Piano Repair: Getting the MOST from your piano

Pianos are made up of hundreds of functioning parts. Only regular maintenance will keep the moving components working. Having regular maintenance done ensures that the piano stays in its original condition by fixing or restoring damaged parts. Ultimately this makes sure the piano sounds its best and last for many years.

A piano needs not only be in standard tuning, but also having its mechanical components in proper functioning properly as well. It doesn’t mean that when keys function normally the condition of the piano is acceptable, however.

As the piano gets older, felts wear away or become packed together and require replacement or voicing. In such cases the felt has to be softened and made flexible again. When a piano’s felts and parts deteriorate, they are already in need of repair.

In most cases repair work can be done at home. But when repinning and restringing is needed, piano repair should be done in a well-equipped repair shop. Major replacement, such as these that require expertise and proper equipment MUST be done in a shop.

Piano repair work can include fixing broken action elements like hammer shanks, wippens, butts, flanges and damper levers. Keytops often break off or become chipped and need repair. Case parts like the keyboard cover and moving panels can also become dented, scratched or broken, needing repair and a touch up to the finish.

Oversize pins can replace loose tuning pins, provided that the pinblock is in good condition. Soundboard that cracks can be fixed but need meticulous woodworking skills and methods. Broken strings are also a regular problem, particularly in older pianos. Fortunately replacing strings isn’t a major or expensive job.

Common repair includes individual replacement. Piano casters frequently jam or become broken and may require shimming, lubrication or replacement. Finally, cleaning the piano action and its inside case are tasks that are often overlooked, but only require easy clean-up, and the result is a piano that “feels” and sounds good.

During home repairs, a good piano technician brings equipment for spot replacement of components and string repair. Most repair work on newer pianos is often the result of abuse or inferior manufacturing. Repair work on older pianos, meanwhile, is usually due to neglect, abuse and simple failure due to its age.

Restoration work which entails completely replacing piano parts is the more in the realm of reconstructing an old piano and replacing it with new parts. This returns the piano to its new condition.

Replacement of parts requires attention to make sure that the new parts match very closely to the original and previously restored parts. Strings, hammers, dampers, butts, flanges and wippens, and other parts like pinblocks and soundboards can also be replaced.

This is typically done only on valuable or high end grand pianos since this task demands significant effort and cost. Case refinishing is sometimes carried out on pianos that have lost their color or where the wood grain has become hidden. Fixing a piano’s takes special talents and patience as well as specialized equipment and years of experience.

The degree of repairs varies from small modifications and parts replacement to a major overhaul, which could include replacement of strings or fixing or repairing the whole soundboard. The value of the instrument needs to be considered before starting major repairs. A qualified and competent technician can advise whether or not the piano is worth fixing.

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