<!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 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV dir=ltr align=left> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 9pt"><SPAN class=765172014-14072005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Tom,</FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 9pt"><FONT face="Comic = Sans MS"><FONT size=2>I started using the fish back in the days when I was = transitioning from mostly compression-crowned soundboard systems to rib-crowned = systems. <SPAN class=765172014-14072005>I've been pleased enough with the results to = have continued using for many years.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 9pt"><FONT face="Comic = Sans MS" size=2>It seemed apparent that much of the time-related tone loss of = the conventional compression-crowned soundboard system was related to the time-dependent compression loss within the soundboard panel and that = that might be related to the excessive size of the soundboard through roughly the = upper third of the scale. </FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 9pt"><FONT face="Comic = Sans MS" size=2>I had recently rebuilt a couple of older grands having = multi-part or built-up rims which had much smaller soundboard areas through this = region and yet had very clean and powerful-sounding treble sections. I decided to = try to duplicate this size and shape in pianos using continuous-bent rims. I = did this with what I now call the “fish.”</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 9pt"><FONT face="Comic = Sans MS" size=2>It does just what I had hoped it would do. It eliminates a lot = of the excess soundboard area (an area which is full of extraneous and, to my = ear at least, unwanted<SPAN class=765172014-14072005>,</SPAN> soundboard = resonances) and makes <SPAN class=765172014-14072005>the area that = </SPAN>remains more controlled and efficient.</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 9pt"><?xml:namespace = prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State = w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Del</FONT></st1:place></st1:State></P></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>Tom Driscoll<BR><B>Sent:</B> July 14, 2005 9:53 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Soundboard fish<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear soundboard Gurus.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    I've noticed the = addition of cutoffs in some of your soundboard redesigns.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    My question is = about the "fish" versions in the high treble are.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Could you = describe the symptoms the fish is designed to improve?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    I have two Asian = grands ,one damaged and in the process of evaluation and one </FONT> <FONT = face=Arial size=2>7' Y.C. with what seems like an out of tune ,very loud =  duplex type noise, that I can't seem to improve. (before you all start = suggesting tuning the duplex ,muting both in front of Capo,behind bridge etc I've = tried everything including eliminating bleed from dampers etc.)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Any explanation = about the addition of cut offs in this area appreciated.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Tom Driscoll = RPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    </FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>