> A very interesting procedure. Do you remove the sound boards and then
 > the ribs to recrown?  And if a bass bridge is in tact, why remove it;
 > I have not found this to be a necessary course of action.

Thank you for your inquiry.

We do not remove the soundboard unless it just falls out.  I like it if
it does!  We find that only 1 in 20 old uprights have bass bridges that
are not loose or ready to drop.  We remove the screws and pull--not
enough to remove it if it is well glued but enough to see that it is
well glued. As I say, in most cases it is loose.  In most cases, once
removed the bridge is also loose from the apron.  Once again an attempt
is made to remove it in order to check the integrity of the glue.  In
ANY case 3-4 wood screws are added in the apron/bridge joint.  (From
the back, of course!)

Because of the stir I have caused by mentioning this standard (to us)
procedure, I am considering publishing a small book on recrowning the
soundboard of pianos.  I have tried to find techs who do this proceedure
and have only found 1 still alive.  All the (3) guys who showed me are
now dead.  I am making  photos of the mentioned reverse crown piano to
go with the book.  Needless to say it is not something to be able to
send in an E mail.  I have found several people who talk about recrowning
as if it were a mysterious Masonic ritual or something. I do not ever
consider replacing a soundboard unless someone drove a truck through it.

D. L. Bullock  Piano World  St. Louis