Hi all Thanks for all the great replies. Didnt really mean to detract from the origional querry tho. Soundboard removal is one of those discussions we've had a bit of fun with from time to time, and I know there are varied opinions about saving old panels. But since there are several nice comments to this tangent that deserve a response here goes. ------------ Dale You just know I am going to be sending questions your way Dale :) This is as deep in as I've ever gotten, and on an instrument I want to come out just right. I'll take it slow and easy and be relying on the good advices of yourself, Arnold (Andre's partner in Amsterdam), Terry and a few others. Thanks for the fine post. More below as it touches on points others made as well. /Dale wrote: Rumor has it that his glue maker was the worst and so getting a Bluethner apart is a cake walk. That's why he used all those screws in the face of the board. It'll be interesting to hear the progress on yours. If you need advice........ Dale/ ------------ Terry and Calin Calin has it right Terry. This is going to be as much a historical restoration as I can make it while managing the best playability result as is possible. My plan is to draw the cracked soundboard back together, re-crown the old panel with rib crowning to whatever radius I end up finding out is most likely the origional design, and install a new bridge to match the origional. Rib crowning is my choice here because I want to use the origional panel with its origional markings and decals. I wont bother getting into the old wood argument other then to say that this is an old piano and I want that age to remain intact as much as possible. That said, I fully expect that if I could compare identically rib crowned panels, one with this old panel and another with new wood, that they would sound noticably different. But I'll leave that there. :) / / /Terry wrote:/ /Are you trying to remove the soundboard to repair it? If you are removing it, why not just replace it? Terry Farrell ------------------- /Stéphane Thanks for the kind words. I wish your perspective on my take on things were better understood by some here. I seem to upset a few people that I actually have a lot of respect. Seemingly exactly because of attempting to keep a respectfull foot in both worlds. I mean I just love the experiementation and rejection of the Holy Grail mentality some of our American and Australian techs have. But then I have a love for all the solutions of the past as well. More then anything I have great respect for the ways and methods all serious minded manufacturers, rebuilders and techs choose in doing what they do. And yes, this is the piano we recieved as a gift a few months back. I cleaned up the action just enough to get it barely playable to get a sense of the sound this thing has as is. Needs a lot of help to be sure, but still... through all the flaws it has accumulated over the years ... it has a voice that commands attention. It will be fun to do this one to be sure. I'm a big fan of the Patent Action btw. /Stéphane wrote: //By the way, I just wanted to say again that you seem to have good of both worlds (how do you say that in english ?) I mean : you have respect for tradition (which americans barely have) and open mind for new ideas (which europeans have, but much, much later than americans). I wish you twice the very best on this Blüthner project; and I must agree with what Dale says (but who am I, etc.). Best regards. Stéphane Collin / Cheers RicB
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