<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1226" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT = face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Michael Gamble<BR><B>Sent:</B> February 04, 2004 6:03 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Laminated Soundboard Panels<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello List and Terry F</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regarding these laminated panels - in = fact laminated soundboards of any instrument - there is no doubt that they = are not as good as the usual solid panel. To laminate incorporates a bonding = between the laminations and this must surely have an effect on the resulting = sound production. I know for sure that a 'cello with a laminated = belly has nothing like the sound quality of the normal carved belly. I can only = assume that the poor old sound waves aren't quite sure in which direction = they are to go as they travel with the grain. They probably cancel each other out = and that means poor quality output. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=296221316-04022004><FONT face="Comic Sans = MS" color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=296221316-04022004><FONT face="Comic Sans = MS" color=#0000ff>Actually, there is no doubt, given even the most basic = research and development, that pianos with properly designed laminated soundboard = panels will provide both better tone quality and better long-term stability and = product life. I can't speak for the use of laminates in cello's. But, then, = cello's are not pianos.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=296221316-04022004><FONT face="Comic Sans = MS" color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=296221316-04022004><FONT face="Comic Sans = MS" color=#0000ff>Del</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>