[pianotech] Soundboard Repair

[Joseph Garrett]

Roger said: 
"Chuck,
I?m stepping out of my comfort zone to respond to your post ? a post that
may mislead new technicians who may be inclined to venture down the paths
of restoring 100 year old pianos. By simply filling the cracks with shims
and performing a static gluing of the panels to the ribs, your chances of
restoring a 100 year old soundboard to it?s original impedance character
are little to none.Your comment about a 1000% more ?vibrant? is misleading.
The stopgap repair certainly restored unity to the soundboard, but after
that, a piano with that much deterioration would have little to no tension
remaining within its composite structure. It defies the physics within the
soundboard to believe that a massive gluing of that nature restores any
rib-to-panel tension; tension that is necessary to the characteristics we
associate with good piano tone.
 
When I was young and felt I knew everything about the make-up of the piano
I ventured into a massive static soundboard re-gluing job where every rib
along 75% of its length was detached from the panels. The end result was a
disaster. It was like listening to a ballpein hammer striking against a
cast iron frying pan ? all attack and no decay. I would urge technicians to
seriously weigh the restoration investment to the end result before
engaging in such a massive reconditioning. A good new upright piano can be
had for $6,000 to $7,000, and it would have a new bridge, a new pinblock
with 2/0 tuning pins, and an entirely new action, plus much more. Is it
worth our reputation to encourage our clients to invest in a 100 year old
piano with that level of restoration liability?"

Roger,
I completely disagree with you! Just because your venture into this arena
was a disasster, does not mean that this kind of work is folly! I have done
many such jobs, that continue to give more than stellar performance after
my "heroics" in similar situations. Although there are some aspects of
Chuck's soundboard "rejuvenation" that I would not do or condone, the work
was done with good craftsmanship for the most part. I strongly urge all to
not use "Gorilla" glue on any repair such as this. It is a weak glue and
inappropriate for this work, imo. Secondly, I would not Shellac a board.
Although there are those who think that was the finish of the time, it was
not! It was Varnish. As to wether or not his project will provide a
resonant musical instrument or not, is yet to be seen/heard. There was one
step that I would have added to the process: wedge the board into an
exaggerated "crown" before the drying process and shimming. Del's article
on the use of water thin epoxy in adding stiffness will most certainly give
you a highly vibrant soundboard. I have three such, done that would blow
the doors off of any of these so called .."good new upright piano can be
had for $6,000 to $7,000, and it would have a new bridge, a new pinblock
with 2/0 tuning pins, and an entirely new action, plus much more.", piano
shaped objects that you speak of. (most are major PSO's and POS imo.) Then,
there is the aesthetic beauty of this sort of piano that is not available,
for any price. That in/of itself is justification for such a project.
(Unless you like polyester, high gloss, butt ugly moden pianos!) I
personally, would encourage any new tech to learn these rejuvenation
techniques and use them to their full value.
Respectfully,
Joe


Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I