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<DIV> <FONT size=3>Steve</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Sorry for the late reply. I've been prepari=
ng
pianos for display at the Calif. State Convention. I truly
appreciate your frank and honest subjective evaluation of the subject. =
I
have not had the same experience as to loss of tonal vitality over time in
strictly crown cut ribs. May I also suggest the variables may not only=
be
in the laminating process but also the amount of crown built in compare=
d to
the crown cut ribs. Also the density of the wood selected for cr=
own
cut rib will also play a major factor in overall stiffness. One t=
hing
that I try to do is to pick wood of similar grain density i.e. not one rib w=
ith
wide grain or one with real tight. I prefer wider grains in the bottom=
2
bass ribs & then get tighter as the ribs progress into the
treble. I have some very tight & dense sitka right now which would=
be
hard to imagine a laminated rib offering any more support than this.
However laminated ribs are glued up in an arch & therefore have a cross
section that is continuous unlike the crown cut rib that is thicker in the
middle & tapering toward the ends. At least that's the way I've made the=
m.
All this to say it's a bit hard to put a finger on this but subjective
evaluation is still relevant in my book.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I do also experience the sound board maturing ove=
r time
usually the first year</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Thanks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
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=3><FONT
size=3>Dale,<BR> The impression I am left with is that=
over
time the laminated ribs maintain the sound it had when it left the shop, w=
here
the crowned spruce ribs, cut to the same or similar dimensions as those th=
at
were laminated, seem to loose a little dynamic range. This is very m=
uch
based on a small sampling of my work. I still tune some of my first =
jobs
where I cut the curve into the rib, and that is the impression I am left
with. Now to be fair, I hope that I do better work than I did then, =
or
maybe the glue joint between rib and board is better, I can't tell you
why. Maybe Del has tweaked his designs and now he is doing a better
job. Couldn't say.<BR> Steve
Gaza<BR></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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