<!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 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi all.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The main stream of technically oriented = thinking about piano soundboard is, I believe, that it works as a transducer to = transform the energy put into the string by the hammer stroke into acoustic = energy percieved as sound.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The easy way to appreciate a soundboard = in this regard is to say :" the better it does it's job, that is transform that = energy with as less possible loss and deformation, the better the soundboard = ".  This is easy because there are simple easily observable and controllable = parameters that tell you you are right in this regard : volume, = sustain and evenness across the scale.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is easy to observe that this piano = has the ability to produce sounds of more volume than that one, notes that sound = longer, and characteristics that change in a more smooth way over the scale.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is less easy, but feasable to = control and apply desing parameters who will obviously tend to reach the goal of = maximizing those three aesthetic parameters.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While I am full of admiration for those = who are dedicated to this research (I know, this may not be obvious in my posts, = but believe me, I really am : it is just that I must advocate the other way = of thinking), I just can't hide my feeling, that this is an oversimplified = way to think about the matter.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A soundboard is a filter (even a = resonant one).  No way all the energy of the string will ever end up in = acoustic energy, nor will the ineluctable losses ever be even through the = scale.  And that is great.  A soundboard has a personality that comes from = what one would describe as defects in regard of the basis parameters.  I = would describe the personality of a board as the unique blend it features = between many more parameters, such as subtle and aesthetically more or less = interesting discrepencies curves in volume, sustain and evenness across the scale of = each of the partials of each note, their thump, and the resonances in release phase.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Unfortunately (ah, maybe not), this is = much less easy to have under control, and leads us to humility in front of the = miracle of nature, as there exist some blends that make you believe in god, while = others, euh, not really.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This being said, my opinion about old = soundboards is that they have gathered with time (cell crush, down in resine = percentage, loss of elasticity, whatever) a stronger and more unique personality, as = defined here.  The whole life of a soundboard contributes to it's unique sound.  This doesn't mean that all personalities please me.  = But the personalities who do are not at all the most powerful and long = lasting and most even across scale of every parameter ones.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Time for another idea that I would = like to read reactions about.  About those old violins who = sound better, I think it is an optical illusion. After all, a violin is cheap = to make, compared with a piano.  So, when it is time for a violin to be = restored, exactly like pianos, the question arises whether it is worth the = restoration, as everybody knows that for a cheap instrument, the restoration costs are = sometimes superior to the cost of a new similar one.  So, logically, the = Strads that we still see now are the ones who were from the beginning considered as = good instruments : good enough to be worth restoring and restoring = again.  Time has made the selection, like the instruments of Guarnieri or = Amati.  Be sure those who still exist represent a small percentage of the best = instruments of the best makers.  Be sure the same makers have made instruments = that were not considered, in their time, worth to be restored when needed, = and that is why they disappeared.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Same for old boards, in my = opinion.  When I hear an old piano in need of restoration, I always take the time to tune = it, and I can then hear, even with worn hammers, loss of crown etc. if the = board has a personality (that is, thus, a blend of so called defects) that = makes me want to give it it's chance to appear in full monthy.  If I don't = feel it has potential, I don't buy it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Newer boards may or may not have = personality.  In my world, they are like 1m75 blondes with B2 breasts and sinusoidal = shape at hips with 65 kg weight and red lipstick.  Why do I prefer redheads = with the nose slightly bent to the left a tiny bit overweight and with = intelligence in the look ?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Friendly greetings,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stéphane Collin.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=performancemusic@cableone.net href="mailto:performancemusic@cableone.net">Performance Music</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Piano-Tech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 17, 2005 = 7:52 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> soundboards</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV> <DIV>List,</DIV> <DIV>    I would like to start a thread about soundboards.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    Many technicians replace soundboards, when the = soundboard is 'dead'.  Is it because the wood is 'dead' and = will no longer amplify the sound, or is it because of other factors such as the board losing its crown, etc?  </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>