Our piano refinishing and rebuilding facility is located on site in Hackettstown, NJ. Every piano we refinish, rebuild, or recondition is a reflection of our commitment to quality.
Fine piano restoration (like fine piano building) is 1000 things in a row, done right. It is detail oriented, sometimes tedious work, but the satisfaction received from it makes it worth it. Our shop team is an inspired and inspiring group of people. The apprentices, refinishers, rebuilders and tuners all have their special roles to play in the restoration process.
Customers often visit our shop to participate in selecting a stain color for their piano or just to see first hand what we do.
Piano restoration is a very broad term. It can refer to:
- minor repairs: cleaning, tightening and lubricating
- refinishing: striping down to bare wood and starting over
- refinishing: over the existing finish
- rebuilding: replacing the soundboard, strings, and pinblock
- reconditioning: working with the original parts
The fact is that restoration is usually different combinations of the above items.
Descriptions of Refinishing Options:
Open Pore Finish, Satin or Gloss:
The piano is stripped down to bare wood. It is sanded, stained, sealed and topcoated with six coats of either satin or gloss lacquer. The important thing to remember about this finish is that pores of the wood show.
Closed Pore Finish, High Gloss:
The piano is stripped down to bare wood. It is then sanded, pore filled, stained, sealed and topcoated with twelve coats of gloss lacquer. The finish is then sanded with 1000 grit sandpaper. It is then rubbed, first with course, then medium, then fine compound. The important thing to remember about this finish is that the pores of the wood do not show. The finish has a look of depth. It is a much richer look than an open pore finish and is approximately double the cost of an open pore finish.
Closed Pore Finish, Satin:
The same procedure as a high gloss finish is used, however, the final compounding steps are replaced with a two step process of rubbing with steel wool and burnishing with a cotton
pad. The cost of this finish is approximately two thirds the cost of high gloss.
Piano Case Restoration:
In this process, we refinish over the existing finish. We first clean and fine sand all the surfaces. Next, we fill in major dents and touch up the scratches. We then seal in our touch ups with a tinted lacquer. Over this tinted lacquer we apply our final topcoats of clear lacquer. Finally, we rub out the entire surface with steel wool and burnish with a cotton pad. The important thing to remember
about this finish is that the final look is not one of perfection. With some pianos, a major improvement is seen and with others only a minor improvement is seen. We always discuss this job in detail with the customer while we are looking at the piano. Depending on the customers expectations and the condition of the existing finish, we will make appropriate recomendations. Below is a list of items that must be addressed before any recommendations can be made about the plausibility of a case restoration.
Restoration Checklist:
The list that follows is more for our use than for yours. It outlines the questions that need to be answered before we can make a solid recomendation about your piano. If you are considering a Case Restoration, call us at 888-797-4266.
What type of use will the piano get - beginner/advanced
Pinblock - will it hold tune
Soundboard and Bridges - are they sound
Action - how worn is it
Lyre - will it need to be reglued
Final Color - must be darker - how much
Dents and Scratches - how many will be filled - to what extent will they be hidden
Final Sheen - gloss or satin
Bleaching - how much will be hidden and blended
Lids - How well will any water, sun damage be repaired
Descriptions of Rebuilding Options:
Rebuild with New Soundboard:
The soundboard is replaced with a new one. A new pinblock is installed, new strings are installed, and new dampers felts are installed.
Rebuild with original soundboard:
The original soundboard is dried, cracks are shimmed, board is refinished, new pinblock is installed, and new damper felts are installed.
Descriptions of Action Options:
Action options are quite varied and a visual inspection is usually needed in order to make the appropriate recomendations. (See the price list below.)
Price List:
Open Pour Finish, Gloss or Satin:
4'7" - 5'10".......................4500.00
5'11" - 6'10".....................4800.00
6'11" - 9'...........................5200.00
Verticals to 48".................3800.00
Verticals over 50".............4500.00
Closed Pour Finish, Gloss:
All size grands........1500.00 per linear foot
All size uprights......1400.00 per linear foot
Closed Pour Finish, Satin:
All size grands........1200.00 per linear foot
All size uprights......1100.00 per linear foot
Piano Case Restoration:
4'7" - 5'10".......................2800.00
5'11" 6'10".......................3000.00
6'11" - 9'..........................3200.00
Verticals to 48"................1700.00
Verticals over 50"............2000.00
Add 395.00 each way for delivery on all grands.
Add 245.00 each way for delivery on all uprights.
Heavily painted surfaces and extra damage will be accessed upon inspection.
Rebuild with New Soundboard:..6400.00
Rebuild w/ original soundboard:.4200.00
Action Work:
New hammers, shanks, and repetitions...5400.00
New hammers and shanks only............2900.00
Regulate with original parts...........1500.00
These prices are for grands only. Please call 800-837-3899 to discuss upright pricing.
Request more information on restoration for your piano.
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