Alternatives

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Bob,

There isn't a lot of useable published data available on the stresses, mass and on how
soundboards work. Most of the data, if it exists at all in the various company archives,
would probably be considered proprietary. I previous years I have taught Convention
classes in piano soundboard theory, but I doubt that I'll be doing any more. I have had a
long term interest in this concept. If your friend has specific questions that I can
answer without interfering with work I'm currently doing, I'll do my best to answer them.
Privately.

Two books that come to mind are "Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics" by Arthur H Benade
(1976, Oxford University Press) and "The Physics of Musical Instruments" by Neville H
Fletcher and Thomas D Rossing (1991, Springer-Verlag New York).
Unfortunately, both of these books share the same limitation: They assume that the design
of the contemporary instruments is perfect and that what we are trying to do is understand
how perfection works. But they are a place to start. Another idea would be to take a look
at the US Patent files. A number of patents have already been issued dealing with
soundboards using alternative materials.

In the end, though, it probably won't matter how well some alternative material works.
Market acceptance will probably be the greatest limitation to alternative soundboard
materials. Consider something as simple as the action. Plastic parts have pretty much
proven themselves in at least a couple of applications -- Certain plastics are a much more
suitable material for jacks in particular. Wood is a very poor material from which to make
jacks. -- but there is still much market resistance. Mostly from technicians and from
dealers who don't sell pianos containing them.

Regards,

Del

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robert sadowski wrote:

> Dear List,
>     Happy Easter to all.  Through my future wife I have struck up a
> friendship with an engineer whose expertise is in the area of new
> materials - carbon fibre, etc.  We had a long conversation about pianos,
> soundboards and such.  He is fascinated by the choice of materials used in
> piano construction and of course asked the question - why can't other
> materials be used to replace spruce in soundboards.  He asked me to try and
> locate sources of data concerning stresses, density, mass, and how
> soundboards in general do what they do.  Any suggestions as to published
> sources?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Sadowski