Soundboard rib question

[gordon stelter]

I will reiterate what I posted a month ago, to no
response.
I have 3 spectacular 1900 era uprights, 2 Knabes and
an 
Ivers and Pond. All have wide, short ribs that get
thicker in the area under the bridge. All are
spectacularly resonant and well preserved for their
age, particularly when you consider that this is
Georgia, where the humidity may be at 95% for a  month
straight, and seldom goes below 70%. 
     Go figure.
     Thump
 

--- Ric Brekne <ricbrek@broadpark.no> wrote:

> 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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> 


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