<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; = FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=843041814-10062005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>Careful, Dale. You're = about to become a fanatic.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=843041814-10062005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=843041814-10062005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3>Del</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left> <HR tabIndex=-1> <FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Erwinspiano@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> June 09, 2005 7:16 = AM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Steinway O = Redesign<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 = size=2> <DIV>   </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Dear Belly heads</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Some months ago I started a project = to answer a question about the parameters of the old S.S. O sound board design</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>    . I have always felt it's  = board design  deficient. It seemed that occasionally I'd find an old = well preserved one here in CA that really sounded quite good but = most , even under the best of circumstances had flat boards or just lifeless tone. The hazards of C. C. crowning aside, this narrow = design parameters & lack luster tone I surmise  is one reason = the model was changed in 1923  to the more successful square tail design of = the L.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>    The O I'm currently ushering = out the door this week has a redesigned board . I added a modest straight = cutoff bar. I also added an extra rib for more support in the treble so that in = the first capo section there are three ribs supporting the killer octave.  = These taller less wide ribs are also fanned into  the treble. There is = no more killer octave, no weak notes. It's strong & clear with so much pop = & power & wonderful sustain. All sustain freaks should welcome this.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  In the best pianos you & I have heard, = the tone floats & lingers with a great bloom . I am very pleased this board = design really makes the O sing with more power clarity & sustain than any = I've heard.. well except for maybe the Newer German O's </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  My brother Keith came into the shop & I = played one chord for him. He looked at me in amazement & said "it sounds = like the board is just completely free" A musician but he knows only what he = hears & nothing about soundboard design!</FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Truly gratifying. I hope the client = appreciates it as much as I do. If I can find the pictures I'll send done or = two.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  BTW this had a plate broken by Gorilla = bros. It was successfully repaired by the Loch-n- stich folks in Turlock CA. 15 = miles a way . Convenient yes?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>    Regards</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>