Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Soundboard Preparation


Here is the plate removed from the case and sound board. I asked an experienced restorer over the internet about the procedure to get this out and he said..."you're a brave man for trying to remove the plate." Well, he was right, it sucked. Consider that every one of the 30 individual screws that I removed needs to be renovated and painted individually...



The pictures that follow show the plate removed, and some detail of what lurks underneath the slim aperture between the plate and the soundboard beneath. I do not believe that the plate has been removed for at least 80 years. The recent restorations were all done without removing the plate. Also, note that the instrument is no longer in the house, but in the workshop...











4 comments:

Ideum said...

Mike keep up the good work/
Yer bro

glynne said...

Michael,Very impressed by your restoration.Im restoring a JB Cramer /Srard grand piano built in 1864 id no 7933.Apart from the legs wallnut finish and music stand its identical to your Erard. I would like your advice on loosening the 30 large wood screws on the plate,and the 29 bolts and screws on the long bars,they are all very tight.

Dan said...

My erard 61482 now has plate removed, pin/pin plate removed, hammers are in Germany for refelt, new wound strings coming from Tennessee, My guild tech Dick is rebuilding the action and will build and install s board next mo.
I am doing case refinish and regluing all keytops. pin holes to be drilled 1/4 inch deeper for new pins. Dan Fahrlander danfahr@q.com

Wim said...

One of the better refelting companies using exactly the same kind of felt for the year of your piano: http://www.les-ateliers-desfougeres.com/GB/regarnissage-marteaux.html
DON´T put in a new soundboard AAAA