Chines and multi-piece rims

[Farrell]

Ok. I read you there.

Let me carry this a tad further though for clarification of the issue. I should think that you could never increase the mass of a rim too much - except of course regarding cost considerations and/or possibly aesthetic consideration. I ask that from strictly an acoustical perspective. Isn't that what we want to do with a rim - immobilize the soundboard edge so that energy is not lost there.

If that is true, then can I also assume that there is no acoustical difference between the spruce many-multi-piece outer rim of a Bosendorfer (aren't Bechsteins also like this? - perhaps others?) and a laminated bent maple rim common to many American pianos (assuming again that there is sufficient mass/stiffness to adequately immobilize the soundboard edge).

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <A440A@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2002 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: Chines and multi-piece rims


> Terry writes: 
> >Regarding Ed's questions about the massiveness and/or stiffness of the
> >rim, with solid timber sections of rim, is it not the case that all we
> >would need to do is increase size of these timbers and/or add framing until
> >we have whatever mass/stiffness we feel we need? 
> 
>      I didn't mean to imply to more mass was better,  I think I tend towards 
> maximum intergration of all the pieces.    Let's keep in mind there are some 
> really nice sounding pianos out there with relatively light framing.  Several 
> of the smaller Chickerings come to mind.  
> Regards, 
> Ed Foote