ANATOMY OF A PIANO
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PIANO PLATE, RIM AND BRACES
When tuned at concert pitch, a grand piano has more than 200 strings contributing to over twenty tons of string tension that a piano has to be able to withstand.
To resist this tension, a piano contains a cast iron piano ‘plate’ that is mounted above the soundboard and backframe assembly. This plate, made to a specific manufacturer’s scale design and weight, is a major component of the solid foundation of a piano’s strength.
Since the strings are attached to the heavy cast iron plate, it is designed to minimise the absorption of vibrations, so more ‘sound’ is transmitted to the bridge and soundboard.
The rim supports the sound-producing parts of the piano (soundboard and bridges etc) and must be constructed of the finest hardwoods. Acoustically, the rim’s purpose is to maximise the amount of vibrational energy on the soundboard, rather than have it flow through the casing.
Thick wooden braces on the underside of grand pianos or the back of uprights are not as acoustically important as the rim, but play a vital role in supporting the piano. Therefore, selection of materials for these parts is another important consideration for manufacturers. |
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