John Koelle

Soundboard

     The soundboard is the amplifier of tone.  In a quality vintage piano what we look for in a soundboard is crown [curve] and carry of tone.  Since spruce trees grow only 6 to 8 inches in diameter and all good soundboards are made of spruce it is necessary for a soundboard to be made of a series of boards.

     It is not uncommon for cracks to develop due to expansion and contraction as well as a result of glue joints drying out.  These problems are remedied by drying the board down and shimming with spruce shims.  The soundboard is then sanded down and refinished.