<HTML>Many pianos with cutoff bars have an open space, or a = different species of [filler] wood outside the cutoff. Is there a way to gai= n the acoustical advantage of a cutoff bar, but have it appear traditional o= n the top side? For instance, could the ribs be notched and continued on to = the rim, just to support this area? I realize this is a waste of good spruce= , but it would not call attention to itself, and there are some situations i= n which that is a good thing. Is the cutoff bar affixed to the beams? In one picture it appears to pass ov= er the metal termination plate for the beams. Is this a problem? It appears to be the approximate cross section of a bridge. Am I seeing this= right? Thanks, Bob Davis</HTML>