<!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 6.00.2800.1126" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi list,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was following the post about = soundboard installations, and had some questions for the pros out = there.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I remember Ron N. mentioning that he = gets a general idea of what the load on the board will be once strung.  I'm = assuming he now has an idea how tall to make the ribs to support this = load.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What are the consequences of going a = step further?  Will this make the board too stiff?  Will the bass suffer?  I think I also remember Del mentioning something about a = board giving too much of a percussive sound and not as much string = sound.  Is this with a board that is too stiff?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>How does the thickness of the board = relate to how much load it can support?  And in relation to the rib = thickness?  I'm sure all these things are interrelated.  What are the = trade-offs?  Next, I'm sure the size of the board is a factor.  A smaller piano = will have more support from the rim, because the there is more rim per area = of board.  Yet another factor to consider, aye?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>How does one judge or weigh the = trade-offs?  There are so many variables.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There's no real point here to my = questions.  I am always trying to learn more about my trade.  And who else do I = learn from other than the folks who do this every day?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mike = Bratcher</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>