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I am a piano technician who purchased a new Baldwin R Grand 3 years ago. To my dismay, I have discovered a split in the soundboard about the width of a line drawn by a fine ballpoint pen. It runs with the grain of the wood from underthe G3 damper to the rim of the piano. A light can be seen shining through from under the piano. I have called the dealer who is contacting Baldwin. What do normal manufacturers do in this case? Considering the turbulent situatiuon at Baldwin, I am very worried. It does not affect the sound yet but if I tried to sell the piano, the resale value is practically destroyed. I have tuned many Baldwin Grands many years older and have yet to see a cracked soundboard. Any ideas or guesses as to what Baldwin will do?Thanks, Thammer

That's certainly a most extraodinary and disconcerting discovery to say the least!
I would think that the warrantee you got at the time of purchase might say something about this. And I'd suggest you consider contacting a lawyer as well(all the moreso because of the Baldwin bankruptcy and subsequent Gibson acquisition).

Mark Mandell www.pianosource.com

Thanks,rebldr, I hope it gets resolved.

Are you sure aliens didn't probe your piano?? Seriously, Baldwins come with at least a 10 year guarentee. Approach your dealer with this first, if no response, try Gibson. Do this by letter - and follow up with a phone call. Your area of the country is very dry. The soundboard was probably not properly dried out at manufacture, and installed in the Arkansas summer humidity, and cracked when your dry air shrank the wood. Replacing a cracked board means removing the strings and plate. Also, try raising the humidity in the piano room to 30%-45%. This may close the crack.

thanks, Bob, I wil keep on trying.