Piano Rims (rambling post)

[sid blum]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phillip L Ford" <fordpiano@lycos.com>


> Another comment about this.  I find it interesting
> that violins and guitars use very thin rims.
> Comparing a violin to a piano may be suspect because
> the violin is constantly having energy poured into
> it by the player whereas a piano gets one initial
> burst of energy which then is going to dissipate in
> some way and we have to be concerned about how.  But
> a guitar also gets an initial burst of energy and
> then no more, as in a piano.  You would think that
> guitar builders would be more concerned about energy
> dissipation than piano builders, but guitars have
> not evolved to have heavy rims (relatively speaking).
> Maybe they know something we don't.
>
> Phil F

I once saw an interesting demonstration by a guitar maker.  With a c-clamp
attached to the peghead of the guitar, loudness diminished and sustain
increased.  Materials for guitar backs, sides and necks are chosen with
hardness and density in mind.

sb