Speaking of WD40....

[Tom Servinsky]

List,
Got a real interesting situation with a Steinway B which has been in my care 
for the past 20 yrs. The piano was a pretty decent B, even though  it was 
built during prime CBS years. The board had plenty of power and sustain and 
the piano was kept in good condition . Then one day it all changed for the 
worse.
I was about to do the tuning when I noticed the soundboard had a very 
different amber color to it. Then to my attonishment, there was no 
sustain...zilch. It was about that time when the owner's husband stepped 
into the living room and announced that he fixed the piano. "Huhhh?"
"Yep, sprayed WD40 everywhere". I almost had a heart attack. The wife was a 
piano teacher and she was sickened with what he had done. From that point it 
soundboard more like an Aeolian spinet than a Steinway B.
So fast forward some 15yrs and the owner passes and wils the piano to the 
local college. Now the college wants the board  repaired as best as possible 
without replacing it.
Question: Can WD40 penetrate the finish on the soundboard? Or will it just 
lay on top can create a residue, which is what I am hoping. My hopes is that 
( once) the soundboard is stripped and the thick layer of gooh removed, the 
soundboard will come back to life.Anyone out there with any experience with 
this type of problem?
Just for the record I have isolated the problem to the soundboard. I have 
replaced several strings and did a pluck test to see if I can gain any 
sustain and nothing much improves. I've replaced hammers on those same notes 
seeing if anything can be improve. But it still points back to the thick 
layer of gooh on the soundboard. Plenty of crown and positive downbearing as 
well.
Tom Servinsky