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<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000000>Peter,</FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=3></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT =
face=Arial><FONT
size=3></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial =
size=3>I built an
experimental piano once using a spruce soundboard, laminated to hold a =
small
crown and used no ribs. Admitidly the bridge was of a different =
type and
in a different position than standard, however, </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial =
size=3>The tone was
slightly hollow, the volume was down, but the sustain was
incredible. Ihave seen many old (1800s) piano with seemingly =
no
crown but still with a reasonably sound.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial =
size=3>I think the
answer is quite simple. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3>Energy. A given amount of energy (caused by the =
vibrating
string) will produce both volume and sustain. If the volume is =
increased
the sustain is decreased and vice versa. It is still the same =
amount of
energy being used.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial =
size=3>The other
factor is how much energy is lost by a soundboard being out of balance, =
or too
thick on the edges, or incorrectly mounted.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial =
size=3>Many pianists
loved the sound of my experimental piano but to me, it had the sound of =
another
instrument. Something inbetween the sound of a piano and a
harpsicord. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial =
size=3>Harpsicords
have no ribs and no crown, possibly this is the tie in that makes the =
piano
sound like a piano.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial =
size=3>Tony
Caught <A
href="mailto:caute@accessnt.com.au">caute@accessnt.com.au</A></FONT></F=
ONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=3><BR></FONT> </DIV></FONT>><BR>><A
href="mailto:KESTENS.P@DEBCOM.BE">KESTENS.P@DEBCOM.BE</A><BR>>BELGIU=
M<BR>>Antares
wrote:<BR>>As far as I know, he wanted to invent a substitute for =
wooden
soundboards.<BR>>So he had a factory make a "crystal" =
soundboard
with a crown and no ribs.<BR>>The sound was very =
poor....<BR>><BR>>I've
had a little conversation with this man and asked him about the
crown<BR>>of the crystal soundboard.<BR>>He answered me that the =
crystal
soundboard doesn't need any crown and that<BR>>the crown with wooden
soundboards is only there to opposite the downforce of<BR>>the bridge =
and the
strings.<BR>><BR>>A reaction =
please<BR>><BR>>Peter<BR></BODY></HTML>