<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I discovered a couple interesting = tidbits today on the web site of a well-known NY piano manufacturer.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The ribs (which I understand to be = flat) on the soundboard "<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>assure strong and = constant support of string down-bearing on the soundboard.<FONT face=Arial>" = <FONT size=2>Interesting for a rib that doesn't even support its own = panel-induced curvature.</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But I guess here is how soundboard = crown is maintained: "<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Rib ends are = hand-fitted into their mounting surfaces virtually locking in the important soundboard crown.<FONT face=Arial size=2>" I suppose a "mounting surface" is = the notch? And this somehow "locks in" crown? Are they suggesting that the bottom of = the notches are angled upward toward the bridge and the rib is glued to this = perfectly fitted angled notch so that the rib forms a curvature? Is that = what's going on here?</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry = Farrell</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>