The true voice of any instrument is not realized by chance, but by the meticulous execution of the original manufacturer's vision. Here, the voice of a Blüthner piano is known as The Golden Tone; it is a cherished voice, beloved by Blüthner owners, professional musicians and renowned composers throughout five generations of Blüthner family ownership.
Blüthner Restoration services are available for Blüthner pianos of any age and design. Our craftsmen are specialists in the nuances of every Blüthner instrument design ever made, and experts at bringing The Golden Tone back to life. Many unique elements of your instrument design are only executed by Blüthner craftsmen in our factory in Leipzig, Germany. From the cylindrical crowned soundboard to the Blüthner patented 4th string Aliquot system, a factory restoration gives you the peace of mind that every detail of our Blüthner design is attended to.
For you, that means your instrument is in expert hands. Blüthner owners around the world, as well as leading musical instrument museums and historical institutions, place their trust in the experience accumulated here for over a century. All work performed on your Blüthner instrument is completed at the Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik using the same parts, tools and processes we have perfected over the last 150 years. Upon completion, each fully restored instrument is documented with an official Blüthner Certificate of Factory Restoration, signed by a member of the Blüthner family.
Weather conditions, dust and dirt affect the instruments. The ivory keys are yellowed or chipped from water damage. The sensitive historical shellac has become unsightly over the years. Low humidity has led to cracks in the soundboard, bridges and pinblock. Hammers and felts are worn out and no longer provide their service. Nevertheless, you still have a valuable piece which holds generations of family memories.
The iron plate is removed, sandblasted down to the bare metal and layers of paint are reapplied to the original plate. Many hours of work are required to restore the iron plate to its former beauty. To maintain this, a protective layer of gloss varnish is applied to keep the plate sealed.
Depending on the situation, the cracks of the soundboard are either be repaired with Holzspännen or a new Blüthner soundboard is installed accordingly. Our experts carefully measure the original soundboard and execute an exact duplicate. The bridges are either replaced entirely or a new bridge cap can be fitted to the old bridge, allowing the new bridge pins grip solidly. The separate Aliquot bridge is also replaced according to the original design, contributing to the voluminous warm Blüthner tone.
The pin block gives the tuning pins a firm grip and is largely responsible for a good tuning stability. We recommend a new pin block installation after 40 years. To this end, the iron plate is removed and a new Blüthner pin block from crosswise glued hardwood is crafted to fit the contour of the original iron plate.
The strings on every Blüthner restoration instrument are precisely cut to their original scale design and individually tied off at the iron frame. The copper sheathing on new bass strings are still wound by hand and new Blüthner blue felt is also fitted.
The complex action mechanism consists of over 3000 parts, which harmonize with each other in a delicate balance. Axles are renewed, damaged felts are replaced, the rolls of the hammer shanks and any other damaged parts are replaced with brand new original Blüthner parts. The smoothness, speed, and precision of your new action will be a delight. Historical actions like the Julius Blüthner Patented Action are also repairable.
After replacing all of the key felt, any missing or damaged ivory keytops are renewed. The black keys are made of genuine ebony. The key leads are replaced and precisely balanced again. The key height and playing depth are adjusted after new cashmere felts and other worn-out felts are replaced.
The old hammers have lost their elasticity over the years and are worn-out. New Blüthner hammers are installed in accordance with the original shape and design. Frequently the hammer shanks must also be replaced. The hammer is carefully matched to the hammer strike-point line and voiced.
The dampers are subject to high wear, the damper felts and the cloth strips must be paid special attention. Damper felts are replaced and fitted with precision. The travel of the damper rods is adjusted and the connection to the sostenuto pedal is addressed.
Whether your instrument in the classic black or noble veneer comes to us, our experts to repair defects, peeling veneer or veneer the whole new instrument. From matte surfaces to elegant piano lacquer we will make your instrument. Missing feet or lost music stands can be replaced from our collection.
The instrument is tuned a minimum of six times in the factory before it is voiced to the owner's specifications. The hammer heads are needled carefully in a manner that brings out an ideal compression of the hammer felt against the strings, while maintaining the integrity of the felt structure, allowing your Blüthenr instrument to sing again with warmth and power. The final case details and a fine polish conclude the restoration process.
