Rebuild
Would you like a performance instrument? How about finding an older Bechstein, or Steinway, or Grotrian and making it perform better than new? You can be the hit of the season by having a BBQ, inviting your friends, and listening to a master make your piano sound wonderful! If your piano is tired and lifeless, sounding dull, or not holding the tuning, you may want to consider a piano rebuild project.
When a car gets old and tired, we rebuild it to extend its life. If we rebuild just the engine, it will likely run better. However, this does not address the aging brakes, bent tie rod, wheel alignment, or the many other items. If the wrest plate of a piano is replaced, the strings will hold their pitch better. However, this does not address the tired soundboard, bridges, worn hammers and wippens, crooked keys, and many other items.
Before we go any further, you may wish to read about Artistic Style. It will help explain some lingering questions before you dive into your first piano rebuild project. These projects tend to be long, laborious, and sometimes downright tiresome. But the ends results are worth every ounce of energy you expend. I promise!
The question on many of client’s mind is, “What will my piano sound like after it is rebuilt?” Looking brand new is important and we will make it look as good as new or better. We may suggest some modifications to make it your piano play and sound much better as well. Many instruments have had their action ignored and it starts showing in worn parts, bad action parameters (you can read regulation here), or consumable parts that have never been replaced. We will make your piano play up to its design potential. We can even alter some piano designs and make them play and sound much better. Was it intended to produce a big, round, ponderous sound? Or did its originator envision a lighter, brighter, jazz sound? Is it voiced for a 100-seat salon recital but sits in a 10,000-seat concert hall? Hammers, string tensions, rim size, soundboard thicknesses, room size, acoustics, and much more all will play a role in the tone produced by any given piano. We attack those items that give us the most influence over the sound but realize we can only point the sound in a direction. Beyond that, we will redesign your piano and make it sound the way you want. Just gives Campbell Piano Shop a call and we can start the process of giving you the piano you want to hear.
These questions and answers are start to the rebuild process. They do not replace discussions that outline specific goals for your project. The more time spent defining the project, the faster you will get to the end. They will, however, help you think about items you will want to consider. Rebuilding a grand piano is a labor-intensive process. We use the highest quality products and parts to insure consistent results. We spend in excess of 500 hours on the typical rebuild, not including refinishing. A new Steinway will range from thirty thousand dollars to over two hundred thirty thousand dollars. You can expect to pay approximately three-quarters of the cost of a new Steinway of the same size to have any grand piano rebuilt. Each piano is evaluated individually to determine the specific costs. How much a project will cost, and the expected results is a great place to start and strikes at the heart of the quality of a rebuilder’s work.
FAQs Regarding a Rebuild Project
1. What should I expect from my Rebuild Project?
2 How long does it take to rebuild a Grand Piano?
Once a piano enters the shop, web must carefully take all beginning measurements. This is our reference and must be done with care. After that it will typically take six to eight months to complete. Your participation during this initial sage is critical and cannot be overstated.
There are no guaranteed schedules for any project. The work continues until we are satisfied that the results meet or exceed the artistic goals. Each piano is unique and will require differing amounts of effort.
3. Is a rebuilt piano as good as a new one?
I am a rebuilder. This is my business. I will naturally say that a rebuilt piano can far outperform a new instrument. Rebuilt pianos have some distinct advantages over new ones.
- Customizable – A rebuilder should make strategic decisions that set the sound and playability more like your desire.
- Modernization – With the proper selection of materials and methods, an instrument can not only look better, but sound and play better for many more years.
- Cost savings – If executed well, a proper rebuild project produces a higher quality instrument for less money than purchasing a new instrument of similar quality.
- A rebuild project increases the market value of your piano.
4. Does Campbell Piano Shop Redesign my piano?
I watch home improvement shows like This Old House regularly. I am often puzzled by choices made when dealing with historically significant houses. On the one hand, plumbing, electrical, sewer, and many other household systems will not pass current building codes. To restore them to their original condition would render the building uninhabitable. To ignore the advances in efficiency and the material sciences to preserve the original design is counter productive. However, too much change puts the character of the house is at risk. We focus on the goals of a project without loosing site of the history and traditions of the piano.
aRTIXTIC vISIONistic Style
Campbell Piano Shop’s work is constantly evolving. Our services are of a unique and artistic nature. As such, the results may be different from other pianos we have rebuilt in the past. In addressing a piano, we use our personal artistic judgment to create a result consistent with our vision.
There are two polar schools of thought regarding changing the design of a piano. One school says original design is flawless and should be followed to the letter. The opposite school says nothing is sacred and everything will have to be replaced and updated. I am guided by the goals of the project and not afraid to make alterations to a design. I am equally unafraid to stay with tradition when it brings the project closer to the goals.Piano Rebuild Design
Piano manufacturers, even the most vaunted, have had issues with their designs, production lines, and/or quality control. Advances made in physics and the materials sciences make some of todays parts and methods far superior. However, wholesale changes often lead to a change in the character of the instrument.
We take inventory of the piano and evaluate each change in light of the artistic goals. No ‘throwing the baby out with the bath water’ with a new design. That said, we will not cling to history due to the name on the fallboard. If one of the goals is better action control, we redesign and build a new actions Old House.