About: Rebuilding: Design

Early twentieth century Steinway model M with a new soundboard and traditional decal. The latter would soon be left out as economies of production changed.

A few words about design may help you understand why The Piano Rebuilders represent a different choice from many other technicians and rebuilding firms.

Let Steinway serve as the example. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Steinways trained individual family members to be experts at each aspect of their business. What made them practically unique was that these experts conferred amicably and reached design conclusions based on concessions from each perspective in the interests of the whole: the balance of considerations didn't favor one over another but valued striving for the best combination.

In an action, increased speed borrows from power, lightness from aftertouch, and quietness from stability. In soundboard construction, loudness competes with sustain. In a case finish, height of polish can obscure visibility of grain. Length of strings and keys vs footprint and cost of piano, weight and heft of case for sound production and stability vs aesthetic elegance and mobility: in every aspect of piano design (including tuning), actual "perfection" lies in best compromise.

This best compromise is only arrived at by expertise that both understands its specialty and knows how to fit with the other specialties. The Piano Rebuilders aspire to this symbiosis of knowledge and cooperation, of innovation and best compromise.