Restringing
Anyone who plays the guitar or violin knows the improvement in tone that can be realized after the instrument has been restrung. Due to the expense, few pianists understand how important it is to restring a piano from time to time. The improvement in tone can be extraordinary. The photos to the left show the difference between fine craftsmanship and shoddy workmanship in a restringing job.
Rebuilding
Unfortunately, there is no formal definition for “rebuilding” in the piano world. Many piano tuners and piano sales people have taken advantage of this fact and have sold “rebuilding jobs” and “rebuilt pianos” in a way that most consumers would find deceptive. At Collins Piano Tuning, the following criteria should be met before a piano will be considered to be completely rebuilt:
1) The pin block should be replaced and properly fitted to the plate flange.
2) The sound board should be repaired or replaced.
3) New treble and bass strings should be installed.
4) The hammers, hammer shanks, wippens, damper felts, and key bushings should be replaced.
5) The piano should be properly regulated.
