<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=UTF-8 http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charse= t=utf-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1276" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 2/1/2004 11:38:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, fordpian= o@earthlink.net writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue = 2px solid"> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Arial>If the crowned board is not getting stiffer a= s it<BR>deflects down, then a flat board would be just as stiff as a crowned= <BR>board.  So, the reason for the crown would not be 'stiffness'.</FON= T><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#= 000040>Phil</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#= 000040 size=+1><B>>> But I think it is getting stiffer.</B></FONT></= BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#= 000040 size=+1><B>     Dale</B></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Well, you've done it many times, so your opinion means more than mine.&= nbsp; <STRONG><U>But if it</U></STRONG> <U><STRONG>is getting stiffer I'd li= ke to know why.  Have you tried the same thing with an initially flat b= oard?</STRONG></U>  Did it get stiffer as you wedged it down?  Was= the increase in stiffness comparable to a crowned board?  If so, then = why bother with the crown?  I think it's time for some measurements.&nb= sp; I guess I'm going to have to do some deflection vs. load measurements on= a few pianos.  Another thing to put on the list of things to do.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Phil</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4><STRONG> P= hil</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> &= nbsp;  Me too. It's getting stiffer because of a sum total of the compo= nent forces that exists in the system.  Some compression, the stiffness= of the crowned or uncrowned rib, mass of the ribs,the stiffness  cause= d by  laminating grain angles at right angles (plywood) & the whole= system anchored to the case, thickness of the soundboard & Backscale le= ngths as Ron Mentioned.  I think this is as close as I can come.</FONT>= </STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> T= ypically  flat boards don't get stiffer unless your putting tensio= n against the ribs & then it's going into a reverse crown mode.  In=  some case this may not really be a bad thing ie uprights.You= know my thoughts about reverse crowned boards, but that,s another story.&nb= sp;My Mason AA for example is stiff without much crown or bearing it also ha= s longer backscale lengths. You heard it</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4>  = What kind of measurements?</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> &= nbsp; Dale</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040>    = </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>