<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR><o:SmartTagType name="PersonName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=purple link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT = color=#000000>Hi Richard - Perhaps I did not make my question clear enough. I think your answer targeted conventional piano design. I'm trying to step = out of the box. I am asking about designing a piano with no limits on size = or shape. As such, overstringing to maximize bass string length has no = merit - just make the piano longer if you want a longer bass string. Also, putting = the bass bridge in the center of the board also looses its meaning, because you = can make the case any size or shape you want - so even if the bass bridge is = down at one end of the scale, you can stretch the case (make it bulbous if = you want) down there and provide the bass bridge with any amount of = soundboard area you find advantageous. </FONT></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000000></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT = color=#000000>And BTW, with a conventional piano design, I don't know that maximizing the = length of bass strings is so singly important. I think more important is = to achieve a good compromise between length and mobility (i.e. and looooong = bass string with a 5mm backscale won't do any piano any good). </FONT></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000000></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000000>Terry Farrell</FONT></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"></SPAN></FONT><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Richard = Cromwell wrote:</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 = size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In my minimal = studies of piano design the benefits that overstrung scales provide over a = straight scale are pretty simple<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Overstringing = maximizes the length of the bass strings while being able to position the bass = bridge closer to the center/most flexible part of the = soundboard.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This is = important as the amplitude of the lower frequencies produced by the bass strings move = the board more and thus benefit from the additional throw available closer = to the center.  I am not going to bother to go into why maximizing the = length of the bass strings is important, because if you don’t know… you = shouldn’t be reading this.</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> I think that = the designers of old felt that the substantial benefits yielded in the = quality of tone produced in the bass section of the piano by overstinging far = outweigh any resulting deficiencies (which there are of course) in the tenor or = anywhere else for that matter… which makes sense to me.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT> </P></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000080><FONT = size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: = Tahoma"></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P></DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=Section1> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To those who delve into = piano design (and loose sleep over such things)......</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">My understanding is = <FONT color=#800000>that</FONT> the bass/tenor area of the typical modern = grand piano soundboard poses a challenge from the design standpoint because = in pretty much the same location you want a very flexible soundboard for = the bass and a stiffer soundboard for the lower tenor. This necessitates compromise.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Yes - is that true?</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wouldn't a = straight-strung arrangement work better? Seems to me that designing a piano with = performance being the #1 criteria, a straight strung (or parallel or whatever - = you know what I mean) arrangement would offer the designer the luxury of = designing the soundboard to meet the needs of the various sections of the string = scale - and not having to make the same area suit two different needs. </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Now keep in mind that I = ask this question strictly from the performance (musical) standpoint and not = the standpoint of how well a design might sell. I believe it is the case = that one can design a piano with longer bass strings for a given piano length = with an overstrung design - if the marketing department is put in charge of = piano design. I'm talking about eliminating the marketing department and the = accounting department and just dealing with how to build the most = acoustically pleasing piano. (I know, silly idea.) Now rememeber - no marketing - = we can make the case ANY shape we want (we don't have to have a flat side on = the bass side)!</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Without having to = concern yourself with factory sales, would you rather design a straight-strung or = overstrung piano? Which approach give the designer more freedom to design an = optimal piano?</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks. Tomorrow in the = shop will pivot on this.....    = ;-)</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">FWIW: Seems to me that straight-strung offers significant design benefits because each area = of the string scale occupies a unique area of the soundboard - and hence that = area of the soundboard can be designed to optimize the performance of that = area of the string scale.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Terry = Farrell</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTM= L>