> >From a structural standpoint, the beams go in the direction of the loading. >Think about how the strings are wanting to fold up the piano. That is what >the beams are resisting. In pianos having plates with no horn, there's no connection between the plate and the beams. The plate holds the string tension, not the beams. >So running a beam transverse to that direction of >loading will have negligible effect on strength. It would make the overall >frame more rigid, but it doesn't really need more rigidity in that >direction. >On nine foot pianos you will see some stubby beams like you are proposing. >There the beams are getting long enough that some extra lateral rigidity is >needed. > >Dean Most pianos would benefit from stiffening the soundboard perimeter by cross bracing the long side and bracing the belly bar in the treble, not just the nine footers. Ron N
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