Varnish--Hard finish vs Soft finish

[Erwinspiano@AOL.COM]

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In a message dated 1/11/2002 7:26:08 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
joegarrett@earthlink.net writes:


> Subj:Varnish--Hard finish vs Soft finish
> .

    Wow Joe At this point having applied lots of both and heard other rebuilt 
pianos with polyurethane (not polyester) finish. I can't say I agree but 
thetas O.K. I'm still thinking about your experience. I've heard lots of 
really fine sounding pianos with both. At this juncture I'm far more 
convinced of the type of spruce that I like the sound of regardless of the 
finish. I've used all or many varieties of spruce (I think) And I personally 
like the sounds of Sitka hands down and think it has little to do with the 
finish. 
    Currently both sides of my panels recieve a good wet coat of sprayed on 
shellac which soaks in and seems to have a case hardening effect.(I don't 
know but it seems like if soundboards are moving air that this should be a 
good thing.) This is what all the good old boys did and then they applied the 
varnish which as you know has a dis -similar solvent than shellac (alcohol 
base) and to my knowledge cannot penetrate the shellac coat and soak into the 
wood or am I missing something there.
    My second coats are one wet coat sanding sealer one or two coats gloss 
lacquer
     Sanding sealer is less brittle because of the stearates that aid sanding 
than clear gloss lacquer
   Also there as many reasons a piano can sound thin other than just the 
finish of course, just take your pick. Most pianos sound thin to me for two 
primary reasons 1. hard pressed hammers or lack of voicing and 2. Not enough 
downbearing
  Also as it was pointed out varnishes get hard and or brittle over time too.
  No offense this seems incredibly subjective but I'm not discounting 
experience, yours or anybody else's, because I have some pet theories too. 
After many years of experience we know what we know, Subjective or not. Does 
that make sense?  Further thoughts Joe?
   I'll coat the next board with varnish and let you what I think. I'll use 
your brand. Won't be long As I have a Mason A board about to get to that 
point.
    
               Best---Dale Erwin


> 
> 
> I ran into a beautiful Bechstein, 7' grand one time many years ago. It had
> been "rebuilt" in Europe by a "highly recommended" rebuilder. The finish was
> exquisite, the action work was acceptable, the stringing was acceptable, the
> tone/sound was lousy! It took me a while to figure it out. While I was
> crawling around under the piano, I noticed gobs of "finish" around the nose
> bolt holes. Upon careful examination I discovered that the "rebuilder" had
> finished the board with a Polyester Finish!!! It looked beautiful, but that
> board was as dead as any board I have ever seen, before or since. Another
> aspect, that I find in my preferences, is that the sound of pianos with
> lacquered boards, really offends my ear; whereas those with a Varnish finish
> pleases my ear. Now, having said that, that is my personal preference. The
> sound appears "thin" to me, in the lacquered boards. As I am talking about
> new as well as rebuilt pianos, I have to attribute all that to the finish
> used. There have been many articles written about the "Varnishes" of the
> great Violin makers, etc. It is my belief that the varnish does have a great
> deal to do with the tone the wood produces. For one thing, varnish soaks
> into the wood, (this is the reason I use the very best natural esters type
> varnish that I can find. I believe these esters, (or whatever you want to
> call them), are natural to wood and I believe that filling the pores with
> them, enhances the board's ability to produce a more mellow, (my
> preference), tone. For those who like the brittle sound of modern "cookie
> cutter" pianos, forget the varnish and use lacquer. Just MHO. I could go on
> for several paragraphs about this, but I'm sure there are those who are glad
> that I don't. <G>
> Regards,
> Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)
> 



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