<html 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" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.  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 size=2 color=navy = face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:navy'>J</span></fon= t><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:navy'>.  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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Also I wouldn’t concern = myself so much with the effect of one sections’ bridge (bass, tenor, and = treble) effect on one another from an “each having its own individual = soundboard area” paradigm, because the sympathetic resonance aspect of string physics alone will effect the tonal quality more in those regards = anyway… sometimes positively in a desirable way on a well scaled = instrument.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>That’s my 2 cents, which in = this economy isn’t worth very much. </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Wingdings><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:navy'>K</span></fon= t><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Richard = Cromwell<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Cromwell's Piano = Service<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font = size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </span></font></div> <p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font = size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> = <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</st1:PersonName> = [mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</st1:PersonName>] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Farrell<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, July 14, = 2005 6:35 PM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> pianotech@ptg.org<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Piano Design = Question</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; 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 size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>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.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>Yes - is that true?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; 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 size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; 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 size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; 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 size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; 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 size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; 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 size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size: 12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>Terry Farrell</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>