Our soundboard repairs utilize an advanced synthetic wood that bonds with the original wood in the soundboard. Our method for repairing cracks in original soundboards is one of our special family woodworking methods. Soundboard Restoration | The Chupp’s Pianos Differenceĭue to the inherent issues with the shim repair method, we do not use shims when completing these repairs. Many of these repairs have simply resulted in the soundboard cracking on either side of the shim repair creating additional problems. We have seen dozens of piano soundboards in which the shim method was utilized. Even wood taken from old soundboards that are the same age as the one being repaired will swell and contract at a different rate. The dimensional instability of the new wood is far greater than the dimensional instability of the original wood utilized in the soundboard.
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This means you’ll soon have a crack on either side of the repair.” Even if you could magically make your shim fit perfectly, the newer wood will begin to expand and contract in a fairly short time. “The new piece of wood is going to expand and contract at a different rate. “Wood is a living organism,” says Daniel Chupp, a craftsman in the family business. Even if you insert a piece of wood that is of the same general age and type, there is no way to match them exactly. So why is this repair method a potential issue? The problem with this method stems primarily from the use of two different kinds of wood. A strip of wood is then forced into this gap and glued. When installing a shim repair the crack is opened, scraped and enlarged. This has become a popularly adopted technique for repairing soundboards.
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One method for repairing cracks in a soundboard requires inserting a shim of wood into the cracked board. Our soundboard restoration process does not use shims. Our soundboard restoration process ensures optimum stability returns to the board. When an original soundboard needs restoration, we evaluate the board to ensure structural integrity, hand sand it and repair any damage and cracks utilizing our special methods. We have developed and perfected unique and advanced repair techniques, so this option is often a viable one. When we are rebuilding a piano, often we can retain the original factory soundboard. Many clients prefer the use of the original soundboard. In that respect, we’re operating in the same tradition as the original Steinway family.” – Dennis Chupp “Our family has had five generations of woodworkers and skilled craftsmen, handing down woodworking secrets and expertise through those five generations. Utilizing our vast amount of woodworking experience along with continued innovation results in a high quality finished product and a restored level of tone. This is the option that offers the best quality of tone and stability. However, if the soundboard is heavily cracked and damaged, this is when a new custom fitted soundboard is recommended.
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Many times it is possible to retain and restore the original soundboard preparing it for many more decades of service. This is when the board should be fully inspected and its condition evaluated. Our Soundboard Restorations – Blending The Old & The NewĪfter decades of constant pressure from the strings and varying environmental conditions, the soundboard inside of a Steinway piano can crack, become loose from the supporting ribs and it may lose its crown. This can result in cracks and loose soundboard ribs. Constant pressure is placed on the board which allows the sound of the vibrating strings to resonate with power and sustain. The soundboard in any piano is exposed to humidity and other environmental swings during its lifetime. The strings cross over the board and transmit their vibrations to the soundboard through the bridge. This is then supported by numerous ribs that are attached to the underside. Many individual planks of this resonate wood are glued together to form a single soundboard. This resulted in the legendary soundboard stability and tonal quality for which Steinway is known.Ī traditional soundboard is made of solid spruce. As the wood dried completely, it became extremely stable. After the wood was cut, it was then cured for up to seven years using special racks that allowed the outdoor air to circulate around the boards. With so much of the work being done by hand, each piano took on its own special characteristics. A hundred years ago Steinway soundboards, made of soft, vibrant spruce wood, were harvested and crafted by the hands and tools of foresters. Good technology has always been a large part of building a Steinway & Sons piano.