Piano Restoration by PianoWorks

[@Salzburgerstiegl]

this has nothing to do with "restoring". I bow before the professional chraftmanship shown on that video but the final result is a complete new piano built into an old frame. What the customer gets back is a complete different instrument than that he sent out for restoration. Unless the soundboard is beyond repair it's the last thing i would replace - it's the soul of any piano!

[@russmaleartist]

This video absolutely instills a great appreciation to the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into refurbishing a piano . . . much less creating one from scratch. There is so much precise work that lovingly goes into such work, and those individuals, who have earned the respect for their experience and knowledge, surely must gain a lot of satisfaction in their technological achievements as well as the physical beauty and the musical quality of their instruments.

[@gesh92]

That was almost like building a new piano. :D Very interesting to watch anyway!

[@master_fortepiano]

Отличное видео для профессионалов.Я делаю все это один в гораздо скромных условиях по более скромным возможностям,но добиваюсь такого-то же результата,но при большей потере времени.Стаж- 65 лет,пока работаю.

[@max33190]

Здравствуйте,а есть ли информация по снятию вильбильбанк на ерард?

[@morosso1968]

i'm not a musician nor wood worker but i can watch videos like this for hours. and now i know what's the purpose of sticking that tape on the drill bit.

[@eddietwang]

I am a Piano restorer and the reason we go to so much trouble to bring back to life these old instruments is quite simple...they knock the spots off anything made today by any of the manufacturers by a running mile!..When the Salesman at the piano shop tells you how good the latest crop of high gloss pianos from the far east and beyond are just remember he wont ever have to maintain this crap.The Golden age of piano manufacture is long gone.

[@Tyler_Ayala]

I am as well and i would rather restore and maintain a true piece of craftsmanship over most (not all) new piano on the market today. Well stated!

[@JustMe-999a]

It depends on the piano. It can easily be $40k+ in many cases. So that "the latest crop of high gloss pianos from the far east" might not be such a bad deal......

[@OE1FEU]

Ripping out everything that made the old piano sound like it did is a disgrace when you talk about 'old' pianos. Nothing old in there, just the case, a piece of furniture. And by standards, the oh so bad far eastern pianos are way better than any of those boutique 'restoration' with new soundboards and bridges that have no track record of actually being good for a piano.

[@swansong1851]

Thank you Jacob Emch. You and I are on the same page here. Combined longitudinal tension of 18 tons or more, but the lateral downbearing upon the bridge is a few hundred pounds. The firstmentioned is the reason why iron frames were developed to hold the tension with stability, thus increasing tuning stability. I have increased crown and corrected bridge cant in some pianos whilst still strung.

[@JacobEmch91]

6 years later- I saw your comment lol

[@mastersofharmonica6200]

I know these guys....great. I did an 1883 Steinway grand with their advice, turned out killer

[@sergk2820]

All I can say is wow . Beautiful craftsmanship

[@davidhughes4448]

Very nicely done, guys. I enjoyed this! Learned a few things, too. Dave

[@AlfaAxel]

My first thought was "why do they make a new soundboard?" - I know an old violin goes dead when age reaches a couple of hundred years - but that is another discussion. A new soundboard (and violins) can be made, which are better than old ones. So there can be a reason for changing. However, the Steinway soundboards were famous for their wood and strength as far as I know. It could be that changing the soundboard is cheaper - less labour - than working the old one until it is good again. I am not as radical as one of the older comments on this thread under the name PianoWorldEnterprise: I can listen to a room full of pianos and tell you immediately which ones have dry dead sounding new soundboards in them. The recrowned boards hold up for decades and have a full rich tone totally lacking in new boards. [cut...]

[@stemart1641]

What a great video. Thanks for posting it. I don't know how you drilled those bridge pin holes by hand though!? And they ended up so perfect.

[@gvfarns]

Looks like more than a restoration. I had a hard time seeing any pieces that were not completely new except the exterior. New soundboard and everything. I'd be tempted to say that's a new (and completely different) piano. Very fun watch, though. I'd love to be there while you are doing this.

[@fakiirification]

Is this as satisfying as it looks? As a wood worker and someone who loves to build and tinker with/restore electric guitars, messing with a piano seems hard as hell, but boy does it look like fun. I'll probably never get to touch one in this condition, and even if I did have an old one at my mercy, I would be too afraid to even undo any screws. LOL. Respect, gentlemen.

[@JustMe-999a]

Holy crap. That's a lot more work than I realized.

[@inewage]

Wow, it's a so interesting video about the piano restoration! Great workers! Bravo! We must to know what the piano is made by many peoples' passion. Oh, the piano music must be a flower of them.

[@luilui2121]

Makes sense, Thank You Pianoworks.

[@thunderduckie01]

I see no harm in asking what a restoration like this would cost. I personally love my piano more than I love my children (well, almost more...lol). It's brought me a joy and happiness that only a true friend can. While mine is kept in the utmost care, what would it cost me to do a complete restoration?

[@bgold50]

If I did this to my Steinway, I would no longer have a Steinway.

[@colinmurphy2214]

bgold50 unless you use all Steinway parts or send it off to Steinway to be restored

[@luilui2121]

I wish the final product was the same piano teared down at the beginning of the video, a Mason & Hamlin. You can see the Tension resonator when the soundboard was removed. At the end is shows a Steinway. I still believe that Piano works does outstanding work, though.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

+Lui Lui Footage was taken from more than one of our restorations. While the largest portion is of a Victorian Steinway model A, there is footage from other Steinways and a Mason & Hamlin. It was important to have usable footage of many critical steps while keeping to 15 minutes. We also regularly restore other brands not seen in this project.

[@colinmurphy2214]

Can’t understand why people replace soundboards. That old tone wood is so beautiful! Hampshire Piano is the best place for putting a new crown in your soundboard, saving the original tone. Once you replace a soundboard it’s no longer the same piano. None of the sound producing parts are original.

[@fnersch]

Restore to original design criteria. Use quality parts made to these criteria. This is what is important.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

prior to the the Sitka switch, I assumed that the board used was Eastern White. I'll have to review the specifics of that D. The transition was in the 60's, but I don't know when it ended. I also know that Bosendorfer & Yamaha continued to offer ivory keytops for more than a decade after the international ban just out of their inventory. You had previously stated inaccuracies about diaphagmatic, about Renner, about laws governing piano rebuilding/restoration...it is becoming work.

[@TehJMastuh]

I gotta say, it's so amazing that the amount of work that goes in to these pianos gives us a wonderful outcome of how these insturments look and sound afterwards. I just wish that I could have a baby grand sitting in my living room.. Still Dreaming on..

[@geometricart7851]

You can have anything you want in this world, you just have to stop dreaming and go after it.

[@hugeshows]

Please tell me that the musicians who made the soundtrack were not allowed anywhere near this piano.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Our typical, thorough grand restoration process takes 4-6 months. Some will extend well beyond that.

[@ChucklesKeys]

Very nice work indeed

[@kwixotic]

In this instance, filing across the tops of the installed bridge pins is fine because it's a new bridge, but I've encounter instances in older bridges where this had the effect of creating false beats because it loosened the bridge pin to bridge connection.

[@bodiroger]

Excellent job! I would love to work in a place like yours. (a piano instrument maker from Hungary)

[@Cherfield-D-Blessedman]

Wow, nice job sir. Just asking please, I have I just bought Steinway grand piano Pat in 1872, just wanting to know where can I find the model the year actually made? I've seen lots of Pat. 1872. 1876, 1878 etc. it's 210 cm long, but I could not find what model it is.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

I assume you are referring to the dates cast into the harp. If you find the serial number (likely 5 digits from that approximate age) then we can better assist you. It is likely an early model B based on the length. Is yours 85 or 88 notes (is the top note A or C)?

[@caimano655]

MAGNIFICO VIDEO DI RESTAURO PIANOFORTE!!!! BRAVISSIMO!!

[@Cadw]

Very professional video! You guys rock! : )

[@juanluisharey5482]

Buenas noches maestro me gustaría conocer y aprender cual es la técnica para cambiar el fieltro completo de una martillera muchas gracias

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Steinway's own hammers have evolved over the years, influencing the sound, however in all other respects it is reasonable to expect this piano to perform as it did when new. We use new Steinway hammers and carefully voice them to balance color, depth and dynamic range offered by the piano's design.

[@OE1FEU]

They had a completely different shape, both in width and design and thus in weight. And with the different shape of the tails came a different shape of the back checks. You really don't know what you're doing.

[@RobertWeeaks]

At 1:07, when the soundboard is coming out, I see a Mason & Hamlin tension resonator. Yet the rest of the video is a Steinway. Was this on purpose or just an editing decision? Beautiful work either way. The finished product I am sure was beautiful all the way.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

There are actually a few segments within the video of other pianos besides the Steinway. It's been about 20 years since we filmed this project so I don't recall exactly why certain clips were added, but I expect it is because we had to go back and add for either clips that had issues or for steps that weren't filmed during the restoration of that Steinway. We restore Mason & Hamlin, Baldwin, and quite a few other brands in addition to Steinway.

[@PianistPoland]

Its like build new piano

[@69drummerdude]

I love looking at craftmanship! Great video. But I have one genuine question. Why this kind of rebuild? Is it purely sentimental? To save your grandfathers piano? Or is it the sound of old pianos that is worth saving?

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

There are many older pianos with musical potential and musical value. However, only a few provide financial justification as well. In the case of an artcase Steinway like the one featured in the video, the cost for complete restoration is perhaps 30% - 35% of the cost of the equivalent new model.

[@amandalawyer7687]

My video is uploaded too

[@GeorgeCarlin88]

nice intro. i remember early 90s. :D

[@ไพบูลย์ยุณยเกียรติ]

Hi.are you training.for.this topic

[@Mrronren1]

how many days you restored that old piano?

[@BruGaleen]

I had no idea that restoring a piano would be so violent, LOL :)

[@PianoWorldEnterprise]

I can listen to a room full of pianos and tell you immediately which ones have dry dead sounding new soundboards in them. The recrowned boards hold up for decades and have a full rich tone totally lacking in new boards. The most common reason to replace with a new board is the fees you get to collect to do so. Discriminating customers prefer the sound of the old board. If you don't know how to recrown a board you should learn and do a few before you poopoo someone who does this regularly

[@jamesmacneil1609]

Beautiful, beautiful work. I'm a mover. I've moved a hundred pianos, or more. Craftsmanship on a magnificent scale. I'll be contacting you about my Steinway. Not sure the term, but it's a rectangular shaped piano, like baby grand, but rectangular. I've only ever seen three, and moved two. Interested? Thumbs up, by the way.

[@sambennett5799]

Hello James, Thank you for the compliments. What you are describing is a Square grand. These phenomenally crafted instruments were also beautiful furniture, but represent a transition in piano design. Our company focuses on "modern" piano design which, from Steinway, goes back 135 years...yours is just a little older than that. We do know rebuilders that will restore these historical instruments, but it is a different specialty. Contact us if we can be of assistance or for advice.

[@jamesmacneil1609]

@@sambennett5799 Thank you. I will. I'd like to get it done.

[@Solars78]

its of course nice work, but the backgroundmusic is stolen by some Home Depot do it yourself vid and not has even a real piano used - and should be replaced with some classic jazz or Blues Boogie virtuoses, thanx for accept my opinion

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

I find several comments that apply a definition for "piano restoration" using the context of restoration from other industries. "Fine art restoration" is different from "firearm restoration" is different from "vintage car restoration" is different from "home restoration." This video represents modern, high-level piano restoration, and pianos have been modern in the US for about 125 years. Lower levels of repair include refurbishing or rebuilding - appropriate for different expectations.

[@OE1FEU]

Wrong. Call it rebuilding, or even better, while you are at the car analogy, it's a replica. Nothing to do with the original, except for the cosmetics.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

@@OE1FEU Vintage car restorations do not try to save old tires, gaskets, paint or worn interiors, etc. They remove all of that and then build upon the original frame and framework using carefully chosen replacement parts that fit the original design and production methods. That's why I chose this analogy. All pianos are machines that wear out after enough time and use, not a painting where you are trying to preserve the artists brushstrokes and pigments. A replica machine begins with a new frame and has few conventions so it may or may not be faithful to the machine's original design.

[@OE1FEU]

@@PianoWorksAtlanta Apples and oranges. Soundboard and bridges are the heart and soul of an instrument and it's crude to compare these to worn out tires.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

@@OE1FEU The design is the heart and soul of the instrument. The components, including the soundboard are needed to execute that vision. Piano soundboards will last an indefinite amount of time, but they do fail. Bridge failures are actually quite common when small cracks grow or bridge pins become loose, so the caps must be replaced. Spot repairs on a bridge are temporary at best. Also, as a soundboard gradually loses its crown, even a well functioning bridge cap will lose downbearing, affecting the performance in a variety of ways. Importantly, the bridge root is reused when the cap is replaced - this is true if the soundboard is retained or replaced. Diminished capacity in a piano's performance is in some ways similar to the slow, gradual failure of an automobile's suspension. It doesn't stop you from driving it, but it makes it slower around the track.

[@OE1FEU]

@@PianoWorksAtlanta You know it all and I am happy you have happy customers. Let's leave it at that and please make sure you never touch my piano. Or my car.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

There are a variety of factors that impact the final estimate. Contact us with details of your instrument and we could start bracketing costs for you.

[@maximgodnev6533]

Brava! Brava! Brava!!!

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Sitka has been used for a long time. I actually had to go review my info as to when the transition period was. A) is was a slow, gradual transition, not a specific year and B) it wasn't originally done for preference but because of limited supply. Hamburg Steinway continued to use European spruce until only the last decade or so. We do source different wood and different panels for instruments, but since the overwhelming number of soundsboards we replace are from Steinway and Mason & Hamlin,

[@paxwallacejazz]

Well if your rebuild includes fabricating a new spruce Soundboard aren't you going to pay the same as a new comperable instrument? All you kept was the frame and rim? Why?

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Several reasons. The cost for Steinway restoration is typically less than 1/2 cost for new Steinway or ~ same cost as a new, upper level but mass produced instrument. Secondly, clients often prefer to keep their heirloom for personal reasons. Others like the idea of restored, a.k.a. renew/reuse/recycle. When done properly and fully, there is now doubt the performance is right there with new. Finally, a small shop like ours offers better QC and after-sale service that only some dealerships offer.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Comments like this only reflect a lack of understanding of the process. A piano is a machine with 10,000 moving parts under incredible demands and stresses. We are giving it a second life. On an instrument like a guitar, there are no extreme stresses and has maybe 30 moving parts.

[@СергейАлександровичХохлачев]

Wonderfully!

[@Actionfiguresarefun]

I wish I could afford to have my 1915 Lyon and Healy Baby grand redone.

[@Mrronren1]

oh its to long.. haha!! its not days its months! why it will takes a month to restored that piano? it is very hard to restored?

[@EdwardLaiPY]

Awesome!!

[@fw1421]

Good lord,looks more like they are building a new piano than restoring an old one! 🙀

[@audunjemtland8287]

Do you happen to have any dvd tutorials?

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

I'm afraid this kind of craftsmanship does not lend itself to learning by tutorials. While many elements require only certain teachable skills, others take hundreds of ours to master. We frequently show, demonstrate and teach these skills to other technicians in workshops. While some advance their skills incrementally, most realize they are better off focusing on their strengths and sub-contracting us for our full menu of services. If you are interested in a project piano, there are many mid-century small grands or uprights that have good cores (rim, plate, soundboard, pinblock, keys) but poor actions and finishes. This is the best place to start. There are books and tutorials for many of the steps required for this type of project.

[@arnoldemch9181]

Wonderful work. But some questions. 1). Why replace the soundboard? Was it cracked and if so, where? 2). Steinway uses a patented shaper tool to produce their soundboards and will not sell a sound board alone. How do you replace a steinway soundboard so its original? I think the name they use is diacromatic or something like that. 3). What does it mean to recown a piano soundboard? I am getting ready to bring my old steinway baby grand back online and am chewing my fingers to a knub worrying about what may lay in store for me on that soundboard. Mine may be old but its made from pristine golden age soundboard lumber in queens/long island new york. I don't wish to change anything unless its the last thing on earth to do. Also, how does all that preening affect the feel of the action? After many years, you grow accustomed to the feel of your keyboard. These are wooden instruments and no two are ever alike.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Arnold Emch Dear Arnold, A piano goes through tremendous stresses and varied environmental conditions. It is wishful thinking that the soundboard will be unaffected by the ravages of time. A soundboard does not have an expiration date, but when they fail, the options to repair depend on both the severity of the failure and the expectations of the owner. Also, Steinway's patent was on the machine, not the method. This piano pre-dates the machine anyway. It also used Easter White Spruce instead of Western Sitka (red) spruce used in new Steinways. Many times repairs, shims, epoxy treatments, etc. are appropriate, but overly-heroic efforts to save a failed board are based on romantic ideals, not performance results. The action parts also wear out eventually...mechanical wear is to be expected. It's a machine with a standard for tolerances even before it is an instrument. A good tool will help you express your music rather than hold you back with eccentricities or weaknesses. I wish you luck when you decide to sell your Steinway.

[@arnoldemch9181]

Why do you wish me luck when I decide to sell my Steinway? Do not understand. I inherited this piano and a haynes flute from my father. I played this steinway since I was six. I now build acoustic violins (based on titian and lipinski) and am working on a new electric design based on my interpretation of the starfish violin. I actually use the steinway to assist in tuning plates. The action is a bit stiff from sitting idle. If I have any work done it, it will be for my own devices.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Arnold Emch Sorry Arnold. I was interrupted at work while I was replying and the comment about selling your Steinway was accidental. I hope you will invest in your instrument; you'll probably find yourself playing it more.

[@arnoldemch9181]

No Worries. We all buy and sell stuff in our lives. What I will not sell are my vintage Oliver Woodworking machines and my musical instruments inherited from family. I had a horrid experience in high school band and quit. We were **FORCED** to comply with THEIR music. After nearly 25 years, I re-discovered my own talent. A talent in strings, not marching band BS. The keyboard is a means to an end. As much as I love my Korg, I also love that old Stienway. Its my life. And nothing rocks better than neo-classical rock played very load on electric violins with keyboards! The stienway is like my child! Playing songs like mae's rearrangement of hocus pocus by iron maiden played along the lines of classical crossover can send shivers of horror up the spine of my old band teacher!

[@CheisYang]

/you seemd to be an interesting guy. Im from Central Europe and just started making progress in being a piano tuner. With me good luck :) Im saving right now on my rist tune key and some accesorries . hows your thing with electrical starfish violin ?

[@mrajczyk]

The violin family's soundboards--the tops--go "dead" as you put it , only when there are so many repair patches, crisscrossing splints of spruce over the old wood so many times, that it is no longer worth it, when you can no longer say that this is the original top, - there are some real Frankensteins out there today, but it's all because of love for the old instrument an owner may have had for fifty years. And there is also the dollar value especially of 1700 era Italian violins. If a new top really sounded better most recordings would be of new instruments or at least new tops. The reason why that might be true for a piano or a classical guitar for example. is that instead of big shear stresses as in those two, not to mention the incredible force on a piano soundboard, the violin tops' pressure and shear stresses is largely transferred to the strong maple back by the soundpost and large corner and end blocks in it's frame. But eventually all the old Strads and Guarneris will die--even Dick Clark died.

[@STEN3326]

I enjoyed it. However, this piano has acquired a completely new personality that will be different from the original because of its soundboard assembled on a completely different technology.

[@DListComposer]

You seem to be pretty knowledgeable about pianos. What would you consider this process to be?

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

It is not possible to recrown a flat and often damaged board that will withstand the thousands of pounds of down bearing found in grand pianos. An old, flat board may have good tone, but less dynamic response. A violin bridge sees little down bearing. Your comment shows a strong bias that is not shared by many of the top, recognized professional piano restoration shops or the institutions that hire them for performance instruments. However, your preservation of organs looks very interesting.

[@OE1FEU]

You have no idea about the dynamics of an older, flat soundboard.

[@chemistronian]

Made me sad to see some apparently servicable components ripped out and replaced with new timber. I could be wrong, failures may have been invisible, but personally I wouldn't expect this instrument to have the tone and character of a classic Steinway. With due deference and respect to your immense piano building skills, perhaps you could conserve/preserve a little more? Age improves many things, and pianos are in that list!

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

It is clearly in Steinway's interest to publicly present this view in support of new instrument sales. However, Steinway's restoration devision no longer puts back like original, they redesign to new Steinway designs. We use Steinway parts whenever available, but more importantly, we preserve the original design and use the same species and quality of spruce used originally. The Steinway factory no longer does that - they elect to make changes as they see fit.

[@OE1FEU]

No, you don't.

[@carolcarlcarol4995]

its just... amazing. No only amazed, im actually moved. Its really fantastic. If you know so much, you could do your own ones.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

I wish you would ask questions rather than stating wrong things for me to correct. Exactly when do you think Steinway changed from Eastern White spruce to Sitka? We respect and actively participate in the PTG, but their website and definitions came after industry terms were developed. I could make analogies, but I don't think you are open.

[@vomanna]

The fastest 15 mins of my life.

[@kevinellis9150]

Niced Job!

[@PianoWorldEnterprise]

You are wrong. I have been doing it for thirty five years. I learned from the old guys who worked in the factories and also did it to old boards. You cannot recrown ALL old board but a good 90% of the ones I have seen. I have even pulled out old boards added wood to replace shrinkage and installed new ribs and reinstalled in the piano. So it was, in effect, a new board using the old 100+ year old wood. Old wood opens its cells up to make tiny resonating chambers all through the wood.

[@AL-pu7ux]

I’m confused by the M and H “crown retention system” and the Steinway plate.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

In the making of the video, more than one piano is featured including a Steinway and a Mason & Hamlin

[@musicisitall]

but this has nothing to do with the original piano and sound I think? it is a brand new piano in an old case

[@spinnersending]

ein schöner film! nur dass bei 12:58 noch schwarze ränder an den tasten zu sehen sind wundert mich etwas ;)

[@TheDrunkenPirate2]

What song is that at 7:22?

[@CoyleTools]

This isn't a restoration. This is a rebuild.

[@clitomaniac]

Why not buying a new or good 2nd hand piano instead of a totally restored but not original Steinway ?

[@felixiris3615]

I'd have liked a before and after for sound lmao

[@adrianoscarlarrauri705]

Excelente

[@wackenthaljef]

Imagine the price of the restoration...but for a grand,its ok!

[@recklesswhisper]

Probably like 1 billion dollars! I didn't really see enough work going into the piano case itself. Anyway, not for the grand kids, when you pay for something like this, the plan is to be buried in it! LOL! ^..^~~

[@wackenthaljef]

Nooo,i think around 50 000$...ahaha! yes!

[@megs553cr]

Exactly the same thing I think many, changing the piano's harmonic table is the last thing to do, the quality of the woods now have not even half of those of before. It is the soul!

[@aznmaplemaster]

lol i know right? after all that work, tearing it down and rebuilding it from scratch... it's a NEW piano, with a NEW personality. I don't really see the point of such a 'near full' restoration... just get a new one!

[@handsfree1000]

Use the old piano as a pattern for the new piano

[@sarbachpiano]

In america i often see, that sounboards are changed. In europe this is never ever done.In europe soundboarda are always repared. why is this so?

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

I have been told that there is some legal challenge in Europe that restricts the resale of pianos if the soundboard is changed. The suggestion is that a C.Bechstein is no longer a C.Bechstein unless C.Bechstein puts in the soundboard. While the factories do offer this type of restoration, they typically do so on an extremely limited basis that does not satisfy market demand. The restrictions affect a restorer's ability to resell, so heroic measures are taken to try to repair soundboards that obviously need replacement. While I appreciate the piano brands desire to sell replacement pianos over repairing them, it is disingenuous to think that the suggest cannot be done outside the factory. In the US, there are shops of many different levels, but the best shops do not hesitate to replace as necessary. We repair at least as many as we replace, but for the older examples, most sound better with a new board vs. a repaired board. All of this is case by case.

[@fidelmflores1786]

The Europeans are right. Once you replace the soundboard it is no longer a Steinway. It may sound like a very good piano but why bother? Just buy a brand new one. In my opinion it's close to fraud to sell this as a vintage Steinway.

[@russmaleartist]

I really have a high respect for such artistry . . . there must be real satisfaction in the final product after painstakingly putting so much time, experience, and even love into such work. Beautifully done!

[@musamor75]

Apart from the question of authenticity, there's also the fact that wood adapts to its place with time. The older woods were much healthier and more stable. If you take the example of the violin, you don't go savagely replacing the soundboard, do you? When we refilet soundboards here, we use old timber- usually retrieved from old soundboards, wedge-shaped and glued with fish glue 'for sound reasons). It's a known fact that new wood takes long years to break in and mellow in tone. Replaced soundboards just look newer, and more healthy, but they're usually not. Other than that, you've done a fine job on restoring this beauty. As to factories, they generally HATE restoration work ; they're simply not on the same plane as true-blooded restorer.

[@sarbachpiano]

PianoWorksAtlanta There is no legal restriction of this kind but most sounboards are quite easy to repair and it is just not reasonable to change them. the old wood can be bleached with h2o2 and looks like new afterwards if this is the problem

[@brucelrenz8646]

Quel sacrifice ! Faire ça à un S&S...

[@984francis]

Eh! What on earth are you talking about? This is what it takes to restore a derelict piano. Much better than the landfill which is where it would be headed otherwise. The old soundboard and pinblock have to come out and that takes what it takes......

[@MrMiggoH]

I hope the new soundboard doesn't sound like crap.

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

We are pretty good at what we do. There are a few high-use pianos that we rebuilt 20 years ago for Emory University that came back recently for replacement actions, but the same soundboards we installed back then. Being repeat customers, I think it shows a high degree of appreciation and confidence in our work. We have a lot of repeat institutional customers that choose us to fully restore their pianos, including new soundboards. If you browse our channel, there are more than a few demo videos of completed restorations...Steinways, Mason & Hamlins, Baldwins, and probably others.

[@musicisitall]

Steinway claims, if a piano is not restored with only steinway parts, it is not a real steinway, further they say that the restauration has to be done by themselfs, otherwise the piano is less worth..

[@PianoWorldEnterprise]

So does no one know how to RECROWN a fabulous 100 year old Mason Hamlin Soundboard? Those new soundboards sound like cardboard. The old one recrowned will sound as good or better than any board made in the last 50 years. Trash that sucker!!! Would like to know if you think restoring a $50million Stradivarius violin would include throwing it away and making a new one from new wood. How much would it be worth after that?

[@ratskirobo4836]

If they dont get a million dollars out of that Im seriously gonna cry. These guys deserve that, bless them. 😊

[@TheGabrielhwmga]

Cool and all... But hard to watch...

[@johnellis3244]

As Steinway themselves say if the restoration is not done by Steinway themselves then it is no longer a Steinway. According to Steinway they don't sell soundboards. So what is this piano?

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Hello John, Not enough room here to cover this topic, but here is a start. Steinway is interested in selling new pianos. Their restoration division is tiny, and not enough to support the larger industry of restoration that has existed for more than 1/2 century. There is also quite a lot of poor work done, and Steinway has an interested in defending against that. They quite readily sell all types of replacement parts, but a soundboard is individually fit, a practical problem described as an ideological one. Most of Steinway's parts come from various suppliers that change from time to time, just as in other industries. It is the design and execution that remains most important, which is why top top institutions use our services when their pianos wear out.

[@johnellis3244]

Many thanks for the response.

[@SuperAdjan]

this is horrible, I cry in my heart when I see the violence with which this piano is treaten. without respect for the history of this instrument

[@azbieberfever]

need narration or music.

[@Clavineum]

Cruel!!! At the end of the procedure a lot of shine, but no sound of the Instrument! What a craftsmanship! Don't they love old Pianos or why do they "kill" them? Musicians, who are looking for Instruments of former times, prefer an carefully reconditioned instruments! They are from outstanding Quality and in each case of an authentically Character!

[@morenaso1]

Now I see why pianos are soooooo expensive

[@Davelement]

Jeebus

[@PianoWorksAtlanta]

Again, you are misunderstanding facts in an effort to make a point. I think you want a fight, not a conversation. "Diaphragmatic" soundboard actually refers to a long-expired patent on a machine, not the idea. Many makers shape and taper their boards. Steinway did not originate this idea for pianos. The piano in the video predates the machine and that patent. Before that, it was done by hand and our method duplicates the original.

[@99Grigor]

Everything looked excellent up until the part where you started gluing your soundboard in with alaphatic wood glue! This is just plain wrong from an acoustical viewpoint. You can not use an alaphatic with a soundboard! That type of glue DOES NOT cure to a rock hard consistency like old hide glue does. It interferes with the reflective sound quality that you need for the rim and soundboard. Many many craftsmen make this unfortunate mistake. Now, lets talk about the use of BARE fingers with skin oils to string pianos!! This leaves spots on strings which will prematurely pit or rust!! These are the finest points of pianonrebuilding which must not be ignored! You also neglected to show whether the duplex bars were tuned properly or merely thrown back in haphazardly. They MUST be tuned individually as the great Dan Franklin taught!

[@forestsandman]

So. Much. Zooming.

[@OE1FEU]

What's the point of 'rebuilding' a piano when all you do is replace the original parts. Cutting out and throwing away the original soundboard made me weep.

[@jaythejayzer]

...but, can you tuna fish?

[@PfadiHH]

Attention, gentlemen, this can be called rebuilding but not retauration. Anyway, it showes that not every Steinway contains a Steinway.... Doing these kind of things to a historical piano will make ist completely worthless!