The Soundboard
The buildup of dirt and discoloration on a soundboard, while cosmetic, detracts from the piano’s beauty. My restoration process begins with thoroughly cleaning and sanding the board. The first step in repairing cracks is to enlarge them enough to accept a shim made from spruce wood, the same material as the soundboard. This ensures visual and tonal compatibility. Once the shims are shaped for a perfect match and glued into place, they are sanded flush with the soundboard surface. Repeating this process for each crack prepares the soundboard for finishing.
After repairing the cracks, the piano is turned on its side to examine and repair the ribs if necessary. Ribs provide structural support and transmit string vibrations across the soundboard. Loose ribs can cause a “buzzing” sound due to failed glue. In this restoration, two loose ribs were re-glued to restore their integrity. Although the soundboard is a functional part, I also perform cosmetic touch-ups to make it look fresh and new again.
After repairing the cracks, the piano is turned on its side to examine and repair the ribs if necessary. Ribs provide structural support and transmit string vibrations across the soundboard. Loose ribs can cause a “buzzing” sound due to failed glue. In this restoration, two loose ribs were re-glued to restore their integrity. Although the soundboard is a functional part, I also perform cosmetic touch-ups to make it look fresh and new again.
The Plate
Supporting nearly 20 tons of string tension, the cast iron plate needs refinishing. Removing the plate for soundboard repairs also allows for plate refinishing. After removing the old string felt, I grind down rough casting areas, sand chipped paint, and use a high-build primer if necessary. The refinished plate, often in high-gloss copper metallic or traditional pale gold, provides structural and aesthetic value. Adding under-string felt cushions the strings and prevents unwanted harmonics.
Stringing
Restringing might be necessary if strings are breaking, corroded, or tuning pins won’t hold properly. Restringing involves removing old strings and replacing them. Treble strings are cut to length from bulk rolls, while bass strings are custom duplicated. New strings, coupled with nickel-plated tuning pins, ensure improved appearance and function. Several tunings stabilize new strings before the piano leaves the shop.
Dampers
Dampers mute unplayed strings and lift off when keys are struck, allowing vibrations. Old damper felts become hard and can buzz or fail to mute strings. Replacing damper felts with new ones restores their effectiveness. The damper heads are usually refinished to match the piano’s restored appearance.
Action, Hammers, and Keyboard
The action houses most of a piano’s 12,000 parts. While keys are often soft basswood, the moving parts are hard maple. Broken action parts typically result from inexperienced technicians. Felts and buckskins wear out and need replacement. Rebuilding actions may save 30% to 50% compared to complete replacements, restoring performance to its original state.
The Case
Restoring the external case showcases the piano’s potential. This piano had numerous poor-quality rebuilds and repairs over its busy life. Yet, the original quality from the late 1800s and early 1900s, the “Golden Age” of pianos, was restored to like-new condition. Old pianos are built to high standards and hold musical and antique value, making them excellent investments.