Soundboard rib question

[ed440@mindspring.com]

Ric-

Another thought: this might be a candidate for epoxy treatment of the soundboard, as published in the Journal by Del Fandrich a few years back.  The soundboard looks pretty good in the photos (which makes me wonder how much it was compressed in manufacture).  I've used the epoxy coat on small early 20th century pianos with reasonable results, especially improved sustain in treble.

The soundboard on this piano seems to be looking back toward earlier German/Austrian instruments.

Times like this I think of the Christofori in the Metropolitan, which has been called "the world's oldest piano case," since the original soundboard, pinblock and strings were thrown away in a 1930's rebuild.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
>From: Ric Brekne <ricbrek@broadpark.no>
>Sent: Jan 21, 2006 10:52 AM
>To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Soundboard rib question
>
>
>Hi Ed
>
>Its serial number 86.  Which actually puts it in the first 3 months of
>production.  Included below is a picture of the soundboard I took on the
>day it came into my shop. Ribs run 90 degrees to the grain.  The long
>extra rib does not trace the bridge itself... but seems to be a kind of
>support for it.  I havent located it precisely.. but its close to the
>bridge itself... a bit forward of it.  I can try and get a picture of
>the underside of the thing in the next couple days if anyone is interested.
>
>I dont <<know>> that the board was a compression board... I'm just
>guessing based on the rib dimensions.
>
>Thanks
>RicB
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