Soundboard Color and Meaning

Looking at a guzheng’s soundboard can tell you how it was seasoned or heat treated, and what kind of finish was applied. Here is a quick reference of the most common treatments from light to dark.

Big thanks to Carol Chang at Sound of China for permission to take photos and answering my questions on a visit to her store. All credit for this knowledge belongs to her! See her own description of soundboards here.

Seasoning/ Treatment

Air Dried

Light, almost white color. Air dried, not exposed to significant heat that would otherwise accelerate the seasoning process.

Baked

Light, slightly yellow or brown color. Baked or Kiln-dried. Seasoning of the wood is accelerated through higher temperatures, meaning instrument makers and lumber yards can move inventory faster and cheaper.

What to look for: slight yellow tint to what would otherwise be an almost white wood; grain patterns are subdued. No splotches of color.

Stained

Yellow, brown, or red tints to soundboard. The color depends on the stain used. The wood could be dried or baked before it is stained.

What to look for: Coloration that changes regardless of underlying grain pattern; may present as splotchy. Clear line of where stain was not applied around edges. Movable bridges will wear the surface, revealing a lighter color over time.

Iron-Treated

Darker wood with pronounced grain patterns: Dried then pressed with a red-hot iron. See this technique in action in Mitsuya Koto’s video. Mitsuya air-dries boards first; other makers might use other seasoning styles.

What to look for: Heavily emphasized grain patterns, clearer and more detailed than any other treatment. Large contrast between the darkest part of the grains and the lightest thanks to the high contact heat applied.

Flame Treatment

Flat Black: Flame/torch treatment the sanded down.

What to look for: a near uniform blackness, very light grain patterns. Darkened by the higher amount of carbon on the surface.