[pianotech] rcs design considerations

Ron Nossaman rnossaman at cox.net
Wed Aug 4 22:42:42 MDT 2010


Gene Nelson wrote:
> Hello list,
> Just curious: For a typical radius crowned design for a 9ft grand that 
> would go into a Steinway - how would you alter the design if the piano 
> had softwood rim?
> Would you alter the design?

Good question. I'd have to see the piano, but generally, this 
would be my approach.

A bass cutoff replaces half the long side, and half the belly 
rail with a rock maple rim. A fish replaces the top two 
octaves of the inner rim with rock maple. Added bracing and 
mass loading beefs up the remaining treble belly rail with a 
high impedance perimeter, which patches most of the rim 
anchoring high frequency soundboard activity. From the middle 
of the scale on down, it isn't nearly as critical. If 
anything, I'd likely add a bit more bracing and mass loading 
to the treble rim and belly rail in something like a Yamaha, 
but I'm not altogether sure it's more critical than what I'd 
add to the Steinway. So no, while I'd probably make some 
changes, I'd not expect a big difference.
Ron N


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