So I'm well aware that my piano is very old and in need of TONS of work lol. But I love it, and I don't foresee being able to buy a new piano anytime in the near future - as in at least 15 or 20 years from now min. So I have a list of things and the quote I've been given. I'm just including the list for the "Action" and "Keys and Keyboard" because the case and stringing right now would be too much as it involves moving the piano there and back. I'm saving up to get those portions done. I was hoping for your opinion on what is most important. Rate from 1 being most important to 10 least important. I'm either asking for money towards the work, or to just have it done...

Hammers Abel Germany 1200.á
Damper felt - English felt - includes aligmnent 930.
Bridle straps - woven with vinyl tips 355.
Wippen felt - English woven 125.
Butt leather - buckskin 255.
Let off button felt - English woven 150.
Hammer rest rail felt - English woven 20.
Spring rail felt - English woven 20.
Replace 1 broken hammer shank - Maple 20.
Regulation 4-6 hrs @ $100/hr

I would not replace the damper felt until the new strings are installed. The rest of the work should be done if a new hammer set is installed.

Regulation starts with a good base meaning the keyboard under felt requires replacement.


Nothing listed for the keyboard repairs that I can see…

That caught my eye as I'm planning on new damper felts for my Steinway model O. My technician and I will work together on it, so I'll be putting sweat equity into this. I figured the new dampers, which are definitely needed, would probably still be fine if I invest in new wires a few years down the road. The current plan is: new damper felts and hammers now, along with regulation and voicing. New strings later on.

Why do you recommend holding off on new dampers?

Why install new damper felt over top of old rusty dirty wire...this makes no sense to me.

Also new felt will imprint the bass strings. The new bass strings will not have the identical windings so new bass damper felt some more....other wise you will have possible seating problems, and bleeding dampers.

there is stringing stuff to do as well. Are you saying that it's more important to do that first?

Here's the full complete list of what it needs (basically everything haha)I initially wanted to do the stringing list first, but probably not til spring.

Keys and Keybed

Balance rail and front rail key felt - English woven 780.
Re-felt key bed (front rail/balance rail punchings)
polish pins, tighten screws, set key dip, set key
height, back rail felt, 670.

Stringing

Bass strings - custom made - copper wound
Treble strings - German wire
Tuning pins - Nickel, reverse thread 2900.
Pedals - re-pack and repair bottom board 225.
Casters double rubber wheels 125.
Repair 2 cracks in soundboard 200.

Case

Replace lock - 75.
Refinish - depends on finish you desire $4500 - $6000

Stringing and Case require moving to our shop

When I do a restoration the cost of new damper felt plates is included in the restringing total. The policy of my shop is to replace damper felts when new strings are installed.

I would not encourage new damper felts over top of old dirty, rusty wire. Wait on the damper felt replacement until the strings are done.

Thank you! That makes sense lol. I will wait til I do the stringing. Hopefully this spring Maybe get some running gear for Christmas instead haha

Well, you can complete some of the other work until then. My point was to not have replacement damper felt or any other felt that comes into contact with the old strings until they are replaced with new materials.

So do all of the work quoted but leave the hammer set and damper set until the strings are on. Like that.

Well the cost of this work is beyond 3,000 without stringing or re-polishing of the case; I imagine that these will add a further 5 thousand or so. You evidently have an old upright and I suppose that it may be the best old upright in the world, nonetheless are you absolutely sure that it makes sense to spend this much on it? Do you know that the wrest plank and soundboard are OK? I think if it were me I might think about putting the 8 grand towards something more recent. Another consideration, which may or may not be relevant, is that you will wind up with a piano of which the value will probably not come even close to the cost of the renovation.

It would be interesting to know what the piano is.

Sorry, didn't pay attention to your second post, looks like the total will be closer to 12k. so what I said before still applies but more so.

Hi Jean Claude. I know that I could spend the money on a new piano, but I do like this one, and I won't have the money all at once to buy a new piano. I am playing with the idea of just continuing to save but at the moment am leaning towards doing the repairs. The refinishing is a large part of the overall cost.

Hi Amanda,

Well of course it is up to you but I just can't see that it makes any sense to do all this work on an old upright, especially considering the state of the market for used pianos.


I recently bought a 20 year old Schimmel upright in pretty good condition for just about what you are thinking of spending on butt leather and bridle straps...

I'm dying to know what make of piano you have. Please do tell!

Looking back at your posts I see your piano is a Heinzman, easy to find under wiki, so it could even be from the 1960ties. However, from what I read it is more likely to be from the 1860ties !
I'm not a piano expert but out of sheer curiosity and necessity, I have, over forty years, worked on six uprights of varying condition. What has not been mentioned are all the springs which are found in the action, and all the pivot pins and their bushes. Springs get fatigued and on a fifty year piano have often snapped, bushes are prone to wear and moth attack.
If I was going to strip an action,heaven forbid, I would cetainly do a complete job !
If your repairer was to do everything required to bring the action up to new standard I would think he could take it away to his workshop and spend a full week on the job!
I read what the experts have written and I'm certain they are correct about strings,BUT if your piano holds a tuning; then from the point of view of doing what will give you the most impressive and economical result it will be the action and hammers.
I will follow your pianistic adventure with interest.
Oh! by the by ,do not get into fixing your own piano - you'll never getaround to playing !

I think you should replace the hammer butts. That should not cost substantially more than the bridle straps and butt leather, both of which are components of the butts.