Pianotech

  • 1.  1884 Broadwood and Sons Soundboard

    Posted 10-11-2018 20:44
    I am restoring an 1884 Broadwood and Sons 8'4" Grand. The soundboard is slats of wood pressed side by side. I don't have experience to know if back in the day they were glued together. Fast forward to today you can see light between the boards. This is not cracks but just space between each board that comprises the sound board. Should I leave it as is or should I force glue into the seams to make it more like 1 continuous piece?

    Michael Russell
    Mike Russell Piano Services
    Charleston SC 29401
    843-813-3007


  • 2.  RE: 1884 Broadwood and Sons Soundboard

    Posted 10-11-2018 21:03
    Yes it was glued once. Do you have any pictures?
    Here's one that I restored many years ago.


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  • 3.  RE: 1884 Broadwood and Sons Soundboard

    Posted 10-12-2018 05:42
    Yes, that would have been glued. Probably not much crown to speak of in that vintage. Dry it well and shimand refinish the board. Repair the bridges as necessary and be sure to restring using wire of the correct tensile strength, keeping in mind the pitch it was originally intended for, which with Broadwood may have been higher or lower than A-440. They can be rescaled to 440 with a wire gauge change, but modern wire isn't appropriate for that vintage. 

    Have fun, Broadwoods always turn out great!





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    Philip Stewart, RPT
    NJ Piano Service
    609-774-7571
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