<HTML>In a message dated 1/11/2002 7:26:08 PM Pacific Standard Time, joegarrett@earthlink.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Subj:Varnish--Hard finish vs Soft finish .</BLOCKQUOTE>    Wow Joe At this point having applied lots of both and heard other rebuilt pianos with polyurethane (not polyester) finish. I can't say I agree but thetas O.K. I'm still thinking about your experience. I've heard lots of really fine sounding pianos with both. At this juncture I'm far more convinced of the type of spruce that I like the sound of regardless of the finish. I've used all or many varieties of spruce (I think) And I personally like the sounds of Sitka hands down and think it has little to do with the finish.    Currently both sides of my panels recieve a good wet coat of sprayed on shellac which soaks in and seems to have a case hardening effect.(I don't know but it seems like if soundboards are moving air that this should be a good thing.) This is what all the good old boys did and then they applied the varnish which as you know has a dis -similar solvent than shellac (alcohol base) and to my knowledge cannot penetrate the shellac coat and soak into the wood or am I missing something there.    My second coats are one wet coat sanding sealer one or two coats gloss lacquer     Sanding sealer is less brittle because of the stearates that aid sanding than clear gloss lacquer   Also there as many reasons a piano can sound thin other than just the finish of course, just take your pick. Most pianos sound thin to me for two primary reasons 1. hard pressed hammers or lack of voicing and 2. Not enough downbearing  Also as it was pointed out varnishes get hard and or brittle over time too.  No offense this seems incredibly subjective but I'm not discounting experience, yours or anybody else's, because I have some pet theories too. After many years of experience we know what we know, Subjective or not. Does that make sense?  Further thoughts Joe?   I'll coat the next board with varnish and let you what I think. I'll use your brand. Won't be long As I have a Mason A board about to get to that point.                   Best---Dale Erwin <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> I ran into a beautiful Bechstein, 7' grand one time many years ago. It had been "rebuilt" in Europe by a "highly recommended" rebuilder. The finish was exquisite, the action work was acceptable, the stringing was acceptable, the tone/sound was lousy! It took me a while to figure it out. While I was crawling around under the piano, I noticed gobs of "finish" around the nose bolt holes. Upon careful examination I discovered that the "rebuilder" had finished the board with a Polyester Finish!!! It looked beautiful, but that board was as dead as any board I have ever seen, before or since. Another aspect, that I find in my preferences, is that the sound of pianos with lacquered boards, really offends my ear; whereas those with a Varnish finish pleases my ear. Now, having said that, that is my personal preference. The sound appears "thin" to me, in the lacquered boards. As I am talking about new as well as rebuilt pianos, I have to attribute all that to the finish used. There have been many articles written about the "Varnishes" of the great Violin makers, etc. It is my belief that the varnish does have a great deal to do with the tone the wood produces. For one thing, varnish soaks into the wood, (this is the reason I use the very best natural esters type varnish that I can find. I believe these esters, (or whatever you want to call them), are natural to wood and I believe that filling the pores with them, enhances the board's ability to produce a more mellow, (my preference), tone. For those who like the brittle sound of modern "cookie cutter" pianos, forget the varnish and use lacquer. Just MHO. I could go on for several paragraphs about this, but I'm sure there are those who are glad that I don't. <G> Regards, Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon) V</BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>