I think working to measurements is definitely a good way to acquire
that intimite familiarity with your material and tools that will allow you
to work 'intuitively', making soundboards by smell alone, as owen
describes. Measuring and working towards recorded example measurements is a
way of getting virtual feedback when you dont have a mentor handy to make
guiding comments.

It's like using a honing guide and particular numerical angles, for
sharpening plane blades - it teaches you how to sharpen without numerical
angles or honing guides

On Saturday, August 27, 2016, Owen Daly <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I don’t measure soundboard thicknesses. I go by eye, by feel and by sound.
> It will sound Luddite, and some will cavil, but if they doubt the utility
> of this approach, the only suggestion I could possibly have would be to ask
> for independent assessments from those who know my work. Pointless to ask a
> builder touting his views, but third parties who have experience with the
> instruments might be able to give their independent assessments.
>
> In my view, unless you want to know what old guys did and measure, it’s a
> complete distraction from doing good work.
>
> What analytical scale do you use to measure how many milligrams of sea
> salt you put in your risotto?
>
> owen
>
>
> On Aug 26, 2016, at 9:00 PM, HPSCHD-L automatic digest system <
> [log in to unmask] <javascript:;>> wrote:
>
> > There are 5 messages totaling 245 lines in this issue.
> >
> > Topics of the day:
> >
> >  1. measuring thickness of soundboard (4)
> >  2. measuring soundboard thickness
> >
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Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
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