Piano Restoration and Rebuilding for Philadelphia
Restoring pianos for Philadelphia, PA
Illos Piano Restorations rebuilds fine pianos for Philadelphia owners, with collection and delivery arranged from our Buffalo facility.
Illos Piano Restorations specializes in the rebuilding and restoration of fine pianos for Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 the Delaware Valley
Philadelphia's row-house neighbourhoods are full of uprights that arrived new in the first half of the twentieth century and never left. They were built when multi-laminate pinblocks, thick hardwood veneers, sand-cast plates and solid spruce soundboards were normal, and that construction is exactly why they are still worth rebuilding.
The city's teaching tradition, anchored by the Curtis Institute and a dense network of private studios, also keeps a lot of good instruments in daily use. Pianos that are played every day wear in ways that show up in the action long before the case looks tired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you rebuild uprights as well as grands?
Yes. A well-built upright can be rebuilt to a very high standard, and for many rooms it is the more sensible instrument. The stages are the same: inspection, plate and pinblock, strings, soundboard, action and finish.
What makes older pianos worth restoring?
Build quality. Only the most expensive pianos made today match the materials used routinely a century ago, and parts for the makers we work on are readily available.
How is the work quoted?
After an inspection, in writing, itemised by what is being replaced, repaired or reused. Nothing starts until you have approved it.
Can you collect from the Philadelphia suburbs?
Yes, throughout the Delaware Valley. Give us the address and access details when you enquire and we will build them into the schedule.