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<DIV><FONT size=3> Dear Belly heads</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Some months ago I started a project to answ=
er a
question about the parameters of the old S.S. O sound board design</FONT></D=
IV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> . I have always felt it's board=
design deficient. It seemed that occasionally I'd find an old well
preserved one here in CA that really sounded quite good but most , even=
under the best of circumstances had flat boards or just lifeless tone. =
The
hazards of C. C. crowning aside, this narrow design parameters & la=
ck
luster tone I surmise is one reason the model was changed in 1923=
to the more successful square tail design of the L.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The O I'm currently ushering out the =
door
this week has a redesigned board . I added a modest straight cutoff bar=
. I
also added an extra rib for more support in the treble so that in the first =
capo
section there are three ribs supporting the killer octave. These talle=
r
less wide ribs are also fanned into the treble. There is no more kille=
r
octave, no weak notes. It's strong & clear with so much pop & power
& wonderful sustain. All sustain freaks should welcome this.</FONT></DIV=
>
<DIV><FONT size=3> In the best pianos you & I have heard, the to=
ne
floats & lingers with a great bloom . I am very pleased this board desig=
n
really makes the O sing with more power clarity & sustain than any I've
heard.. well except for maybe the Newer German O's </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> My brother Keith came into the shop & I playe=
d one
chord for him. He looked at me in amazement & said "it sounds like the b=
oard
is just completely free" A musician but he knows only what he hears &
nothing about soundboard design!</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Truly gratifying. I hope the client appreciates i=
t as
much as I do. If I can find the pictures I'll send done or two.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> BTW this had a plate broken by Gorilla bros.=
It
was successfully repaired by the Loch-n- stich folks in Turlock CA. 15 miles=
a
way . Convenient yes?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>