Expert Piano Restoration | Antique Restoration Services

Expert Piano Restoration in Asheville, NC

Welcome to the Piano Emporium Piano Restoration Department

We have Experience Restoring All Types of Pianos

With grand piano restorations, we go the extra mile to include soundboard repair or replacement (if necessary). We also replace the pin block.

Ask about our player piano restoration or modern player piano retrofit for (almost) any piano, upright or grand.

Not sure where your piano restoration project falls on the difficulty scale? Send an email and we will be happy to give you a free estimate for your project. We work with customers from all over, including North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Georgia (GA), and Virginia (VA).

Vintage pianos are true works of art, prized family heirlooms, and examples of extraordinary craftsmanship. Our mission is to accurately restore and/or rebuild your vintage piano so that it is returned to its original appearance and quality of sound. By combining detailed craftsmanship with modern technology, the piano technicians at Piano Emporium bring the best of both worlds to piano restoration. They share over 81+ years of combined experience in piano rebuilding and restoring, so you can be confident that your vintage piano restoration is in the best possible hands. All pianos are unique in what may or may not be needed for restoration, and that’s why our piano technicians take the time to educate you. Our estimates always include all details of replacement items and labor costs, because we want you to completely understand the entire restoration process. Piano restoration may include

Refinishing the piano cabinet or case
Polishing brass
Replacing or repairing the soundboard, including finish and decal (when applicable)
Bridge repair and/or recapping
Replacing the pinblock
Refinishing the plate
Repinning and restringing
New damper felts with refinished damper heads
Damper regulation
Replacing or renewing repetition levers
New hammers, shanks, and flanges
Restoring ivory keytops or replacing with quality acrylic keytops
New key bushings
New action felts
Action regulation
Tuning to A440 concert pitch
Voicing

In rare instances, the cost of restoring a vintage piano could involve a greater investment than that of purchasing a new piano, especially if the vintage piano has not been stored in ideal climate conditions. Although the wood quality in antique pianos is far superior to modern wood products, long exposure to extreme heat or cold can damage vintage wood beyond repair, affecting its overall tonal quality. In these rare cases, our staff and technicians will review the options with you so that you can decide the best investment to make. Call us today for a free estimate, and together we’ll begin the process of restoring your vintage piano’s rich sound, precise action, and gleaming look.

STEINWAY
Before & After

Steinway piano before restoration — Before

Steinway piano after restoration — After

Ludwig Antique Piano Restoration

Here are the photos of the piano from our customer in South Carolina. It is a Ludwig #30545 manufactured in 1901. Ludwig & co. was established in 1888 in New York. They made high quality pianos well worthy of restoration. This particular piano has a beautiful walnut case with ornate carving on the front panel. This piano has a very rich tone and ending up playing very responsively. We did the following work to this piano:

refinish of the exterior case
new strings & tuning pins
minor bridge repair
new hammers
new hammer butts and flanges
new key tops
re-bush front and center key rails
complete action recondition and regulation
new dual wheel neoprene casters for easy rolling
nickel plating of all 3 pedals and the front plate

The piano turned out better than new and had an awesome tonality. A tradition of piano craftsmanship went into antique upright pianos manufactured during this time period from many different companies all of which can be transformed into amazing instruments which are true gems and quality heirlooms. The durability and integrity of pianos in this period are uncompromised and part of the reason there are still many survivors.

LUDWIG
Before & After

Kranich & Bach Piano Restoration

Here are the before and after photos of the Louis XIV piano we restored from a customer in Georgia. It is a Kranich & Bach # 61946 originally manufactured in 1921. Kranich & Bach was established in 1864 in New York. They had showrooms in New York and Chicago. They made heirloom quality pianos with some very fancy case designs. We completed the following on this particular piano.

Re-finish case
replace pin-block
repair and refinish soundboard
re-finish plate
new strings and tuning pins
new hammers & shanks
new dampers
action restoration including whippens (some parts had to be made by hand)
new back checks
complete regulation
new key tops
new key bushings
installed a Piano Life Saver humidity control system

This Kranich & Bach grand piano is an extraordinary instrument that brought a lifetime of enjoyment to its original owner and is ready to serve another lifetime now that restoration has been completed. Any piano will give its best performance if it is serviced regularly by a qualified technician. Tuning is just a small part of piano service and periodic regulation and voicing should be part of your regular service to keep the piano at its best and to last for many years to come.