[pianotech] Soundboard Analysis

David Love davidlovepianos at comcast.net
Wed Jun 22 10:11:57 MDT 2011


You might need html to view this.

 

Below is a chart that I use for soundboard analysis.  Measurements are taken
before and after taking the tension down.  Crown sections are measured
between the ribs using a string stretched as far as possible and a wedge
gauge (very low tech).  I try and correspond the measurement of the crown
with the downbearing measurements in terms of location.  An analysis of the
soundboard rib design can also be made using the rib dimensions-I haven't
done that yet.  Downbearing measurements are Lowell gauge readings.  Note
that .0175 corresponds to about 1 degree.  

 

I won't tell you what my conclusion was about this soundboard but you might
be able to guess.  (Steinway AIII)

 

Question to ponder:  Why would it be that although there is a positive
change in downbearing when the tension comes off there is no apparent change
in measured crown?  Also note (not included in the data below) that when
measuring the change in distance from the struts to the bridge in the upper
end of the piano (from about rib #6 to the top) the average change was about
1 mm (the board rose about 1 mm).  

 

BTW this board had received a lot of shimming perhaps with the idea of
restoring crown???  What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rib#                       Crown                              DB w-ten/wo
Rib L    H        W  (mm)

Or section           w-ten/ wo-ten

 

1                              2/2
.006/.015                             600         17           28

 

2                              2/2
.006/.015                             790         20           27

 

3                              2/2
.009/.012                             940         20           27

 

4                              1.5/2.5
-.006/.003                            1040       20           27

 

5                              0/.5
-.003/.003                            1080       22           27

 

6                              0/0
-.009/.006                            1120       21           27

 

7                              0/0
.006/.018                             940         21           26

 

8                              0/0
.006/.021                             660         20           25

                                                                

9                              0/0
.006/.027                             560         20           18           

 

10                           0/0
.018/.042                             390         18           23

 

11                           0/0
.022/.045                             340         17           23

 

12                           0/0
.025/.050                             270         16           23

 

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

 

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