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- Rebuilding
Why Rebuild Your Piano?
The late 1800s to the 1960s are considered the vintage years of Steinway & Sons, and in most cases, of all piano makers. Anyone who who owns or has played upon a number of such instruments tends to agree.
In those times (especially before the advent of television and radio) the piano was considered an extremely important part of peoples' lives. Pianomakers were aware of this and so manufactured instruments that would last a lifetime, if not generations. Standing out above them all in quality and ddesign was Steinway & Sons.
Although they made a relatively large number of instruments during these times, there were only so many produced, and there is a lesser amount on the market for sale as the years go by. Owners are appreciating what they have in an old Steinway and are without a doubt enjoying their gorgeous sound and therefore are holding on to them./P>
In the case of a family owned instrument, these pianos are often passed on from generation to generation. Considering the cost of new Steinways and the many changes made in the overall construction of such in the past 50 years, these are wise decisions.
A number of our clients have asked, "if the old Stenways were so good, why rebuild them?", and "wouldn't that make them a 'new' Steinway?".
There are a number of reasons to rebuild an old Steinway. A piano is made up mostly of wood and metal and there are many moving parts. Over time the wood tends to crack, split and warp and the metal tends to rus and tarnish. The varnish and lacquer becomes discolored or "check". The sound board is intially plaved within the body of the piano with slight curvature to it,
which we refer to in the piano business as "crown". Ths curvature tends to flatten out over the years and the piano loses its carrying power. The strings rust and lose tone. THe moving parts, like anything mechanical, can be adjusted, or "regulated", but this can be done only a number of times and then they wear out. Replacing all of the parts and refinishing the piano
does not change the fundamental sound of the instrument. In fact, rebuilding on echances that sound. Steinway made their own metal plates for many years, When they began having them made by another company they inexplicably changed the design. The plate, or harp, is the on thing (besides the body itself) that we do not chnage in rebuilding and this, along with the body itself,
are the elements responsible for making the sound of the old Steinway what it is (much like a violin).
"When we rebuild your old piano, we give it a new life...therefore a worthwhile investment"
So when we rebuild your old piano, we give it a new life; we resurrect it! Many of our clients are enjoying their rebuilt Steinways now and intend to pass them on and keep them in the famnily for generations to come. Although it can be expensive propsition, complete rebuilding and refinishing makes playing your piano a new and exciting experience and only enchaces the vaulue of the instrument and is therefore a worthwhile investment.
- Steve Drasche
| Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life -- Red Auerbach |
Estimates
Steve Drasche
(718) 361-9114
Call me and I will personally go over in detail your request to service your piano to keep it in peak performance.
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