the piano sounded as it does = now, with a new board and judicious scale improvements that HAVE to be done, = as our current supply of bass string supplies do not allow an "exact" replacement. Also, If I'm going to go to all that trouble, why the hell = would I want to put the "assembly line" screw ups back in the piano? = The end result, I am sure, for the Chickering is a slightly improved end result = than the original, but not to the point of destroying the essence of what the original intent/sound was. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> </blockquote> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Well, slightly improved is not = original. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do that, Just that it's not as it was originally any more.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I would probably do the same with = most pianos, except a few which have some significance and deserve to be kept unchanged.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'>This same thinking is now prevelant regarding the "restoration" of Steinways. It's crap and Steinway knows it, = but they persist with this: "if it doesn't have all original Steinway parts = than it isn't a Steinway" garbage. I'm old enough to know what a new = steinway sounded like when it was new, back 4 decades. It sure as hell didn't = sound like the #%%^^* CRAP that is touted as the "Heritage" line they = espouse to!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> </blockquote> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Now you are straying quite far from = the subject. I don't buy the "original parts" thing either, since Steinway doesn't make all the parts, but buys them from Renner and other makers.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Too often Technicians think that the original maker knew what he = was doing and achieved his end goal, on every piano he manufactured! = Hogwash!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'>If the board is shot, in terms of the cellular structure of the = wood, it's SHOT! It needs to be replaced. Whether a tech chooses to do it the = way the original maker did, OR make the end product capable of lasting Longer = and sounding Better, than the original, than so be it. I, for one, chose to = TRY to maintain the original INTENT of the maker, if that is possible, but I = sure as hell am not going to waste my time REPRODUCING mistakes and = crap!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> </blockquote> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Your approach works for most = pianos. But remember that in some instruments (and just a few) it is better to = preserve whatever mistake the maker made. Because it's more important for people = to be able to experience them in their original = state.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Regards,</span></font><o:p></o:p></p= > </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> Calin Tantareanu<br> ----------------------------------------------------<br>  <a href="http://calin.1L.com">http://calin.1L.com</a><br> ----------------------------------------------------</span></font><o:p></= o:p></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>