The soundboard is glued to the top of the belly rail.
"Italian Harpsichord-Building in the 16th and 17th Centuries"
John D. Shortridge
In this respect of mechanical dexterity, the great master has had few rivals; he was apparently equally at home in subduing to his requirements a log of tough, curled maple, as in gently reducing the exquisitely refined growth of pine that was to act as a soundboard in throwing out the luscious quality of tone associated with his name.
"Antonio Stradivari"
Horace William Petherick