Charles Walter Web Address

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Isabelkuh@aol.com wrote:

> I don't know where they get their plates cast?

O.S. Kelly in Springfield, Ohio.


> The keyframes are from somewhere in the UK.   I don't remember exactly, but I
> believe the keys are from Kluge in Germany.

I rather suspect the keys are now coming from Herrburger-Brooks.


> The front bass area of the soundboard has a "beam" underneath to decrease the
> live soundboard area (I assume this comes from Del's early work on design and
> prototypes.)

This 'beam' is called a soundboard cutoff bar.  And, yes, it was part of the
original design.


> They previously had it on the top side of the soundboard and surprise, surprise,
> it got in the way of selling them.  They certainly live up to their reputation
> for marketing ignorance.  It's actually very refreshing.

The functional portion of the soundboard cutoff bar was always under the
soundboard.  Originally, the soundboard was cut down the middle of the cut-off bar
and a strip of maple was used to cover the joint.  Apparently it -- the soundboard
-- is now being glued in in one piece and the cover strip is no longer being
used.  The acoustical effect is the same either way.  The original design is a bit
easier to assemble.  The latter method is a bit harder to handle.  Functionally,
they are the same.

Regards,

Del