Customer stories.

"Hey Paul, hope you’ve been keeping well! Just wanted to reach out and just update you that I had the piano tuned again on the Sunday just gone. It’s still getting better and better, just wanted to offer my thanks again for the work completed by yourself and the team"

1895 Steinway & Sons Model C

Kieran

"The piano that Paul Leverett and his team at Piano Restorations Ltd rebuilt for me surpassed my expectation from day one."

I inherited a Steinway Model O grand piano from my aunt, (Joan Bucknall), a professional viola player. It had been bequeathed to her by her aunt, (Elsa West), a pianist, singer and violinist who trained at the Royal Academy in the early 1900s. Made in 1911 it had in the last few years suffered attack by moths, a cracked soundboard and a case partially bleached by the sun. Delivered to Piano Restorations on the advice of my piano tuner brother, (Anthony), it was completely overhauled, with a new action and soundboard and a restored rosewood case, as good as new. They have done a wonderful job in restoring this instrument. As a professional clarinettist I am now able to enjoy chamber music with pianist colleagues playing a family instrument that has a perfect action combined with the rich, mellow sound of a piano of that era.

Nicholas Bucknall

”I wanted to write to you, as Chair of the board of Artrix Arts Centre, and after our first concert at Artrix on the Steinway piano you have restored for us. The piano is a joy! Transformed and enjoyed comprehensively by our regular tuner, the audience and the Bromsgrove Concert Club”

Dorothy J Wilson MBE, FRSA

“Our family piano came to us in a much used condition: it has now been transformed by your careful restoration. The tone is truly beautiful - and better than I have ever heard it - and both the mechanism and french polishing are superb. Thank you so much to your whole team involved. I would certainly recommend you and them to other piano owners."Very Best WishesNicky Tyler

"Hello Paul, well... I absolutely love the piano! Thank you so much for sourcing it for me and restoring it so beautifully. It already handles so beautifully touch and response wise and I hope that we will 'mature' together over the years. It really suits my style of playing and the sound is wonderful.

Bye for now, but it is not the last time you will be hearing from me." Best wishes Christine x

My Journey (so far) with Piano Restorations

I purchased a 1904 Bechstein Model B from a London showroom. The piano had apparently been ‘fully restored’. The action was less responsive than I would have liked but the tone was good and I believed the salesman when he told me that the “Action would loosen with use and become more responsive”.

Well – it didn’t and although the company made several attempts to improve the action they were unable to make any significant improvement. As a result I stopped playing because I simply was not enjoying the instrument.

Eventually I decided to contact Bechstein direct with a view, perhaps, of having to buy an entire new action. Bechstein suggested that, before exploring further such drastic action, I should speak with Colin and Paul at Piano Restorations.

Paul came out to assess the instrument and quickly diagnosed the problem. My piano had a Tied Action – an action that is prone to stiffening with atmospheric changes – which is why Bechstein phased it out years ago.

Paul suggested that he could change the action to a capstone and heel arrangement which would then give me the kind of performance that I had originally expected.

Given my experiences to date I challenged Paul quite hard regarding the likelihood of him being able to meet my very demanding expectations. He said that he had absolutely no doubt in his mind that he could.

I agreed to entrust my piano to Piano Restorations. I did so because, as our discussion developed, it became entirely clear to me that Paul actually understood what I meant when I explained what it is that I need from the instrument. I then went over to Paul’s workshop where I also met Colin and this confirmed to me that I was in safe hands. Colin and Paul understand that every instrument has a character and a soul. More importantly they know how to release it!

I sent a good instrument to Piano restorations and they sent me back what for me is a great instrument. It now plays and sounds far better even than I could have expected. So, not only did Colin and Paul meet my expectations they actually exceeded them by some distance by releasing the true character and soul of the instrument.

Paul recently drew my attention to their new video (on this site) and asked what I thought of it. My overwhelming reaction was that ‘it is all true’ – not a reaction I’d had to any other marketing video.

So my journey continues with Piano Restorations as they continue to maintain my piano in top condition and it’s nice to be able to relax knowing that my piano is in such skilful and caring hands.

Robert White

I was truly blown away when I saw the piano last week and I am incredibly grateful for the care and effort you put into restoring my piano…it looks amazing!

David Merson

Bechstein Model B

"From my very first phone call with Paul his enthusiasm for his job was evident. E-mails with photos and details of pianos came my way and before long I went to visit. And at that first meeting I knew that this was the place where I would find my piano. There was an atmosphere of professionalism, of pride in their work, and of passion for their pianos."

Kathy Wood

"Dear Paul, the piano is quite simply amazing. She was a very sick old lady when she came to you, and now she is positively bursting with glorious sound; and the quality of the restorations is unbelievably good.

Thank you- I am not ashamed to say that I cried buckets when I played her for the first time - this piano is what I learnt my first ever pieces on, and it has been in my family for one hundred and twenty five years....

Best,

Alison

I acquired my Ant. Petrof in 1994. This lovely piano had been built and sold by Harrods during 1925. By the time I became the Petrof's custodian, it had had a hard life with a repaired split in the sound board and loose tuning pins. However with all these problems the tone the Petrof produced was fantastic. 25 years later and a few years in storage, the sound board had completely lost it's crown, and now the tuning pins were so loose the strings could only be kept in tune for a day or so.

It was decision time, do I buy a new piano or restore? I made the right decision to go for a full restoration. After researching websites for piano restorations, I found Piano Restorations and visited their workshop. I have to say I was impressed and, being a family business, I decided to ask would they be prepared to restore my Petrof. I am so pleased they were prepared to take on the challenge. I wanted the piano to retain the original tone, and required that the light touch could be maintained.

As time passed, Paul would send me photos and updates of progress. I did visit at each stage and was always welcome. The time had arrived when the Petrof was once again a piano. I visited their workshop to try the piano. It was not ready to come home. I sat at the keyboard and nervously began to play.. My eyes filled immediately with tears, I was unable to speak being so overwhelmed with emotion. I hugged Paul.

Ant. Petrof had really built a fantastic piano back in 1925. Paul, his lovely dad Colin, and brother in law Phil, plus the other staff had worked with love and commitment to elevate Mr Petrof's piano to a condition he would be proud of. I can only say that this goddess has the most beautiful sound and has by far the greatest dynamic range of any piano played. The restoration was without doubt the best decision I believe I have ever made. I have a unique and very valuable instrument. Its not for sale!

To Paul, Colin and all Staff,. I am forever grateful.

Barberovski

Dear Paul,

Just a note to say that the 1898 Blüthner 238cm grand piano finally arrived back here last week and that I am totally delighted with it.

I have to say, as you personally well know, that I was very sceptical when I handed the instrument over to you for a complete rebuild. I did wonder, knowing the enormous amount of work you do on such old instruments, if you would recapture the original tone. But now that the piano is again in our sitting room my fears have been completelyallayed. In fact I see now that they were totally unfounded, as the instrument sounds exactly as it should: a turn of the 19th/20th centurygrand piano. And for what it is worth, a view shared by many others:pianos made in Germany between about 1890 and 1914 have never ever been equalled. In spite of what many would have one believe, these old instruments from the top German makers, are well worth rebuilding; they have “that something” call it “soul” if you wish, which today’s production somehow seems to lack.

What you have done is to create an essentially brand new instrumentin all that matters as far at the sound is concerned: new sound board: new tuning-pin block: new bridges: new strings: and, in this case this case a brand new keyboard and roller action. I know that it cut you personally to the quick when I decided to abandon the original Blüthner abstract action, which is dear to your own heart, but I am really very satisfied with the new keyboard and the roller action which you, at Piano Restorations, actually built in your workshop. It is very responsive and with the new hammer heads enables me to play so very, very softly. You can reduce the sound almost to a whisper, which is something I have never before experienced.

But what I find most remarkable is that with the new soundboard, made with 21st century wood, you have managed, somehow, to recapture the essence of the true Blüthner tone: the so-called Golden Tone of those first three octaves above middle C, which are just so very important, as that is where so very many of the melodies are set.Somehow I had in my mind that new, modern wood would never equal the old original, naturally air-dried spruce used to make the soundboard over 100 years ago. But I was so very wrong: totally wrong, in fact.

So there you are: a satisfied client and a rebuilt piano from the German golden age, which is good for another century – which I, alas, am not!

Kind regards

Trevor Matthews

I had to email you to tell you how thrilled we are with the piano. It is a joy to look at and hear. We really appreciate your devotion and expertise during a very difficult year and we are glad if we were able to help in some way. It was definitely worth waiting for. The piano is absolutely transformed from the sad neglected state and has emerged from your workshop like a new vibrant instrument with all the joy of its antiquity. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you.

My best to your Father and the rest of your family

Sarah Beaumont

I loved my Steinway Model A before it was reconditioned by Piano Restorations but since I have had it back I have completely fallen in love with it again. My piano was originally built around 1902 and for the past 35 years it has been a working instrument, both for me to practise and for the hundreds of students I have taught. The sound was always beautiful, enhancing everyone’s playing, and although I knew that it needed some work I was apprehensive about having any done – as one of my pupils said, with new strings etc will it be the same piano? Now it’s back, I can confirm that it is the same piano but even better than before: it’s an absolute delight to play and I think the sound is even sweeter than when I first acquired it. The original ivory keys have been reglued and cleaned – very necessary after many repair jobs by me in the last few years – and the case has been polished so that it gleams again – I wasn’t worried about the appearance but am very pleased that Paul arranged this as well!

The whole process was managed with the least inconvenience to me: I had a loan piano for the duration of the work so that I could continue with my teaching and the piano removers were excellent, dealing with the difficulties of steps outside my house with care and attention. I missed my piano while it was away but it was worth the wait when I got it back. I am so happy that Piano Restorations carried out the work for me – it is a superb instrument again. Thank you so much.

Nicki

For more years than I care to remember it has been my dream to own a grand piano. About three years ago, when I inherited some money after the death of my parents I decided that it was time to make this dream a reality. Not such an easy thing to do as it turned out!

I began by visiting all the piano retailers nearest to me, in Kent and Surrey. My search soonexpanded to include almost all of the larger piano outlets in London and the South East! I visited shops, workshops, trading estates, barns... I played some beautiful pianos (a nine foot Bosendorfer) and some truly dreadful ones. I met some lovely people, and some rather quirky ones. But not only was I unable to find a piano that felt right, just as importantly I didn’t find the people that felt right. None of them gave me any confidence in either themselves, as piano retailers and restorers, or in their pianos.

During my grand search my piano tuner had mentioned Piano Restorations to me but Bicester is a long way away and I felt sure that I could find something nearer to home! I had also beenintroduced to one of this country’s leading piano technicians, and after many months of fruitless searching I gave him a call. Talk to Piano Restorations, he said. You can trust them.

From my very first phone call with Paul his enthusiasm for his job was evident. E-mails with photos and details of pianos came my way and before long I went to visit. And at that first meeting I knew that this was the place where I would find my piano. There was an atmosphere of professionalism, of pride in their work, and of passion for their pianos.

A couple of months later my beautiful Bluthner arrived at home. But I’m sure that won’t be the last that I will see of the crew at Piano Restorations - I’m confident that they will be there to help me keep my piano sounding great.

If you’re looking for a piano, go and pay them a visit!

"I also enjoyed the pianos (the Steinway and especially the Bechstein) in the showroom. I thought that your work on the Bechstein had particularly brought out the best and most beautiful tone with a smooth, positive action. I would have no hesitation in recommending your pianos"

Graham Longfils B.Mus

”Impressed with the efficiency and professionalism. The entire process was smooth and hassle-free.”

- Sharon Roddy