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<DIV><FONT size=3> Ron, Barbara</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Although I'm<STRONG> not</STRONG> a compression c=
rowned
soundboard builder I have built many boards with many kinds of spruce &
grain oreintations. Even pressing ribs on at 5.5 to 6.% compression still ex=
sist
in the panel. If I'm sending a board to the desert it gets dried a bit
more. If the Bay area less is fine.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> My preference for tight grain Sitka h=
as
come after hearing many of my own boards. Tighter grains are of course mean
harder & denser thus heavier wood. No surprise there. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Exactly how that impacts the clarity =
of the
sound is no doubt impedance related but beyond that it comes down to I like =
what
I hear from this kind of tight grain, in the type of boards I build her=
e.
A Powerful clear dark sound with good balance. NO, it is not mag=
ic
wood but it does have a bearing IMO. ...along with so many
things. With this much soft spring wood in the Seiler board I sus=
pect
it will lend itself to more reactive movements with humidity swings especial=
ly
or more so if the Seiler board is compression crowned & that can me=
an
more tuning in-stability & the possibility for pre- mature or moisture
induced cellular crushing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Just my 2 cents</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=
=2>WOW on a
different subject. Is the entire soundboard panel constructed <BR>> wit=
h
spruce that is about 8 grains an inch? What's up with
that?<BR>> If so Holy Cats!!<BR>>
Dale<BR><BR><BR>And just why would that be a problem?<BR>Ron
N</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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