Soundboard Construction Methods

[Richard Brekne]

Hi JD.

I've heard Overs # 6  a laminated RC&S board  (which strikes me as the 
best RC&S approach to date), and I've heard a Nossaman rebuild... both 
at Rochester.  To my ears they both had fine voices.... particularly the 
Overs... but thats just my subjective ears at work.  I also heard the 
Phoenix recently.... a kind of Stuart variant if you will with bridge 
agraffes a bit different then others I've read about.  I thought it was 
rather strange sounding.... pleasant but lacking that initial explosion 
of sound and accompanying decay.  Rather the initial attack was rather 
subdued and the decay was much more smoothly spread out.  Some would no 
doubt love this kind of sound... I found it .... well pleasing yes... 
but limiting. 

Point is...to repeat.... there should be no question as to the viability 
of all three different approaches. They all work well.  That fact should 
not in any way be a hindrance for anyone to try out different things and 
different materials.  Quite the opposite really...  Its just that it all 
gets muddied when folks start moving in the hopeless direction of <<this 
is soooo much better>> because of essentially the same blah blah blah 
marketing departments have been blowing out their behinds for as long as 
markets have existed.  And make no mistake about it... the RC&S issue 
most definitely has its marketing side.  Heck... these guys have to 
actually survive too :)

I'd say build one.... I'm quite sure you'll enjoy the experience... heck 
you may even become a convert !! 

Cheers
RicB


    Now my experience and taste suggest to me that the qualities I am
    looking for are closely connected to the state of compression of the
    soundboard.  I am at a disadvantage in not having had direct contact
    or heard recordings made with pianos whose soundboards are made by
    variations of the "RCS" method.  To say I am open-minded would be
    mildly hyperbolic, but I'd like to know where I can hear them
    on-line.  My mind opens and changes very promptly when I get evidence
    to dispel my illusions.

    JD