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Harpsichords and Related Topics

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Subject:
From:
Andrew Bernard <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Harpsichords and Related Topics <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 9 Sep 2018 01:56:37 +1000
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Hi Michael,

There are a lot of factors here. Removing the name board may make the sound
a bit louder at the player position. Increasing volume even slightly
strongly affects people's aural judgement. A well known technique used by
hifi salespeople when demonstrating gear to customers is to turn up the
volume just a little bit on the gear they want them to buy (the more
expensive item) when doing A/B comparison tests. Even 1-2dB can bias a
listener to a given system. [I'm not making this up.] I think something
like that may be happening for you. As for it  'singing better', if singing
mostly means sustain, then if the amplitude of the sound is slightly louder
you will hear partials longer in their decay, which could sound like
singing longer. But I think it is self evident that removing the nameboard
is not going to actually affect the vibration of the strings to any
measurable degree. David pointed out that removing the music desk can have
the same effect.

Andrew


On Sat, 8 Sep 2018 at 19:09, Shields, Michael <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Not exactly the same thing, but I am convinced my harpsichord (no
> soundboard hole) sings better (for the player at least) when the nameboard
> over the keys is raised or removed.
>

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