<HTML>In a message dated 8/7/2002 5:35:26 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mcpiano@globetrotter.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Subj:Mason&Hamlin A board replacement Date:8/7/2002 5:35:26 PM Pacific Daylight Time From:<A HREF="mailto:mcpiano@globetrotter.net">mcpiano@globetrotter.net</A> Reply-to:<A HREF="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> To:<A HREF="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> Sent from the Internet            Marcel</BLOCKQUOTE>         It would be simple enough to discard the apron and move the bass bridge forward as far as the plate will allow  which would allow the backscale length some improvement. Yes, the bass strings would be a bit shorter but you'd gain back scale length. The mono chord section which needs it most desperately.      On one of the two As I did last year I did what I call a partial float at the end of the tenor bridge which was done by drawing a line from one end of the maple cap piece on the board to the other end, installing a small rib on the bottom underneath the line and a thin maple strip over it on the top for a little reinforcing. I made the cut after the auxiliary ribs were on.      As clarification the piece I'm referring to is the maple piece at the tail of the piano that sits on top of the board and is screwed into the rim. That piece IMO is there because there is a good deal of bending strain required to get the tail to sit down on the rim there at glue in and this is their insurance it won't surprise them.     Any way the modification allowed this area to be free of that strain and the improvement in the bass, even though I did not change the bass bridge config. was very noticeable in the sustain and overall sonority of the bass. On the next one I'll add about 4 bi-chords to the bottom of the tenor or add a supplemental bridge and move the bass bridge forward    On the other A I used the same materials, ribbing, but no float. I liked the sounds of the floated board better, the sustain through out was greater.     I'm not advocating any one do this but just sharing my own journey. I'm sure there are other ideas and methods that have more merit "floating" around in cyber space.       Dale Erwin    <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> Hi! I've just taken out the board of the above mentioned piano. It's the first time I see a board that was so well glued and screwed down. Would it be better to float the bass end of this particular model? And isn't the ribbing a little too stiff in the treble? To me there are a lot of ribs in the treble. Would I just be looking for trouble if I were to try to improve it? And if I did, I surely would like to have some previous experience feedback from some of you PLEASE. Marcel Carey, RPT 2852 Dussault Rock Forest  QC J1N 2V6 (819) 564-0447 mcpiano@globetrotter.net </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>