A well built piano can last hundreds of years, if properly serviced and maintained. Part of the care and maintenance of a fine instrument is periodic reconditioning or rebuilding, which can consist of a number of operations, including restringing, pinblock replacement, hammer replacement, action rebuilding, key recovering, soundboard replacement, and refinishing.

A comprehensively rebuilt piano should have a life expectancy comparable to that of a new piano.  Preservation Artisan and Piano Rebuilder, Kendall Ross Bean, and other aritsans employed by Piano Finders have the skill and expertise  restores a piano to the peak of its performance and musical potential.

The restoration (commonly referred to as rebuilding) of an antique piano is a work of intensive labor, skill, craftsmanship and artistry. Restoring an instrument properly, gives it new life and a long future in which it can continue to bring joy to future generations of music lovers.

Note:  Today, as an alternative to buying a new piano, many choose to purchase and/or restore a vintage instrument, trusting in the skill of local artisans who have restored an instrument for decades.

Restoration artisans have existed before the piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1700. Cristofori was a harpsichord rebuilder before he became the piano inventor. The advent of the manufacturing factory in the mid 1800’s and the creation of assembly line workers, did not prevent individual artisans, from preserving pianos. That is why the skills have been passed on through the generations. There are an abundance of beautiful used pianos, each with unique  provenances, that are worth preserving. And marketing aside, a piano is transparent to a person of skill. A pianist can hear and feel the quality. And a rebuilder can see what the factory did originally and whether it was up to the standards of the model as it was designed originally. We hope that piano artisans everywhere will continue to pass on their skills to others and preserve this marvelous craft.

International Media Articles about Piano Finders:

3 Articles by Music Trades Magazine about Piano Finders.   Music Trades Magazine was founded in 1890 and publishes both print and digital formats.  The digital edition is available in every language.  Subscribers and readers are music retailers, distributors and manufacturers of musical instruments, professional audio equipment and related products worldwide.  The articles are a blend of industry news, hard sales and marketing data, trend analysis and management tips.