Steinway A Soundboard Begun

ROUGH RIBS CHOSEN FOR LENGTH AND SPECIES


RUBS CUT TO WIDTH, BEING FITTED IN RIM NOTCHES


COMPLETED RIBS DRY FIT IN PIANO

This week I began building the soundboard for my Steinway grand. The foundation for the new soundboard is the ribs, so that is where we begin. Using the old soundboard as a pattern, rib stock is choose by length, grain density and wood species. Three wood species are generally used. Those being Sitka Spruce, Eastern White Spruce, and Sugar Pine. The Sitka Spruce is the most dense and has the tightest grain pattern, but it is also harder to work. The Eastern White Spruce is a bit lighter than the Sitka, and is generally easier to work. The Sugar Pine is even lighter and softer, and very easy to work. There are different theories as to which wood is better. Sometimes different species are used in the same board. Generally the theory is that the tighter heavier wood will give more reflective resonance in the high notes, and the lighter Sugar Pine gives the middle of the board more flexibility, and that the end of the board needs a little more strength due to the double bridge load in that section. That is how I configured this board. Does it make a difference? It's hard to say.

After the rough ribs are chosen, they need to be cut to length, width and height. I cut the width first, length next, and finally the thickness after a crown is cut unto the rib. Finally the end cutouts are band sawed and sanded as per the original board. Each rib is individually fitted into the notch in the liner with very close tolerances. This will assure me of a very solid foundation that I can build the remaining board and bridge structure upon.