[pianotech] NW Woods #2 soundboard panel

[Jude Reveley/Absolute Piano]

Bolduc doesn't deal in Sitka like we do. At any rate, it's ridiculous to expect color matching from Sitka, where the wood has as many as a dozen variations that may not even be apparent until the panel is sanded. I might expect a #2 panel to include a greater content of drift from vertical grain (even as much as 30 degrees) as well as some slope and even compression wood here and there. 

I haven't been brave enough to use this wood in the panels we make; but if it works out, I would sure like to know. I have tons of that stuff heating my home right now that I would gladly give away as long as you at least pay me to make the panel.

Better yet, let's learn to make our soundboards from panels made up of finger jointed planks. Mark my words, it's the wave of the future. 

Jude Reveley, RPT
Absolute Piano Restoration, LLC
Lowell, Massachusetts
(978) 323-4545
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 1:05 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] NW Woods #2 soundboard panel


  You might talk with Andre Bolduc or Christian about this. They have been wanting for years to begin blending the imperfect panels but have been constrained by the market which wants "white" boards. Andre claims that there is no noticeable tonal variation due to these imperfections. How scientific that is, I don't have the foggiest.

  Paul

  In a message dated 3/10/2009 11:58:33 P.M. Central Daylight Time, davidlovepianos at comcast.net writes:
    I think I typed this wrong in the subject line, it should be a #2 board,
    which I've now corrected, but here's what I'm after.  A B sized #2 board,
    for example, costs less than 1/3 the price of a #1 board ($200 versus $650).
    Significant enough to wonder about.  They don't promise matching color (not
    the end of the world), they may be a mixture various grains per inch (not a
    big deal if you're not compression crowning which I'm not), they may have a
    couple of bark or sap marks (easy to repair and blend) but otherwise a claim
    of no tonal drop off, i.e. only cosmetic differences.  So I'm wondering if
    anyone has used one to be able to comment on that aspect.  Over 10 boards
    that becomes a significant difference in cost.  I see some old Steinway
    panels that aren't necessarily that well color or grain matched and it
    doesn't seem to be an issue.  So if no one has actually used one, what are
    the possible concerns in terms of tonal output?

    David Love
    www.davidlovepianos.com

    -----Original Message-----
    From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
    Of Ron Nossaman
    Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 8:15 PM
    To: pianotech at ptg.org
    Subject: Re: [pianotech] NW Woods #3 soundboard panel

    erwinspiano at aol.com wrote:
    > Privately
    >   Dale

    Then why the hell didn't you reply privately to David in the 
    first place? There are others who'd like to hear the assessment.
    Ron N





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