<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=UTF-8 http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charse= t=utf-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2730.1700" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 10/23/2003 11:19:33 AM Pacific Daylight Time, michae= l@gambles.fsnet.co.uk writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue = 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>Hello RicB<BR>It would be very important to se= t down the criteria for measurement of<BR>soundboards. That must be the star= ting point. If everyone who wants to<BR>partake in this research takes all t= he stipulated points for measurements<BR>then there might be some realistic = steps taken. Be sure to make the names of<BR>these points international!..;-= )<BR>Regards<BR>Michael G (UK)<BR>----- </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040>    = <FONT size=3><STRONG>Michael, Ric Glenn</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> &= nbsp; Well, Michael, I don't know if you'd call it research. List you p= roposed on measuring things & observations are really probably alre= ady outlined in the journal & are just some of the measurements all soun= dboard installers use. </STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = I.E. Measuring string heights, Plate height, bass & treble 88, mark the = front corner of the plate & measure the distance fore & aft in mm to= the case side. These locate the plate. Note any odd things about the bridge= s. I.E. inadequate side bearings, strings not going straight to the hitch pi= ns, funky notching angels you don't wish to duplicate. Measure down to the t= op of the plate at the bosses. This allows you to set the height of you dowe= ls later if you use them.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = Measure the string scale. If funky after unstringing measure string lengths = & crunch the no.s. Often note 88 is too short for decent tensions in the= last section. You may want to move the bridge as on many older 1800s S&= S grands.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &= nbsp; Note the angle of the bridge top to the board. I don't often do this b= ut every piece of info can be helpful.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &= nbsp; (Observation)Look at the thickness of the board thru the action cavity= at the belly rail & see how it tapers. (Mental note)</FONT></STRONG></D= IV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = Observation) Any crown left any bearing left. Does the bearing string still = touch the bridge now the strings are removed. is the bridge below the string= plane?</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = Pull the plate. Pull the bridge pins. make a GOOD pattern noting hole side n= otch cut. Use a bridge pin bit drilled straight down thru the bridge to loca= te the mylar pattern. Place mylar (I use 10 mil) over bridge and tap no. 6 p= in thru mylar. It make a cleaner hole than drilling thru it.</FONT></STRONG>= </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = I always measure at least first and last string lengths on the long bri= dge & bass bridge. </FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &= nbsp; Very important: Bridge location markers.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &= nbsp; I do this 2 ways. I drill straight down. straight is very important th= ru the top of the bridge at not 88 with a 3/16 bit and thru the board & = into the belly rail. This will help locate the top of the bridge very precis= ely. I also do the same in the tenor end, drilling into a beam if possible. = I also take direct measurements with a metric ruler to the side of the case = at each end of each bridge. </FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = I also measure the distance from the no. 88  bridge pin hole to the sid= e of the case & stretcher. This eliminates the possibility of getting pa= ttern located  wrong. There are other ways. Rebuilders please chime in.= </FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &= nbsp; Drill out dowels remove treble cap screws. Now the fun part. It's time= to knock the board out</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &= nbsp; Any body tired yet? More later. going to work</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = Later--Dale</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3>  = </FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3></FONT>= </STRONG> </DIV></BODY></HTML>