old/new sb wood

[JOSEP PUIG]

List,

first, I want to thank you all for your answers on my old/new sb. wood
question that I introduced for the first time. I have had a great
pleasure i reading all of them, they have been very enlightening to me.
I have noticed that this question has been discussed earlier and that
comes back from time to time (sorry, I am quite new in the list).
Anyway, although many of you think that this question should be
definitely buried in favour of replacing the sb. with new material, I
have seen that there is no general agreement and that the question is
somewhat far from being settled down.
I did put the question because I am beginning in the matter of sb.
replacing and all I have done until now is a couple of replacing
re-using the board panel  (to an upright piano and to an old Erard 8
feet) and only one complete replacing of panel and ribs to a BECHSTEIN 7
feet. In the three cases results has been very satisfactory (in my
judgement). But since I am planning in the future to continue in
professional sb. replacing, mainly in more priced pianos, I am in need
of concepts to be very clear in order to take the best decision.
My conclusion after all your remarks is that the use of new wood for the
panel is less risky than the re-use of the old one in spite of
hypothetical best results in the last case. I think that the re-use of
the old panel is not necessarily leading to a short term failure of all
the job done, but after all, working with new wood gives more
predictable results and this is important to leave your conscious in
peace. Last, but not least, working with new materials is much more
comfortable and cleaner (my short experience testifies it...).
So, I shall use new spruce in my next jobs but I will also keep
gathering information on the aging of wood, subject which I found
fascinating.
Thanks indeed for all the information given,

Josep Puig
Barcelona (Spain)