NICKED A NERVE AGAIN/ FLAT BOARDS

[Erwinpiano]

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Hi Jim
    =20
  The first half incomplete message was sent  via computeer glitch. I =
HATE MSN!!!=20

      "Seriously I come up against this notion everyday that they the =
board
is perfect because it  isn't cracked."

  Actually I must take credit for that quote and will take perhaps a
different shot at your three questions.  Ron Ns response to this was =
where
the reality check should begin for us when estimating or appraising =
pianos
in this condition,and I couldn't agree more with his responses.

1). "Describe what  aural result  you want out of a soundboard =
regardless of
geometric shape"
   I believe all rebuilders,techs. and pianists are sustain oriented.
Sustain freaks!) Sustain is my primary indicator of a free and happy =
board.
A piano thus described has a  luscious magic quality to it that =
engenders
creativity and enhances musical interpretation.  It just makes you play =
things
in a way just didn't think was possible.  We all have these in our =
clientele.
The tone is colorful and interesting.  The attack is not abrupt or harsh =
but
it still has a strung present sound and a good over tone structure,  and =
great balance of all these essential qualities from bass to treble.  =
There is that subjective enough !!!!

2.        When you use the term " flat board " in what context is it =
used ,Loaded or unloaded?

   It could be either. Using the Kansas straightedge on the bottom of a =
board while strung often reveals the same thing when   unstrung  and it =
is very difficult to try to determine residual bearing before it's =
unstrung with a  Lowell type bubble gauge, because the slope of the =
bridge and the loss of bridge elevation due to crown loss makes it a =
guess as to if there's any bearing at all .  The really Important thing =
to remember is that almost all these old boards were compression =
crowned. With wood shrinkage and time  the most  significant amounts of =
that crown  are pegging on empty In the year 2001.  Most of these flat =
boards have LOST the essential dynamic potential that made them =
efficient transducers/ amplifiers of tone in the first place. The =
reality is that in our lifetimes more and more instruments are just =
tragically dead, and that the worth while ones will need to have sound =
board transplants. That's the reality.  The other reality is budgets, =
cash and soundness of the investment unless it's just for sentimental =
reasons. The other fact  is that 90% of most rebuilders income is the =
Steinway market and most all of those are worth the expense.  The other =
10% being Masons ,Baldwin and assorted others preferably those with lam. =
maple rims and inherent design integrity to start with.

3.)    Would a flat board which provided all the aural requirements in =
no. 1 above, be rejected for use? (" reuse") emphasis mine.
     I think Ron answered that well.  I agree with Ron N that the flat =
board I would trust if I had to would be the one with adequate and =
uniformly set residual bearing. I have strung cases  like this that were =
sounding amazingly good even during the driest part of the year. BUT I =
don't like to because it's always iffy as to the long term result. IF =
our pianos which are purchased for spec' and subsequent resale  have =
boards in this condition they're changed as fast as I can rip them out =
of the case. Its  an issue of longevity and business integrity.   =
Frankly this is a judgment call based on many things but one thing that =
I always stress to the customer are these very factors that were hashing =
out right here.  It's only fair that they have all there options set =
squarely before them at the outset and before the contract is signed.  =
The way it's done in my shop is that we reserve the right to change the =
board if upon teardown it becomes clear that it is truly  needed. Thanks =
to willis and Dave Snyder for that advice.  A side note .  If a tech. =
sends a client to a rebuilder such as me or  one  of my colleagues isn't =
it reassuring to (you ) them that there going to get a Steinway with a =
fresh board because the piano shop doesn't compromise?

   Hope that helps

 Dale Erwin

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