<DIV>Thanks RicB,</DIV> <DIV>By the way, to your knowledge are there any manufacturers presently employing rib crowning?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks,</DIV> <DIV>Clyde Allen</DIV> <DIV>PTG Assoc.</DIV> <DIV>Silver Spring, MD<BR><BR><B><I>Richard Brekne <ricbrek@broadpark.no></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"><BR>><BR>>> I've begun to notice and in your post below you mention "compression <BR>>> crowned" boards. Could you tell me what that is and what is/are the <BR>>> alternative(s)? Thank!<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>Hi Clyde,<BR><BR>The basic definition of compression crowned is given by others already <BR>with a degree of flavouring tossed in so I wont repeat that. I would <BR>just echo what others have said about the general difference of opinion <BR>on the subject of which method is better... along with what they mean by <BR><<BETTER>>. (btw the altenative is rib crowning, which I will also let <BR>others describe in any fashion they choose)<BR><BR>Seems to be a consensus on all sides of this subject matter that <BR>compression crowning in its various forms is more difficult and yeilds <BR>more variant results. That said one simply must acknowledge that many, <BR>if not most of the worlds greatest players on the field do, have, and <BR>will continue to do so for the forseeable future use compression <BR>crowning. This includes Steinway, Yamaha, Schimmel, Petrof, Steingræber. <BR>I have yet to meet a designer or builder in Europe who does not declare <BR>the neccessity for the stresses such crowning method creates for <BR>achieving the acoustical results, both long term and short term these <BR>same designers say is their goal.<BR><BR>Now... these fine makers of pianos could all be insane, silly, just <BR>plain following the leader who simply refuses to change because of <BR>stubborness or good marketing strategies... or one of the myriad of <BR>other such reasons some will give. (which may or may not be true when it <BR>comes down to it). OR... maybe they have a better reason for doing so. <BR>I will grant that those on this list who argue in favour of rib crowning <BR>that their argumentions relative to structual issues are very strong, <BR>and totaly uncountered by the <<OPPOSITION>>. That said... I've always <BR>found also lacking a reasonable explaination for why virtually all the <BR>major players insist on using the method by these same rib crowning <BR>enthusiasts.<BR><BR>Personally.. I think the fact is that both methods can be successfully <BR>employed, (and indeed are) and that the criticism each side levels at <BR>each other are to some degree grossly overstated, and equally hat each <BR>methods positive attributes are understated by the opposing camps. <BR><BR>But thats just the opinion from an every day pianotech looking out on <BR>the world dispassionatly and seeing whats out there for what it is. I <BR>have nearly no direct experience with building soundboards.<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>RicB<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><p> <hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br> <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/security/*http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail/static/protection.html">Yahoo! Mail</a> - You care about security. So do we.