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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of =
</B>Farrell<BR><B>Sent:</B>
July 14, 2005 3:35 PM<BR><B>To:</B> =
pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Piano
Design Question<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My understanding is that 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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes - is that true?<SPAN
class=796391804-15072005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" =
color=#000080
size=3> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN =
class=796391804-15072005><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>It's partly =
true. The soundboard
assembly has to be relatively stiff (assuming you want reasonable =
sustain) but
must still have a fairly high degree of mobility. In other words, you =
either
want the bass bridge to be located rather far from the inner rim or =
you're going
to have to float something. </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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size=3><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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
class=796391804-15072005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" =
color=#000080
size=3> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN =
class=796391804-15072005><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>Flat stringing (almost, =
but not quite,
the same as <EM>straight</EM> stringing) makes more sense for longer =
pianos than
it does for short ones. With short scales there can be a substantial =
string
length advantage down in the lower bass with overstringing. This =
advantage is
diminished to the point of silliness once the overall length of the =
piano gets
much above 6' (183 cm) or so.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 =
size=3><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 =
size=3><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005>And, yes, designing an acoustically balanced =
bridge
system is much easier with a flat-strung string dispersion. As is =
ribbing,
action and key layout, plate struts, etc.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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size=3><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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)!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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?</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005>Well, either approach is going to demand some =
compromises. I guess it depends on which set of compromises you are most =
comfortable with. The piano we're getting ready to build will be =
over-strung.
Kind of. But it's only 6' 7" (200 cm) and I am interested in selling =
them. Were
I designing a 9' (275 cm) grand for myself I might do things
differently.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080><SPAN
class=796391804-15072005>Del</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>