soundboards

[Performance Music]

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List,
    I would like to start a thread about soundboards. =20

    Many technicians replace soundboards, when the soundboard is 'dead'. =
 Is it because the wood is 'dead' and will no longer amplify the sound, =
or is it because of other factors such as the board losing its crown, =
etc? =20

    Where I'm going with this is that I find it interesting that piano =
technicians are changing soundboards regularly, if that is their area of =
specialty.  Contrarily, violinists seem to be wanting older instruments =
because wood sounds better over time.  If the wood sounded that much =
better over time, and a soundboard was still intact, wouldn't people be =
begging for the old klunker pianos and rebuilding them as opposed to =
replacing the soundboards?  These two ideas are seemingly contrary.  In =
saying this, I do acknowledge that pianos are far more mechanical than =
violins and I realize that there are other factors in a piano such as =
worn out actions, pin blocks, split boards, hammers, dampers, separated =
ribs and the like.  I also acknowledge that some older pianos were never =
great piano, even in their day, and will never be made to play like a =
quality vintage piano. =20

    My point is to determine if these soundboards really need to be =
replaced?  If they do, is it because the wood has gone dead over time, =
or because of external factors such as splitting or separation have =
forced it to need replacement, were the wood in the board itself may =
still be good?  I don't hear violinists replacing tops because they have =
become dead.  They seem to be wantign them older and older.  Am I =
missing something?  =20

    I would welcome any viewpoints on the subject, especially from those =
who replace boards.

thanks

Ron Shiflet


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