Piano Restoration and Rebuilding for Columbus
Restoring pianos for Columbus, OH
Illos Piano Restorations rebuilds pianos for Columbus owners who want the whole job done properly in one shop rather than split between a technician, a refinisher and a mover.
Illos Piano Restorations specializes in the rebuilding and restoration of fine pianos for Columbus owners, including Steinway, Baldwin, Mason & Hamlin and many others. At our own facility in Buffalo we perform restringing, pinblock and soundboard replacement, complete action rebuilds, hand stripping and refinishing in high-gloss polyester, satin lacquer or natural wood.
What we take on for Columbus customers
Major repair work and full restorations only, carried out at our shop in Buffalo. Your piano has to come to us at 2940 Main St. We do not travel to Columbus for tuning, regulation, small adjustments or other minor repairs, and we would rather say so plainly than sell you a long-distance callout. For that kind of work you want a good technician near you.
What does justify the journey is the work that takes months on a bench: a new pinblock, restringing, soundboard replacement, a complete action rebuild, or a full refinish. Getting the piano here is our problem, not yours. Where Columbus is beyond the range of our own truck we facilitate the move with our partner piano movers and coordinate it end to end, so you deal with one company from the first phone call to the piano coming back through your door. Because the instrument is with us for months, transport ends up a small share of the total cost.
Working with central Ohio
Columbus is a university city with a large teaching and church music community, which means a lot of instruments in constant use. Pianos in that kind of service tend to need action work long before the cabinet looks tired, and regulation is often what separates a piano that students avoid from one they queue for.
Central Ohio is about a six-hour drive from Buffalo. We schedule collections to suit the shop calendar, so give us as much notice as you can and we will fit your instrument into a run.
Frequently Asked Questions
My piano plays unevenly. Is that a rebuild or a regulation?
Often regulation, sometimes more. Action regulation is what lets a pianist communicate with the strings and soundboard efficiently, and it is part of every rebuild we do, but on a sound instrument it can be worth doing on its own. We will tell you which one you are looking at.
Do you work with schools and churches?
Extensively. Illos specialises in rebuilding pianos for schools, and our references include school districts, colleges, churches and theatres across several states.
What finish options are there?
High-gloss polyester, satin lacquer and natural wood finishes, in your choice of stain or color. We hand-rub our finishes for durability, and we hand strip rather than dipping so veneers and glue joints stay sound.
Can you appraise the piano first?
Yes. We appraise instruments as part of quoting, so you can weigh the cost of the work against the value of the finished piano before you commit.