On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 09:56:14 +0200 Stefan Ecke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Dear list members, > > I know that some people clean the sound boards of their lutes, > especially where the little finger touches it. What methods > can be recommended?
<snip> > Greetings, > Stefan > Stefan: This is very much an individual question. The amount and nature of the dirt a soundboard collects is related to your own personal body chemistry and hand-washing habits (as Bob Clair pointed out), but also to the type of finish (or lack thereof) on the soundboard. Thus the cleaning methodology will depend on these variables as well. When I purchased my first lute from Matthias Durvie (which has, as far as I know, no finish at all on the soundboard), he recommended cleaning it with a soft white pencil eraser without any abrasive content. It works very well for that instrument, though I can never attain a completely pristine appearance. My other instruments, with varnished soundboards, really do not show any significant soiling. An instrument with a varnished soundboard may survive cleaning with an aqueous medium (e.g. saliva) very nicely, whereas on an unfinished soundboard the water may raise the grain and cause the wood to pick up dirt much faster the next time. Regards, Daniel Heiman > > > ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!
