Piano is an art of music and it is also a work of art itself. This wonderful machine has thousand of moving parts, a framework and soundboard supporting tremendously string tension, and beautifully finished cabinetry.
As time and usage take its course, the piano’s durability will lead to deterioration. Felt wears, strings break, wooden structures weaken and crack, and the exterior finish loses its beauty. Today, many high-quality older pianos exist in various stages of wear. This wear often goes unnoticed, leaving many pianos operating far below their potential. In extreme cases, some older pianos are simply unplayable and being left in the corner because of their condition.
It’s time to find a piano rebuilder that is skilled enough to restore the instrument into its excellent condition again. The following Piano Rebuilders are the best to call if your piano needs to be rebuilt:
1)For 30 years, the Forte Piano Company founded by George Michalski, is one of the finest piano rebuilders. George Michalski was trained in Europe and has master’s degree in piano rebuilding. His delicate touch makes for precise adjustments to each key. It is situated in 8924 Greenfield Rd, Detroit, MI 48228 or you may call 313-835-2540.
2)The Piano Technician Guild, the official organization of the Registered Piano Technician, is the world’s premiere source of expertise in piano service and technology.
First, before going to a rebuilder, let us take a look on the major piano components:
- Piano Tuning Pinblock is the “heart” of the piano. It keeps the piano in tune with a life span of about 50 to 75 years. After these years, replacement is usually needed.
- Piano SoundingBoard or the “speaker” of the piano picks up the vibration of the strings through the bridges. Its life span will usually determine by the variation and the level of humidity over the decades. Usually, the board can be repaired by reattaching the sounding board ribs and shimming. But sometimes, sounding boards need to be replaced.
- The piano’s “working mechanism” or the Piano Action transmits a touch of the keys to the hammer hitting the string. The replacement depends on its usage over the years. Among its parts and variables, hammers are oftentimes need to be replaced during rebuilding.
- Piano Finish or the “coating” on the furniture part of the piano preserves and protects the fine veneer covering the case parts. It will last for 50 years. The old varnish tend to crack and darken. Usually, refinishing is done along with rebuilding.
What are the common problems of the piano that really needs rebuilding?
As the years go by, its parts become seriously deteriorated. Leather and felt wear thin. Keys become shaky, hammer felt gets too thin to produce good tone, and the action becomes noisy. As being expose to seasonal change, the wood of the soundboard, bridges, and pinblock will probably weakened. These causes loose tuning pins, poor tuning stability, and further loose of tone.
When does a piano need rebuilding?
Pianos can still be played for many years even without major repairs. Nevertheless, its tone, touch, and appearance will continually worsen over the years. The things you must considered before rebuilding the piano are its original quality, climate change, and the performance requirements. As such, some pianos only need rebuilding after 20 years and others may only need after 50 years. The best way to do is to ask advice to a qualified piano rebuilder with expertise regarding this very important decision.
Rebuilding includes complete and partial rebuilding. Complete Rebuilding includes the entire piano structure includes soundboard, bridges, pinblock, and string as well as the action, keyboard, and case refinishing. It also includes rebuilding of the pedal and trapwork system, replacement of all worn felt, leather, and metal parts.
Partial Rebuilding includes only one or two of these areas. For example, rebuilding of the action and structure, but not the soundboard or maybe the keyboard. If the soundboard or keyboard (sometimes Ivory) is in good condition, it is preserved.
Which is better, rebuilding the piano or buying a new one? It is advisable to rebuild the piano. Why? The basic construction of many old pianos is so good that a new piano may be built under time pressures.
Restoration of old pianos will always be equal to or more than the quality of the pianos available in the market today. The fact that some manufacturers use materials in making new pianos that may have lesser quality than the old ones. Some are also trying to name their instruments with a German sound but typically built in countries with poor construction. Isn’t it great that you have a sense of attachment to your old instrument for a long period of time? Choose piano rebuilding and you will never regret.