Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Adirondack spruce soundboards in older Steinways

Oh, well, if a salesperson said so....

ddf

Hasn’t changed all that much. At least not in the United States and Canada. We’re still cutting the trees about as fast as we can. We’re now into maximum fiber yield timber management.

Just a few years ago I asked the president of a soundboard lumber processing and manufacturing company if they were doing anything to replenish the supply of spruce as they were using up the Northwest’s—that is the northwest part of the U.S.—remaining old-growth spruce timber resources. He said “no, we aren’t.” I asked if he was concerned that they would run out of spruce trees of a grade suitable for making piano soundboards. He said, “Nope, it’s not my problem; we won’t be running out in my lifetime.”

ddf

Edna Ferber wrote about those practices in one of her epics, Come and Get It.

They may not run out but the quality of the boards have changed. The widths used to be 24 inches plus and now if they are lucky they will get a clear width of 8 inches... maybe.

Plus they may not run out of wood in their lifetime but they have a new kid on the block and that kid is CITES. The CITES treaty folks who are somehow linked to homeland security. I only know about them after a client of mine tried to get her piano shipped to the US from Canada and did not have documentation on the wood ( broad leaf Mahogany) and animal species of Ivory it was constructed from. So it was denied at entry for now.

I have since had my raw materials documented and those inspectors really took a hard look at my antique wood in stock especially Rosewood. Including taking samples, so I would imagine that sooner or later heavy duty permitting will be involved driving up costs of instruments, not just pianos.

J C
Nashville Piano Rescue
www.NashvillePianoRescue.com
since 1918
Lascassas TN

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is primarily concerned with protecting species of plants and animals that are already endangered and are already protected by laws in the individual countries that are participants in the CITES treaty. It does not—yet—cover trees like the various spruces from which piano soundboard panels are made. And they probably never will be covered because spruce forests can be easily regenerated. Indeed, where I live—in the northwestern part of the U.S.—plantations of spruce trees grow like weeds! As long as they receive lots of water and adequate sunlight they grow very fast.

Unfortunately this fast growth negates their value as piano soundboard wood. The Sitka spruce trees that were used to make those wonderful soundboards of yesterday were grown over hundreds of years in old-growth forests. And those have pretty much been destroyed over the past century. But, since the trees do grow and are not endangered they will probably never be covered by any restrictions on their harvest. Unfortunately for us Earth will probably never again see those incredible old-growth forests.

ddf

Well, it depends on who survives longer, people or trees. I would bet on trees.

Ok, I can't help myself. BDB, you are the most annoying poster.

A proclaimed semi-pro tech. Obviously a pro who will not reveal his identity, on the pretence that his investments allow him to be quietly anonymous. And then naming the famous musicians for whom he has worked.

Every once in a while you have something valuable to say, the rest of the time you are just being a smart Aleck.

This seems to occur more often when Mr. Fandrich graces us with his wisdom and experience.

I would not mind calling you Mr. BDB, if I knew your name, but geez, in the meantime, please refrain.

Back in my lurker mode I am.

Regards.

It is odd, because I absolutely agree with Mr. Fandrich on this issue. It is only a question of degree. If people use up material until there is not enough to support them, there is a good chance that the human population will plummet enough so that regenerative materials can come back. There is the possibility that people will use up all of the material so that it can never come back, but plants are pretty tough. Earth may see old-growth forests again. People may not.

Minnesota Marty, Are you saying that requesting the $25 history on my second-hand Steinway also puts me on the biannual S&S owners magazine mailing list? Or, what would one need to do to get it (other than buy a new one)?

Thanks,

phacke,

The S&S magazine is a courtesy to all owners of Steinway pianos. You don't need to be a new purchaser to receive the magazine. As far as I know, you don't even need to obtain the history of your piano to get the subscription. Though, I'm glad that I obtained the construction history and original sale info for all three of my pianos.

Give a call to Steinway and they will transfer you to the proper people to make your requests.

Thanks for the advice Marty!
Best regards,