Soundboard rib question

[ed440@mindspring.com]

Ric
By "first year production" do you mean 1853?
Do we have any idea how soundboards were made then; i.e. compressed or not?
What is the grain orientation?
How close is the long rib to the bridge?
Ed S.

-----Original Message-----
>From: Ric Brekne <ricbrek@broadpark.no>
>Sent: Jan 21, 2006 10:11 AM
>To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Soundboard rib question
>
>Hi folks...
>
>Despite knowing that the major rebuilders are probably not going to 
>answer this because they dislike my foul rotten guts (for some 
>mysterious reason... :) )  I will put this to the forum anyways, hoping 
>to get some insights.
>
>I have this first year production Bluthner straight strung that I am 
>getting ready to pull the soundboard out of.  One of the options I am 
>considering is to alter the ribbing system on this.  The instrument 
>measures about 195 cm, and has only 6 ribs. These are not very 
>substantial ribs at that... The ribs are wide and short and get taller 
>in the middle and have a  _^ shape as opposed to a rounded shape..  28mm 
>wide, 9mm tall along their sides, 14 mm tall in the center.   There is a 
>long extra "rib" that runs roughly parallel to the bridge and crosses 
>over the cross grain ribs as well.  It measures 55 mm wide and 15mm tall.
>
>I suppose given the dimensions of the existing ribs this was a so called 
><<natural>> crowned board in its time (ie compression with flat ribs in 
>a flat caul). My question is just how much beefing up of the system is 
>advisable ?  I am assuming  the amount of downward force on the board 
>was significantly less then present instruments have.  I want to try and 
>keep close to the origional sound picture these instruments had but at 
>the same time I want the thing to be structurally strengthened (if 
>necessary) and try and create a bit cleaner treble then fortes I have 
>heard typically have.
>
>I could just pack the thing off to Bolduc and get a re-creation.... a 
>nice easy option I suppose... but before I do that I wanted to hear what 
>some of you think.
>
>I will be greatfull for any replies.
>
>Cheers
>RicB
>
>
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