Authentic Steinway sound board dilemma

[Frank Weston]

JIMRPT@aol.com wrote:
> 
> List;
>   Although I find the conversation quite enlightening re:soundboard finishes,
> I am somewhat perlexed.  Isn't it an anachronism to want a piano to sound
> like new, play like new, look like new......except for the sounding board
> which you want to look like it has aged 50 or so years?  Granted, Shellac has
> the characteristics of imparting some color to the board, or any material it
> is used on, depending on the cut and type used.  But do we really want to
> make the Board look old?...........original S&S boards did not look "orange"
> did they?  Isn't most of the Orange color a function of aging ?

Original boards did look amber/orange, as do boards newly finished with
orange shellac.

>   I really like working with shellac and varnish, when I want that look, but
> I use nitrocellulose for soundboards. This for two reasons; 1. ease of use 2.
> Fast build up of realtively benign (acoustically)  nice looking finish that
> enhances the beauty of the board while providing a relatively high degree of
> protection to the board.

See my comments to Del in previous post.

>   To respond to Danny's question re: polyurethane........I have finished a
> few boards with polyurethane and was, and am, under the impression that the
> sustain was slightly adversly affected.  I have no data to prove this, just
> my impression.  I no longer use polyurethane for this purpose.
> Just some thoughts
>  Jim Bryant (FL)