The Art of Piano Restoration

“As a professional pianist, I was skeptical that my 1912 Mason & Hamlin could ever return to concert quality. I’ve worked with several restorers over my career, but Piano Artisans stands in a class of their own. The tonal quality and action response Brian and his team achieved is remarkable. They didn’t just restore my piano—they revealed its true voice.”

— Dr. Robert K., Concert Pianist, Boston, MA

Grand Piano Restoration Rooted in Mastery

A grand piano is not simply an instrument — it is an achievement of engineering, artistry, and acoustic science that took generations to perfect. When one of these instruments is entrusted to us, we treat it accordingly. Piano Artisans specializes in museum-quality grand piano restoration for antique, vintage, and heirloom instruments, serving discerning clients across the United States.

Our approach to grand piano restoration traces back to a tradition established in the 1970s. Our founder trained directly under one of the craft’s most respected figures, inheriting techniques refined over decades and perfecting them further through nearly twenty years of hands-on mastery. What we bring to every grand piano restoration is not a system — it is a living craft.

Explore our Restoration Portfolio to see the standard every project is held to.

What Grand Piano Restoration Involves

Grand piano restoration at the museum-quality level is a comprehensive process that addresses every system of the instrument — structural, acoustic, mechanical, and aesthetic. No element is treated in isolation. Each decision affects the others, and only a team with deep cross-disciplinary expertise can manage that complexity at the highest level.

Structural and Soundboard Restoration The foundation of any great grand piano restoration begins below the surface. Our principal fabricator John — known in the trade as The Belly Man — specializes in soundboard and pin block work, the most critical and demanding elements of the entire restoration. A compromised soundboard or failing pin block cannot be masked; they must be addressed with precision and authenticity. John’s expertise in this area is among the rarest in the country.

Action Rebuilding and Regulation The mechanical action of a grand piano contains thousands of individual components, each requiring precise calibration. Our action restoration specialist Denny — The Stringer — oversees the complete rebuilding of action components and restringing, while Michael, our regulation professional and former head of the Piano Technicians Guild Los Angeles chapter, brings an exceptional level of refinement to the final touch and response of every keyboard we deliver.

Case Refinishing The exterior of a grand piano tells its history. Our founder Brian — The Refinisher — has spent decades mastering the art of period-appropriate case refinishing, matching century-old lacquers, recreating original patinas, and restoring case work to its original grandeur using historically authentic materials and hand-applied techniques. Learn more about our approach on our dedicated Piano Refinishing page.

Player System Integration Many vintage grand pianos benefit from the addition of a modern player system alongside their restoration. Piano Artisans is an authorized installer of QRS PNOmation systems, allowing your restored grand to perform as both a traditional instrument and a fully automated player piano — without compromising the integrity of the restoration.

Brands We Commonly Restore

Our grand piano restoration work spans the full spectrum of fine instrument makers, including Steinway & Sons, Mason & Hamlin, Bösendorfer, Chickering, Knabe, Baldwin, and many others. Each brand carries its own manufacturing history, tonal philosophy, and construction characteristics — all of which inform our restoration decisions. To understand the remarkable history behind the instruments we restore, visit our page on the History of the 88-Note Piano.

Our Grand Piano Restoration Process

Every grand piano restoration at Piano Artisans follows a meticulous, fully documented sequence:

Initial Assessment and Documentation — Every instrument undergoes a thorough evaluation to document its condition, historical significance, and unique characteristics before any work begins.

Disassembly and Cataloging — Each component is systematically removed, labeled, and assessed, creating a detailed restoration roadmap.

Structural Restoration — Soundboard, pin block, bridges, and case structure are addressed first, establishing the foundation everything else depends on.

Action Rebuilding — The mechanical heart of the piano is fully restored or rebuilt to achieve precise performance and touch sensitivity.

Restringing — New strings are carefully fitted and voiced to the instrument’s acoustic profile and original tonal design.

Case Refinishing — Multiple hand-applied finish coats using period-appropriate materials restore the exterior to its original beauty.

Final Assembly, Regulation, and Voicing — All components are reunited with precision, followed by comprehensive regulation, tuning, and voicing to achieve optimal musical performance.

Comprehensive Documentation — Your restored grand piano is delivered with a complete record of the restoration process, historical findings, and care instructions.

Grand Piano Restoration Investment

Museum-quality grand piano restoration represents a significant and meaningful investment. Piano Artisans offers three restoration programs — our Heritage, Heirloom, and Museum Series — each designed to match the appropriate level of work to your instrument’s needs, history, and value.

Visit our Piano Restoration Pricing page for a full breakdown of what each program includes.

If you are unsure where your instrument stands before committing to a restoration path, we recommend beginning with a professional appraisal. Piano Artisans offers both an Online Piano Appraisal and an In-Home Piano Appraisal conducted by our specialists.

A Selective Process That Protects Quality

Piano Artisans accepts a limited number of grand piano restoration projects each year. This is not a production facility — it is an atelier, and every instrument we accept receives the full, undivided attention of our master craftspeople. Our curated selection process ensures we never compromise the standard our clients and their instruments deserve.

If your piano is a candidate for player piano restoration rather than a traditional grand restoration, we offer that as a separate specialty service with the same uncompromising standards.

Begin Your Grand Piano’s Restoration

If you have a grand piano worth preserving, we want to hear about it. Contact Piano Artisans today to begin the conversation — and to find out whether your instrument is a candidate for the finest grand piano restoration available in the United States.

True restoration reveals what was always there, waiting to be heard again.