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THE MAKING OF A PIANO: By Anton Zanesco

MAKING THE SOUNDBOARD
The soundboard of a Piano is made of Spruce (Picea). There have been attempts to use other materials in the making of piano soundboards, but Spruce has proven to be without equal for producing good tone. (continued below)



The Reasons why Picea is the Choice are as follows:
A) The Wood is light and elastic, making it easy to bring the Board into Motion.
B) The grain structure is even and straight, and the energy can travel fast and without Interruption.
C) Long fibers give the Spruce superior flexibility and is able to withstand the great tension exerted on it by the strings.


The best Materials to build Instruments also have to be prepared and dried with great care. The best trees grow, in General, on north-facing, gentle slopes within a stand. Other factors are:
A) High altitude means longer winters, shorter growing season, and a tight grain pattern, which creates the desired tone characteristics.
B) North-facing means that the treetops, as they reach for the Sunrays, develope most of the Branches, rendering the Need for Branches below unneccessary and creating clear, branchless trunks.
C) Gentle slopes, because water runs off and the tree will not develop rot as easy. Gentle slopes also allow the tree to grow straight, without tensionwood developed by hard years.

HARVEST
the best time to harvest Spruce is in the Month of Nov and Dec.
The Reasons are:
A) It makes the least Impact on the forest floor as the topsoil is frozen.
B) Growth is dormant and the dimension of the Tree is at a minimal. This means that there is less chances of spliting and shrinking in the drying process.
C)Chemical processes within that Timeframe are designed by nature to protect the tree. This translates into less chance of rot in the drying process. In Europe, where Spruce is a mainsource for timber, log structures built with wood from winter-cut trees are hundreds of years old and in exellent condition.

* Check back often as Anton writes and adds new sections to this informational document about making a piano.

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