Our business primarily focuses on the restoration, moving, and other piano related services but is not limited to that. We’ve handled custom wood work, specialized moving and other niche projects. Reach out with any request and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

The modern piano evolved throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and its fundamental design has remained largely unchanged for over a century. Many reputable pianos built between 1890 and 1930 were crafted with materials and workmanship that often surpass those of most modern instruments. When well maintained and not exposed to extreme humidity or dryness, these vintage pianos are frequently excellent candidates for reconditioning or full rebuilding.

Absolutely not. When done professionally, refinishing can significantly enhance the value of an antique instrument. Poor or amateur refinishing, however, can do more harm than good.

The belief that refinishing always reduces value comes from comparisons with very early antiques finished in varnish or shellac—finishes that can remain beautiful indefinitely with proper care and are therefore often valued in their original state.

Antique pianos and organs are different. They were typically finished with early forms of lacquer that chemically degrade over time, often leaving surfaces dark, brittle, and unsightly. In these cases, a high-quality refinishing is almost always in the instrument’s best interest. Much like vintage automobiles, these instruments are generally more desirable and valuable with a properly executed, attractive finish.

In most cases, yes. Investing in a restored instrument is often a more affordable alternative to purchasing a new one. Many antique and vintage pianos and organs were built to a standard of quality that frequently exceeds that of modern instruments. Like other heirloom antiques and collectibles, these instruments often appreciate in value and can offer strong long-term investment potential.

Most piano tuners recommend tuning every six months, although many high-quality instruments can go longer without sounding unpleasant. For most home pianos, scheduled tunings every one to two years are usually sufficient. If a piano goes untuned for several years, the strings can stretch and the instrument will drop in pitch. Restoring it to proper pitch may require multiple tunings, a process known as pitch raising.

There are several reasons why some pianos cannot be tuned. The most common reason is that with age and general wear and tear, the tuning pins that hold the tension on the strings become loose. The instrument will then require either larger tuning pins or a new pinblock. This usually requires complete restringing because removing loose tuning pins requires strings to be loosened, intern making them weak and prone to breakage.

The soundboard is the most important resonating part of a piano. It is the large, flat piece of wood across the back of the piano that the strings parallel. The soundboard provides the amplification that makes a piano loud and powerful, and tone quality can suffer if it is damaged. Being made of soft spruce, the soundboard usually develops small separations in their original glued wood joints due to changes in temperature and humidity. These "cracks" are very common and easily repaired. In fact, almost any piano with age on it at all will have some degree of this separation due to the nature of wood. Unfortunately, there are many piano tuners that use "cracked soundboards" as a scare tactic to discourage investing in an instrument, or as a ploy to collect a tidy sum to repair the problem.

Keys are made of either ivory, celluloid or plastic. Ivory has a definite wood grain look upon close inspection, and is often yellowed in appearance. It is also made in two pieces, and a slight seam can be seen where the front and back pieces are joined together. Celluloid, a by-product of dynamite making, was the forerunner of modern plastic keys and is very common. It sometimes has straight, grey lines running through it, and may have a wavy, uneven texture about it. Celluloid keys are more of an off-white colour, always being made in one piece. Plastic keys are usually quite obvious because of their shiny white finish.

Restoring yellowed ivory keys is difficult. Genuine ivory is porous and translucent, meaning it absorbs pollutants and is affected by the color of the key beneath it. In some cases, the only way to achieve a whiter appearance is to remove the ivories and refinish the key surfaces underneath. While gentle cleaning or light abrasion may help, some ivory keys may never fully return to their original color.

The act of moving a piano itself does not affect its tuning. However, changes in environment—especially temperature and humidity—can cause the wood and strings to expand or contract, which may impact tuning. After a move, it’s normal for a piano to need tuning once it has had time to acclimate to its new space. We generally recommend waiting a few weeks before tuning, so the instrument can fully adjust.