What is "sound post"

Sounding \Sound"ing\, n.

1. The act of one who, or that which, sounds (in any of the senses of the several verbs).

2. (Naut.) [From Sound to fathom.]

   1. measurement by sounding; also, the depth so ascertained.

   2. Any place or part of the ocean, or other water, where a sounding line will reach the bottom; -- usually in the plural.

   3. The sand, shells, or the like, that are brought up by the sounding lead when it has touched bottom.

      Sounding lead, the plummet at the end of a sounding line.

      Sounding line, a line having a plummet at the end, used in making soundings.

      Sounding post (Mus.), a small post in a violin, violoncello, or similar instrument, set under the bridge as a support, for propagating the sounds to the body of the instrument; -- called also sound post.

      Sounding rod (Naut.), a rod used to ascertain the depth of water in a ship's hold.

      In soundings, within the eighty-fathom line.
      --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

alt. (context music lutherie English) A dowel located in the interior of an instrument of the (w: violin family), sandwiched between the sound board and the back plate (but not glued to them), whose primary purpose is to counter the pressure of the tensed strings on the sound board (through the bridge), and whose beneficial side effect is to transmit sound from the sound board to the back plate, aiding to produce resonance. n. (context music lutherie English) A dowel located in the interior of an instrument of the (w: violin family), sandwiched between the sound board and the back plate (but not glued to them), whose primary purpose is to counter the pressure of the tensed strings on the sound board (through the bridge), and whose beneficial side effect is to transmit sound from the sound board to the back plate, aiding to produce resonance.

In a string instrument, the sound post or soundpost is a small dowel inside the instrument under the treble end of the bridge, spanning the space between the top and back plates and held in place by friction. It serves as a structural support for an archtop instrument, transfers sound from the top plate to the back plate and alters the tone of the instrument by changing the vibrational modes of the plates.

The sound post is sometimes referred to as the âme, a French word meaning "soul". The bow has also been referred to as the soul of these instruments. The Italians use the same term, anima, for this.

Sound posts are used:

• In all members of the violin family;
• In some members of the viol family;
• In some archtop guitars;
• In other string instruments.