<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>RE: Blüthner soundboard</title></head><body> <div>Marcel wrote,</div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>. . .  I thought I'd seen it all. I saw Asian pianos</blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite>with laminated soundboard with masking tape on wich they painted faked</blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite>vertical grain to make it appear as solid...</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div>Yes, the company you are referring to is Samick<font color="#0000FF"> (is there another playing this game?)</font>. The irony of their attempt to make a laminated panel appear to be solid<font color="#0000FF"> (and beautifully quarter cut at that)</font> is that the laminated panels they use are 100% spruce, with all laminations made from quartered stock<font color="#0000FF"> (of the ones I have inspect - out of the piano)</font>. While many of these pianos produce a tone which is less than desirable, I don't believe it is the laminated panel which is causing the problem. It's the numerous other piano manufacturing factors which they choose to ignore.</div> <div><br></div> <div>The laminated panel is perhaps one of the few redeeming features of their instruments. Of course, they may be trying to cover the evidence in an attempt to avoid the widespread and unjustified prejudice against laminated panels.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Just last week here in Sydney, a recording studio owner<font color="#0000FF"> (who once tried to make it as a musician)</font> played our piano no. 003 in his studio after a session and declared that our piano produced ". . . a lovely tone but", he said, "you should use a solid sound board because it would sound even better". There's not much you can say in response to the ill informed. The following day after the session, I received emails from both the pianist and vocalist congratulating me on the tone and touch of the piano<font color="#0000FF"> (both are pianists)</font>.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Regarding the 'masking tape' on the panel edge on the belly rail syndrome, it is usually so poorly applied that it nearly falls off on its own. When repairing such instruments we remove the tape. I cannot tolerate the masquerade. As for what was a Blüthner, even Samick don't rate.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Ron O.</div> <x-sigsep><pre>-- </pre></x-sigsep> <div >           <span ></span>      OVERS PIANOS<br>        Grand Piano Manufacturers<br> _____________________________<br> <br> Web:    http://overspianos.com.au<br> Email:  mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au<br> _____________________________</div> </body> </html>