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I wonder, were soundboxes designed for fibre needles designed to be lighter in weight than soundboxes designed for steel needles ?

Or is this something (else) I have just imagined ?

I know in the world of EMG and Expert, the opposite is true, it was always thought that a heavier soundbox would be better at compressing the fiber needle tip into the groove, my EMG and Expert 4 spring soundboxes, intended for fiber needles weigh 214 grams, I certainly wouldn't want to use a steel needle with a soundbox of that weight

I don't think so. Take Victor / HMV for example: their soundboxes were unchanged irrespective of the addition of a fibre needle friendly needle chuck.

In the case of EMG and Expert if anything, the opposite is true. The 4 spring Dynamic Expert soundbox was designed primarily for fibres and yet its a lot heavier than the 2 spring type which was suitable for either steel or fibre needles.

PS - I see Alex added a post which crossed with mine and he says the same thing! Like minds, hey?

Thank you very much kirtley2012 and steve.

Very good information for me to remember.

All this seems to contrast with the habit of many thorn needles users, who apply counterweights in order to decrease the tracking wheight. Is there any relevant difference concerning tracking weight between fibre (bamboo) and thorn needles, perhaps?