[pianotech] GH-1s

[Ron Nossaman]

On 12/20/2012 1:14 PM, Euphonious Thumpe wrote:
> As I sit in awe of this discussion (barely comprehending half of it!) I
> feel nevertheless inspired to inquire about the use of laminated ribs,
> and how they may provide some of the elasticity of "feathering", without
> so much loss of desirable strength?
>
> Thumpe

Laminated ribs tend to be more uniform and predictable, and just a bit 
stiffer. Otherwise, there's nothing magic about them. They aren't leaf 
springs, and act like solid wood when bent.


> P.S. The 1890's Knabes that I have use laminated ribs that are wide and
> shallow: seeming to indicate, to me at least, that wide ribs are NOT
> necessarily an indication of a purely CC board; but rather that this
> arrangement was chosen to provide a wide glue surface ( perhaps also
> wise because of the brittleness of hide glue) and make best use of a
> laminated rib's elasticity, without the undue stiffness that I suspect
> taller ribs would impart.

Stiffness isn't necessarily "undue", and whether the rib is laminated, 
crowned or not, panel compression will still help the rib support load. 
I've seen laminated and crowned ribs in the treble of old Knabes.
Ron N