List, I am a piano rebuilder in Barcelona/Spain who's been doing this job for over the last 20 years, but only recently (2 years ago) I have undertaken the task of soundboard replacing. Now I have a complete installation: pneumatic rib press and everything to do this task properly. The question is: why is it better to replace the whole soundboard with new wood rather than carefully withdraw the old one, unglue the ribs and bridges and next re-dry the sb. and reglue everything into place? Many customers ask me what I have left of the "Steinway" if I have replaced everything. (I had this question also before when I simply replaced a set of hammers!) I must admit now that this question makes more sense to me, since if I replace completely the sb. of a Steiway it is no longer a Steinway, although it was clearly needing it. I use to answer that: what's left of a 80 years old Steinway precisely after 80 years off the factory?... Well, what I would like to know is if there is any known structural changes on wood during time, I mean if there are significant differences between new vs. old wood in, for instance, capacity of moisture holding or absorption, vibrational behavior, strength, irreversible deformities, etc. Where can I find such information? By now, I do prefer to recrown the old sounboard (although ungluing it without damage is like a nightmare) but I wish to know your opinions. Thank You Josep Puig
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