String Replaced

[Farrell]

I don't understand how you conclude that a crack(s) in your Bechstein soundboard has "contributed substantially to the loss of crown and subsequently to the loss of tone." How does a crack cause loss of crown? And how can you conclude that a crack caused loss of tone when the board is likely flat, you have almost no downbearing, the strings were corroded, the hammers were worn, the pinblock was weak and the piano is 90 years old? I would guess that it is more likely that the piano sounds tubby throughout the spectrum because the board is flat, you have almost no downbearing, the strings were corroded, the hammers were worn, the pinblock was weak and the piano is 90 years old. The board has cracks due to compression damage. And I think that is about all you can really say about soundboard cracks. If you don't like the way they look or if they buzz, either shim them or replace the soundboard.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Duplexdan@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 11:22 PM
Subject: Re: String Replaced


> Laura,
> 
> This note is about the effect of cracks in the soundboard.
> 
>  Although the input that cracks in the board can create a buzz is correct in 
> my experience, the idea that that is all they can do may not be completely 
> adequate. Over the period of years and in particular this week I have had 
> occasion to witness the deterioration of tone due to many factors including 
> numerous cracks in the board In this particular instrument, the strings were 
> corroded, the hammers were worn, and the pinblock was weak. The piano was a 
> Bechstein C about 1912. My comment, in particular refers to what can happen 
> when there are cracks in the board.
> 
> After close inspection I found that there was almost NO BEARING on the 
> bridge. Although there was no buzzing which could indicate negative bearing, 
> there was a tubby sound  throughout the spectrum. Consequently I would feel 
> inclined to state that this instrument indicates that the cracking of the 
> board may have contributed substantially to the loss of crown and 
> subsequently to the loss of tone
> 
> The bottom line here is there may be more to a crack than space! when it 
> comes to the effect of cracks in a soundboard. Thus the solution to a buzz 
> may be shimming; but the production of a good tone may require more 
> substantive procedures, e.g. a new board. 
> 
> Up to now I have no knowledge of any technique that can restore crown to a 
> board that has been shimmed or repaired. If it can be done i'd surely like to 
> know how to do it.
> 
> Dan Franklin
> duplexdan@aol.com