Vertical and Horizontal Cracks

[HBrock25]

Can anyone explain the difference between a vertical and a horizontal crack on the soundboard? Which is more severe?

Also, what factors (major and minor) will affect the wood of the soundboard, causing it to crack?

[kreig-kitts]

Carl Swanson discusses types of cracks in his book. You can also see some remarks in this thread on the types of cracks to worry about:

http://www.harpcolumn.com/forum/message-view?message_id=12625908

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

It is not good to have cracks, but the important distinction is if they are in the veneer only, or in the sounding board underneath? If only in the veneer, then the veneer can be replaced, if in the sounding board, then both have to be replaced, unless it sounds fine, in which case, just keep playing until it doesn’t.

[carl-swanson]

All soundboards have the wood grain running side to side(horizontal). If the soundboard on your harp has the grain running bottom to top(vertical) then what you are seeing is the veneer.

Cracks that run side to side, in the direction of the actual soundboard, usually occur because of wood shrinkage due to dryness in the air. These types of cracks will never cause the soundboard to fail or require it to be replaced.

Vertical cracks that are deep and run within an inch of the center strip(where the strings exit the soundboard) are signs that the soundboard is failing and will need to be replaced. The vertical cracks can occur on either side of the center strip and can appear on a board that is barely pulled up or on a board that is very pulled up.

Vertical cracks that occur in a veneered soundboard and which are very thin and sometimes numerous are probably only in the veneer and are not a sign that the board is failing. These kinds of veneer cracks are caused by dryness in the air.

For these reasons, it is extremely important to run a humidifier during the months that the heat is on. It’s the single most important thing you can do to preserve your harp.

[Sarah W]

Thanks everyone! The type of cracks i’m dealing with is just ‘Vertical cracks that occur in a veneered soundboard and which are very thin and sometimes numerous’. i wouldn’t have to worry for now then.

Thanks for all the advice. I will take note of them.

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