Speaking of WD40....

[Mike Spalding]

Tom,

You didn't mention bridge pins.  I'd be suspicious that the junk wicked 
into the bridge cap around the pins.  If the cap wood got spongified 
(i.e. with sponge-like properties) that would kill the sound for sure. 

Mike

Tom Servinsky wrote:
> 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
>
>