Antique piano chords old because the soundboard, bridges, hammers and strings are no longer working properly. Often in art restoration, the hammers and strings replaced with new ones, the soundboard and bridges seem to just be treated with a Band-Aid mentality.
There is more that meets the eye when it comes to acoustic piano soundboard.
First Shape.
Most people are surprised to learn piano soundboard is arched in shape. Archos is so small though Sound Board may look flat, but they are made so that the center is approximately 1/8 “higher than the outer edges. After the cables are installed, and pressure is applied to the sound board, the bow can be as small as 1/16”.
The balancing act.
When Sound Board is doing its job properly, it is moving freely while maintaining a thousand pounds in the form of pressure. Now here’s the amazing fact- Sound Boards are systematically under engineer. If it was designed just to keep thousands of pounds of its existence, the support beams (ribs) was much larger and Sound Board would lose the leeway. Translations – It would sound horrible. So, what tricks have engineers use to ensure that Sound Board will be strong enough and have freedom of movement?
An invisible force.
Piano makers use natural Wood signs of decreasing and increasing the advantage. When a new soundboard is made moisture in the wood is removed, and the Sound Board in this dried state when it is glued inside the piano. The board will then grow as it takes on moisture. But since it is confined in the piano and it grows, it will not grow physically, but internally as a hygroscopic effect. This value adds remaining strength control needed to keep a thousand pounds.
But there was a price to pay for freedom.
Hygroscopic effect is temporary. I like to carry a piano soundboard in this context to tennis balls. A new ball is full of bounce and energy, but after being struck repeatedly during the game, the energy, and the ball “old” with less energy. The piano soundboard behave exactly like that. As Sound Board goes through time, it expands and contracts and fatigues.
How long will they last?
No one can say for sure how long in years Sound Board can last. History shows that the acoustic changes around 75 years (or even before) and most are toast in 100 years. The icons are flatness, cracks and short lived. It is “old” and tired sound antique piano has. Simply make crack is cosmetic, and does not address the real problem of fatigue.
A New Beginning.
Why perform cosmetic repair 100th soundboard? When a new board is installed it is comforting that the piano is good for another 100 years with superior tone. There is nothing like listening to or playing the piano singing of power, warmth, and with a long sustain.
My latest example.
I just finished installing a new board in 1929 Heintzman Grand. The original table had a long crack had been repaired in previous rebuild. The Sound Board was also flat as a pancake. Further analysis revealed that when the board came out of the factory and it was made of thick and heavy (cut corners because of the Great Depression, no doubt). The board was like Acoustic sheet of drywall. It would have been a great disservice to customers to simply try a Band Aid repair. When I did the new regime, I was able to make it 5 pounds lighter and repeated listening, the more you can remove the inner sealing area. The result was a table that had 3 other up and sounded like a deep bass drum. The piano became one of the best sounding piano I’ve ever heard.
When you decide to Piano restored, consider new board installed. There were so many great design from a hundred years ago that have long been forgotten by most. But there is a chance if you ask me.
If you love the piano, it is very worth it!