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<DIV>Dave,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This has been a question I have been pondering for a while now. I=
have had two situations which have got me thinking about the relationship
between soundboard finish and tuning stability. For several years now =
I
have used a marine epoxy to seal all of my old soundboards to add lost stiff=
ness
and then top coating with either shellac (which I am no longer using) or the=
water borne lacquer. Once these pianos have settled down they are
remarkably stable with very little pitch movement. (Quite an
accomplishment in Chicago.) And the other experience, though with a shorter =
time
frame and more antidotal, is my friend David Graham's experience with Faziol=
i
pianos. I had a conversation with Mr. Fazioli when he was in town
regarding the finish on his soundboards, there was something of a language
barrier, but I gathered he had a water barrier sealer he applied to both sid=
es
of his boards. David tells me, much to his disappointment, that these pianos=
are
remarkably stable for their environment.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So, do you have any idea what kind of finish is on the soundboard? =
; A
finishing material which doesn't do screwy things with the stiffness of the
panel would actually be the answer to tuning stability problems at least as =
far
as soundboard generated problems goes.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Andrew Remillard</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>