Negative crown

[Richard Snelson]

Kevin R. Aldrich wrote:
> 
> What would happen if you recapped bridges to gain downbearing on an old
> piano with a soundboard with no crown left, or even with an oilcanned
> soundboard?  Would the soundboard totally collapse?  Del Fandrich says that
> a soundboard does not act like an arch, so crown does not help support
> bearing load, right?  Would the tone improve?  Wasn't there a piano made in
> the past with negative crown?  I realize that one should replace the
> soundboard in these circumstances, but some pianos aren't worth the
> expense.
> 
> Kevin Aldrich
I think adding downbearing to a piano with an oilcanned sound board will
only make it more oilcanned. The tone would not improve. Richard Snelson