Welcome to the Bedhampton Pianoshop Blog!


We have been restoring and selling pianos since 1988. We specialise in restoring and reconditioning old pianos, both upright and grand. Our work ranges from minor servicing right through to complete overhauls and rebuilding projects which take many weeks to complete.

The aim of the blog is to post regular progress reports on ongoing restoration work, as well as updates on the current available stock and any new arrivals. Where possible these updates will be accompanied by photos to demonstrate the work that we do.

Graham-Sales Director Bedhampton Pianoshop
02392 484802
http://www.bedhamptonpianoshop.co.uk/

Saturday 24 May 2008

Weekly Update - Week Commencing 19th May

Attention was focused this week on completion of our client's Challen Baby Grand. The remainder of the repolishing was carried out, and the piano has now been re-assembled in our workshop, as seen in the photo. This piano was unusual for us, because the client had requested a very dark colour for the new finish on their piano. The results are certainly pleasing though, and the whole piano has been bought back to life.

The piano was then ready for regulation - the fine adjustment of the action to ensure that the touch of the piano is uniform and responsive from the first note to the last. The piano is receiving a tuning as I type, and although further tunings will be necessary following the re-stringing of the piano, the restoration is now all but complete.

Other work this week included further restoration to our John Broadwood upright. The keys were cleaned and buffed, and along with the action they are now ready to be returned to the piano. The substantial jobs left to do are the polishing of the case and regulation of the action. The small Zender piano has now received a tuning, and one of our other small John Broadwood uprights is now available to view and play in the shop.

Visit our website at http://www.bedhamptonpianoshop.co.uk/ to see details of the restoration work that we do, and to view all of our current stock.

David - Senior Technician
Bedhampton Pianoshop
02392 484802
http://www.bedhamptonpianoshop.co.uk/

Saturday 17 May 2008

Weekly Update - Week Commencing 12th May

Two pianos have been the focus of our restoration work this week.

An ongoing restoration of a Challen Baby Grand piano for a client is now nearing completion. This week the bulk of the casework polishing has taken place, and the piano is almost ready to be re-assembled. Various repolished parts can be seen in the photo. The piano should be up on its feet and ready for tuning and regulation early next week. The dampers, complete with new felts, have also been returned to the piano and adjusted correctly.

One of the John Broadwood upright pianos from our own stock has also received a considerable amount of attention. The casework has been stripped and prepared for re-polishing. The action required repairs to a great number of parts, in addition to all of the usual work necessary to renovate an action of this age. The brasswork has been cleaned and polished, and a set of key bushings have been renewed. Restoration to the action is progressing well, and repolishing of the case can commence once the Challen grand has been completed.

Also this week, a 1991 Zender modern piano has arrived in stock. The piano has already been cleaned up externally, and is just awaiting a fine adjustment of the regulation. Zender pianos are the smallest 7 octave pianos available, and offer an excellent tone and touch for their size.

Visit our website at http://www.bedhamptonpianoshop.co.uk/ to see details of the restoration work that we do, and to view all of our current stock.

David - Senior Technician
Bedhampton Pianoshop
02392 484802
http://www.bedhamptonpianoshop.co.uk/

Mrs A T - Emsworth

Thank you for your excellent service and for making the whole piano buying process so easy and stress free. It looks great and the piano stool was made so quickly.

Mrs Wallis - Piano Teacher, Hampshire

Thanks for the work you did to my grand piano. I am really pleased. Your customer service was excellent.

Dr S H - York

Graham,

Thanks for all your help, I have been very impressed with the service you provided. I will send you a picture of the piano in it's new home.

Karen Kingsley - Concert Pianist, Hampshire

I was thrilled by the work undertaken by Bedhampton pianoshop. The piano was restored to its former glory and at a very competitive price. I am extremely grateful.

Claire - Newbury

Graham,

Just wanted to thank you for all your help with the purchase of my piano. I am really enjoying playing it – and I love the way it looks too!

Wendy Callear - Music Teacher, Hampshire

Dear Graham,

Sorry for the delay in emailing you - I have been spending all my time playing my new-look piano! Like me, my friends are all extremely impressed by the fantastic transformation. They would be equally impressed by your personal attention, both to your customers and to your craft, were they to come to you. I felt completely safe leaving my baby grand in your tender care, and will continual to extol your virtues to all and sundry!

Penny - Dorset

Hi Graham,

Just to say the piano arrived this morning as arranged and I am very pleased with it. Many thanks for all your help.

Patrick and Jean - Chichester

Graham,

Our piano graces the room so beautifully. We are thrilled with it. Thank you for your excellent service.

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Ian and Stephanie Morris - Buckinghamshire

Dear Graham,

Having watched, stage by stage, the total restoration of the Gors and Kallmann Grand bought from you recently and now seeing the piano installed in its right and proper place in our home, we just want to say what a pleasure the whole experience has been. The collection of pictures and communication from you as the work progressed added to the confidence that the final product would not disappoint – nor did it. Although originally built in we believe 1913 it looks and plays as though fresh from the factory, indeed probably better, and if as you say it will improve as it settles to its new home and few more tunings, then we certainly have a piano of which to be proud. May we express our thanks to you and your team for the expertise, craftsmanship and obvious care taken in the restoration.

TG, Consultant - Southampton

Our Ibach piano was made around 1880 and was bought for my grandmother in Manchester. My mother also learned to play on it as did my sisters and I. My mother always said what a good piano it was, but by my time it was sounding rather tired and we could not really hear what was special about it. More recently it became unusable as it could not hold tuning for very long and a couple of keys stopped working. After a full and comprehensive refurbishment by Graham and his team it is sounding as it must have done in its early years: especially, the lower octaves have a superb rich tone and the actions of the keys and pedals feel really good. It feels like a piece of family history has come to life. Well done!

Mrs Pemberton - West Sussex

We searched high and low for our perfect Bechstein piano, in London and elsewhere. It was easy to find those with good-looking cases, but hard to find one with a good tone. I commend Bedhampton Pianos to anyone looking for an old piano which has been superbly reconditioned.