Soundboard
The soundboard is the main part of the resonance body of the grand piano , upright piano and other acoustic keyboard instruments , which transmits the vibrations of the strings to the surrounding air and is therefore essential for the volume and sound of the instrument. It consists of a 6 to 13 mm thick spruce wood panel.
function
The strings run over one or more bridges that are glued to the soundboard. They are guided in such a way that they bend slightly at the bridge and exert pressure, the bridge pressure , on the soundboard. The vibrations of the strings are transmitted to the soundboard and to the surrounding air at the top and bottom. The sound generated in the air in this way is many times stronger than from the strings alone.
The decisive factors for the sound are the quality of the wood, the correct pressure on the bridge and the curvature, which piano makers primarily gain through years of experience and traditional tradition.
Manufacturing
Softwood strips (usually spruce, e.g. red spruce) are processed in such a way that the wood fibers run exactly parallel to the bridges on which the strings rest. These pieces of wood, called "chips", are butt-glued together in widths of 6 to 8 cm. For this reason it is necessary to use spruce that has been seasoned for many years to prevent cracking. After gluing, the floor gets its shape and excess material is removed in order to achieve the required thickness, which runs differently. Renewed air-conditioned storage with constant humidity and temperature conditions increases the longevity. Constructions made of multi-layered wood that cannot tear, but do not deliver the optimal sound result, are also stable.
Like a violin, the soundboard of a piano is arched; H. it is glued to the soundboard bearing with tension and arched upwards by additional "ribs" which are planed round. After gluing, the ends of the ribs are tapered to a special profile: The soundboard is given a higher and more controlled elasticity, which is expressed in improved acoustics.
Effects of cracks and crevices
Cracks and crevices also form in spite of all the aforementioned measures. The common statement that cracks make an instrument unusable is contradicted by the opinion that "a crack only reduces the sound in the ratio of the size of the crack to the size of the soundboard". Manufacturers and piano makers offer various repair methods for this. Therefore, a balanced room humidity is to be paid special attention.
New technic
The Yamaha company is taking a new approach: In an acoustic piano, an electronic sound signal is passed on to two "transducers" that are connected to the soundboard via coils. The coils set the soundboard vibrating and make the sound audible. The bridges, which are attached to the soundboard, transmit the vibrations to the strings, which then begin to vibrate.
See also
- Grand piano_ (keyboard instrument) #Resonanzboden
- Piano # components
- harpsichord
- Plucked instrument
- Ceiling (string instrument)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.piano-dilger.de/Techn__Fracht/Resonanzboden/resonanzboden.html
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original dated November 29, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ http://www.ulrich-van-aaken.de/steinway/DerResonanzboden
- ↑ http://de.yamaha.com/de/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/transacoustic/
