Wood for piano soundboards
Daniel W. Haines · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1989
The wood soundboard of the piano is among the most important components of the instrument. It is essential for projecting the desired volume of sound, and the soundboard material strongly influences the quality of the sound. As it is for the sound radiating elements of many string instruments, spruce is the unanimous choice of wood for piano soundboards. The reasons for the use of spruce and selection criteria for superior performance will be discussed.