cracked soundboard? (baby grand)
Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Melodytune
cracked soundboard? (baby grand)
I recently acquired a baby grand piano that I was told has a cracked soundboard. How would I go about verifying this and what is the general cost for replacing/repairing this? I am a long-time piano player, but very naive to mechanics of pianos. Many thanks!
If the piano's still sounding OK with no buzzes or odd noises I'd be tempted to leave it. Soundboard cracks occur along the grain. Since sound has a hard time crossing wood grain anyway (it's transmitted along the grain, and the bars underneath the soundboard transmit across the board) the reduction in actual volume produced by the piano can be negligible. I'd be more concerned if the bars under the soundboard are coming detached, or if the soundboard has dropped as a result of the crack though.
As a rule, baby grands of no fixed pedigree aren't worth the cost of repair, so unless it's a Steinway model S, Bluthner 4'11" or something else very sexy then the repair cost may be more than the piano's worth.
If it sounds OK and holds in tune then just enjoy it as it is!
As a rule, baby grands of no fixed pedigree aren't worth the cost of repair, so unless it's a Steinway model S, Bluthner 4'11" or something else very sexy then the repair cost may be more than the piano's worth.
If it sounds OK and holds in tune then just enjoy it as it is!
thanks!
Thank you for the advice.
I was told by the previous owner that the soundboard had to be repaired or tuned often. The piano was made in 1923 from Cable Company of Chicago. I'll probably have someone come out and give me a $ estimate. Thanks again!
I was told by the previous owner that the soundboard had to be repaired or tuned often. The piano was made in 1923 from Cable Company of Chicago. I'll probably have someone come out and give me a $ estimate. Thanks again!
The soundboard has little bearing on the tuning (unless it's a real shocker!) but if it was the *wrestplank* or pin-block that's cracked, then it's essential to get it replaced.
A good indication is if you wait for it to get out of tune then play a chromatic scale across the whole keyboard. If *alternate* notes sound especially out of tune, then the pin-block's knackered and that's serious!
A good indication is if you wait for it to get out of tune then play a chromatic scale across the whole keyboard. If *alternate* notes sound especially out of tune, then the pin-block's knackered and that's serious!