2000 SHIGERU KAWAI SK7

Coming up next...

Coming up next...

1980 ZUCKERMANN FLEMISH DOUBLE

Working on it...

Working on it...

1989 YAMAHA C3

Back action leads are corroded and loose, to be replaced

Releasing tension from the bass strings

Removing old felts from the plate

Cleaning up the soundboard

Gently removing the old tuning pins

Installing the new tuning pin bushings

Looking better after a good clean-up

Restringing the tenor section

New tuning pins

Bass strings on

Giving the tools some rest...

Loose screw needs fixing

Dampers and underlevers

Swedging new leads in the underlevers

Double-checking that the weights are precise

1830 ROBERTSON SQUARE

Historical restoration

Starting teardown...

Measuring strings

Comparing square piano damper against modern cousin

Traditional felts for the instrument's era

Preparing for stringing

New strings on treble section

Loops are hand-made for every individual string

Bench regulation

Installing refelted dampers

Making new leather hinges for all hammers

Strings and action reinstalled

Thin margins when aligning hammers to strings after hinge replacement

Quality controller arriving for final inspection

Ready to go home

Back at work on an early music recording project

1982 YAMAHA C7

Rusty tenor strings, stained soundboard

Pedal lyre in dire need of a dress-up

Accumulated grime, rust and mould

Removing old strings

Ready for a clean-up

Fresh coat of graphite on the bridge

Fitting in new tuning pin bushings

New bushings in - 30 down, 200 to go

Restringing tenor section

Treating ivory keytops with H2O2 and UV light

Ivory treatment, before and after

Pedal lyre redressed

New hammer weights compared to old ones

Nearly ready to go back home

Being welcomed home

1902 BECHSTEIN K

Strings and pins rusty after decades near the coast

Plate removed, ready for cleaning and spraying

Sanding down soundboard

Applying a fresh decal

Cleaning plate before spraying

Plate freshly sprayed

Felts replaced with original green

New strings and nickel-plated tuning pins on exposed pinblock

New shanks and hammers, good chance to improve action geometry

Custom-shaping hammers

Each hammer must have an accurate weight for consistent touch and tone

Each key also must have an accurate weight for consistent touch and tone

Voicing up new hammers with B72

Old hammer weights (red), compared to new ones (green) - note the smooth progression

And back together

UPRIGHT ACTIONS

New materials ready for installation

Drilling new hammers

Regulating new action back into the piano