<HTML> In a message dated 10/12/03 8:03:00 PM, RNossaman@cox.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE">>My question is th= en, does the actual shape and CURVATURE (crown) of the >soundboard contribute to its acoustic properties. To me, the implication= of >the above statements is that crown is not there to support downbearing. = What >say ye all? > >Regards >Alan Forsyth The crown is there because it's an easy way to add stiffness without adding<= BR> mass. A flat board that's still stiff enough can still sound pretty good.<BR= > </BLOCKQUOTE> Story & clark used to have those store demonstration 3-4 inch wide strip= s of soundboard with a tuning fork screwed to the middle and a tension rack = below. The fork was struck and then the rack engaged to produce varying amou= nts of crown in this little strip of board. Of course the tuning fork tone i= ncreased dramatically when crowned. Problem is, it's an awfully small footag= e of soundboard, is this really a reliable proof of crown producing amplific= ation (or at least good transmission) ? Glenn C.</HTML>