Anyone ever see a harpsichord by John Challis? The late E. Power Biggs recorded an album back in the sixties on one. What makes it unusual, is the fact that the soundboard, indeed, practically the entire instrument, was made of aluminum. While it must be said that it didn't sound like an historical instrument, but then, most of the harpsichords made at that time didn't either. No one could say it lacked punch, though. Probably the loudest harpsichords on the planet. And stabile? In the parlance of GM, "Like a Rock". Also, the alcoa company made a number of violins from aluminum, and while they went back to their Strads and Guarnieris, many violinists confessed to being astounded at how well these odd looking instruments played and sounded. If the harpsichords are any indication, if they caught on, we tuners could find ourselves out of work. I am not losing sleep over it, but one wonders if anyone has tried to use aluminum for soundboards, or other matrerials. Graphite fibre guitars and violins are popping up all over the place these days, and there is real potential there. Any ideas on this, you installers of soundboards out there? Steve Pearson >>> <Wimblees@AOL.COM> 11/28 3:57 PM >>> In a message dated 98-11-28 01:48:18 EST, you write: << Hi I have wondered about this for several years, I wonder if a synthetic material be used to replace spruce soundboards and has anyone in the group experimented with soundboards? Lexan(I am not sure if I spelled that correctly) is used in high power speaker boxes. It looks sort of like Plexiglas. It seems to be very responsive as far as amplification and vibration goes. I was thinking that an experiment could be made with a cheap old upright that has a solid piano action, By tearing it down, Gluing the ribs to a 1/4" sheet of lexan (or similar material) forcing crown into the material, installing the bridges & restring the old piano and finding out how loud the tone would be. I certainly think it would not suffer cracks like the old spruce does. Who knows........ it might be very loud and sweet or it might be completely dead! Also I would like a source for ABS plastic hammer butts. I have heard about them and would like to try a set on a player piano to see how well they would hold up in a high stress situation. I would appreciate your thoughts. Andy Taylor >> Andy: There is a technician in Holland who has done just that. Some of you Dutch techs want to give him the information on what Kees has done. Wim Blees
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