Is the piano ruined if the soundboard is cracked?
Not usually. Wood tends to dry out and crack. The large expanse of the soundboard, under a lot of pressure all the time, eventually will develop some cracks. If the crack is along the bridge line, this creates serious problems, since the downward pressure of the strings forces the crack to widen, eliminating the necessary arc. Usually the cracks are not in those areas and at most will cause buzzes which can be eliminated. If the piano is ever restrung, the cracks can be repaired properly.
