Thomas Piano Service offers Piano Repair and Restoration Services in Montgomery, Alabama.
A piano is a complex musical instrument with thousands of moving parts. It also has delicate materials, including felts, leather and glue, that will eventually deteriorate or fail due to age, routine playing, misuse/neglect, humidity levels, or a combination of factors.
Sooner or later, your precious piano will need a little TLC. Occasionally, it may need a LOT.
Piano Repair
What, exactly, is “Piano Repair“?
Do you enjoy crossword puzzles?
Clue: What the piano repairman brought to the potluck dinner.
Answer: TUNERCASSEROLE
Just like the ingredients of a casserole, a Piano Repair can be, or mean, a lot of different things.
Piano Repair is one of those “catch-all” phrases in the Piano Industry used to describe many types, and varying degrees, of Piano-related Services.
Types of Piano Repair
Piano Repair can range from minor mechanical adjustments like tightening a screw or sanding a surface to a major Piano Rebuilding Project.
Some of the more common terms and phrases used to describe Piano Repairs include:
- Piano Regulation
- Piano Voicing
- Piano Keytop Repair & Recovering
- Piano Restoration
- Piano Rebuilding
- Piano Refinishing
- Piano Reconditioning
- Piano Refurbishing, and more
Some of these repairs are typically performed during a Piano Tuning and are considered routine Piano Maintenance. These Piano Repairs are often performed at the piano owner’s home or property.
Other Piano Repairs are far more extensive and require more time, labor and workspace. In these cases, we may need to transport your piano to our Piano Workshop Studio.
Piano Technicians Guild
In order to establish uniformity and reduce some of the confusion, the Piano Technicians Guild has come to the rescue!
The Piano Technicians Guild, or PTG, uses the following 2 terms to categorize piano repair:
- Reconditioning
- Rebuilding (includes Partial and Complete Rebuilding)
Piano Reconditioning
PTG defines Piano Reconditioning as follows:
“Reconditioning is the process of putting a piano back in good condition by cleaning, repairing, and adjusting for best performance with parts replacement only where necessary. This is most appropriate for a piano with only moderate wear or those of medium value with average performance requirements.
Reconditioning does not involve replacing major components such as the soundboard, bridges, pinblock, and most action parts. This means the performance and life-span of an older piano will not be restored to new. Instead, reconditioning is designed to improve a piano’s performance, keeping in mind both costs and benefits.”
Piano Rebuilding
Furthermore, PTG defines Piano Rebuilding as:
“Rebuilding involves complete disassembly, inspection, and repair as necessary, including replacement of ALL worn, damaged, or deteriorated parts. This piano is then reassembled, tested, and adjusted to the same or similar tolerances as new.
COMPLETE REBUILDING includes the entire pianos structure — including soundboard, bridges, pinblock, and strings — as well as the action, keyboard, and case refinishing.
PARTIAL REBUILDING includes only one or two of these areas, for example rebuilding of the action and structure, but not case refinishing.
Rebuilding restores the piano to original condition or better. Such comprehensive work is usually most practical for high-quality instruments where maximum performance and longevity are required.”
We Fix Pianos!
Whether your piano needs a few simple adjustments, a complete rebuild, or refinishing from leg to lid, Thomas Piano Service has the expertise, tools and patience needed to turn back the clock for your cherished musical instrument.
Contact Joey Thomas, our Piano Restoration Specialist and learn more about our Piano Reconditioning and Rebuilding Services.
Our workshop hours correspond with our regular business hours (shown below). Please call ahead in case we are on a service call or making a delivery.
We’re also available by appointment. Call Joey at (334) 286-3663.
Montgomery, AL | Thomas Piano Service 