The finite life of wood grain

[Ron Nossaman]

> This is a curious question directed toward Dale Erwin and other
> soundboard people.
> 
> Would it be fair to say that the majority of soundboards die
> after, say, 80 to 100 years?  

Or 50 years, or twenty, or two. It depends.


>If that's true, then what's the
> major reason? Is it climate, or the simple fact that the board
> has been under pressure, or both of the the above?

Both. It depends on the severity of seasonal humidity swings, 
and the original construction method of the board.


> Also, this "death" is at the cellular / granular level, right?
> So then "re-crowning" would be about as useful as putting new
> chrome on a car with a destroyed chassis, eh?

Depends on your method of "re-crowning".


> (Sorry if this is a dead horse already thoroughly beaten.)

Exhaustively beaten. There's enough in the archives to get you 
through Easter.
Ron N