Shop Talk
Piano Restoration vs. Rebuilding: What's the Difference?
Shop Staff
Restoring a piano repairs and preserves what's there; rebuilding replaces the parts that wear out. Here's how they differ and how a full rebuild works.
Across the piano industry, "restored," "reconditioned," and "rebuilt" don't carry one fixed meaning. Two shops can use the same word for very different amounts of work. That's why the most useful question isn't which label a piano wears, but what work was actually done to it. At Riverton Restorations, every listing spells that out.
The Short Answer
Restoration is the umbrella term for bringing a piano back to good condition, often by repairing and preserving original parts. Rebuilding is one way to restore: disassembling the piano and replacing worn components to like-new tolerances. Reconditioning sits below both. The piano's work list tells you which kind of restoration was done.
Repair, Reconditioning, Restoration, Rebuilding: The Terms Defined
Repair
A repair fixes one isolated problem: a broken string, a sticking key, a buzzing note. The rest of the piano is left as it is. Repairs keep a piano playing, but they don't change its overall condition.
Reconditioning
The Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) describes reconditioning as cleaning, repairing, and adjusting a piano for the best possible performance, replacing parts only where necessary. Think of it as making the most of the existing parts rather than renewing them.
Restoration
Restoration covers the whole range of that work: keeping and repairing original parts, replacing worn ones, or both. A restored piano might have had its original parts carefully preserved, or it might have been completely rebuilt.
Rebuilding: Partial vs. Complete
The Piano Technicians Guild distinguishes partial from complete rebuilding. A complete rebuild covers the whole instrument: the structure (soundboard, bridges, pinblock, and strings), the action, the keyboard, and the case. A partial rebuild addresses one or two of those areas, such as the action alone or the strings and pinblock.
Factory Restoration
Some work is done by the maker itself, so the same company that built the piano brings it back. You'll see an example in the listings section below.
Restoration vs. Rebuilding Side by Side
| Restoration (preserving approach) | Rebuilding | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Return the piano to good condition while keeping as much original material as sound practice allows | Return the piano to like-new tolerances by replacing worn components |
| Structure and belly | Repair the soundboard, ribs, and bridges where they're sound enough to save | Repair or replace the soundboard; new bridge caps; new pinblock |
| Action | Clean, repair, and adjust; replace worn parts as needed | New hammers, shanks, flanges, and repetitions, or a mix of new and carefully kept parts |
| Strings and pins | Replace where needed; sometimes oversize tuning pins in the existing pinblock | New strings and new tuning pins throughout |
| Case | Clean, touch up, or keep the original finish | Refinish, or return the case to its original finish |
| Original material remaining | Most of it | The rim, plate, and design, plus any original parts deliberately kept |
| When it makes sense | Strong historic value; parts still sound; a lighter-touch goal or budget | Worn structure or action; serious performance goals; an instrument whose quality justifies full renewal |
Real projects often combine both approaches, which is why the work list matters more than the label.
The Parts of a Piano That Wear Out (and the Parts That Don't)
A piano is part furniture, part machine, and part acoustic structure, and those parts age differently.
Parts that wear: strings lose their tone and can rust; the pinblock (the laminated block that grips the tuning pins) loses its hold over time; hammers compress and grooves form in the felt; felts and action parts wear with every note played.
Parts that endure: the rim, the cast-iron plate, and the scale design (the layout of strings and their tension) last for generations. They're the reason a well-made piano is worth renewing.
Between those sits the belly: the soundboard, its ribs, and the bridges that carry the strings' vibration into the board. The belly is the heart of the piano's sound, and its condition is often what decides how much work a piano needs. Our guide How Much Is a Pre-Owned Steinway Worth? uses the same framing when it explains what drives value.
How a Full Rebuild Works, Step by Step
A rebuild follows a deliberate order: listen and diagnose first, structural and belly work before fine regulation, voicing after the action has settled, and attention to delivery and the home at the end. Here's how each stage looks, illustrated with work named on our own listings.
1. Listen and Assess
Before any major decision, the piano is played and examined: the structure, the belly, the action, the tone, and the room it will serve. That diagnosis decides what stays and what is replaced. We've written more about why we listen before we rebuild.
2. Disassemble and Document
In a full rebuild, the action comes out, the strings come off, and the plate is lifted out to expose the soundboard and pinblock. Each stage is recorded so the piano's original geometry and any parts worth keeping can be returned to their places.
3. Belly and Structure
With the plate out, the soundboard can be repaired or replaced, bridges and bridge caps renewed, and a new pinblock fitted. Our 1985 Model B received a new Bolduc pinblock and bridge cap, and our 1894 Model A had its belly rebuilt at the Steinway & Sons factory in New York.
4. Plate and Stringing
The plate goes back in, often after being regilded, and the piano is restrung with new tuning pins and new strings. The 1985 Model B shows this stage in detail, including new agraffes (the brass guides that space the strings at the front of the plate).
5. Action and Keys
The action is where the pianist feels the piano. This stage covers hammers, shanks, repetitions, flanges, damper felts, and touch weight. Our restored 1981 Steinway Model L received all new authentic Steinway action parts. The 1985 Model B took a different path: new damper felts and corrected touch weight, while its original hammers were deliberately preserved.
6. Case and Finish
The case can be refinished or returned to its original look. The 1981 Model L was brought back to its original satin ebony finish. Whether to refinish or keep an original finish depends on its condition and the piano's history.
7. Regulation, Tuning, and Voicing
These come last because they depend on everything before them. Regulation sets the action's many adjustments; tuning stabilizes the new strings; voicing shapes the hammers' tone once the action has settled. For the thinking behind that order, see our essay Is There a Right Way to Rebuild a Piano?
8. Delivery and Settling In
A finished piano still has to travel and settle into a new room. Riverton ships nationwide with white-glove delivery.
How to Read a Restored Listing: Real Examples
Every Riverton listing states what was done. Here's how to read five of them. If you're also weighing size and model, our guide to how the Steinway Model M, O, A, and B compare covers that side of the decision.
A full structural rebuild that keeps good originals: 1985 Model B, $69,900. The restored 1985 Steinway Model B lists a fully rebuilt structure: new strings, a new Bolduc pinblock and bridge cap, a regilded plate, new damper felts, diamond tuning pins, Mapes bass strings, new agraffes, spruce keys, and corrected touch weight. Its original hammers were preserved. Rebuilding doesn't have to mean replacing everything. For how this piano fits the wider market, see our guide to Steinway Model B Price.
Factory belly work plus shop action work: 1894 Model A, $67,900. The 1894 Steinway Model A shows two scopes as separate pieces of work: the belly was rebuilt at Steinway's New York factory, and its action was restored with authentic Steinway hammers, shanks, repetitions, and flanges.
Factory restoration: 1925 Model M, $56,900. The 1925 Model M restored by Steinway & Sons received a complete restoration by Steinway & Sons in 2018: factory restoration as its own category.
A documented all-Steinway rebuild: 1979 Model M, $59,900. The 1979 Model M rebuilt with all-Steinway parts was completely rebuilt in 2009 and comes with a certificate of authentication from Steinway & Sons. That certificate is the kind of documentation worth asking for.
A targeted upright restoration: 1974 Model 45, $17,900. The restored 1974 Steinway Model 45 came from a university music school. It received a thorough inspection and restoration with new strings and keytops, and original parts were preserved wherever possible.
Uprights can be fully rebuilt too (see the FAQ below for two examples).
Which Does Your Piano Need?
If you own a piano and are deciding what to do with it, a few factors shape the answer:
- Instrument quality and value. A full rebuild is a serious investment, and it makes the most sense for a piano whose design and materials justify it.
- Condition of the belly and action. A sound soundboard and a pinblock that still holds tuning pins firmly may call for a lighter approach; a cracked board or failing pinblock points toward rebuilding.
- Historic value. Some pianos are worth preserving as closely to original as possible.
- How it will be played. A piano for occasional family playing and one for serious daily practice or performance may call for different work.
No article can make this call for a specific instrument. The honest answer starts with a professional assessment. You can request a full piano appraisal, and we'll help you understand what your piano needs.
What to Look For in a Work List
Whether you're buying a restored piano or commissioning work, here's what a clear work list should give you:
- An itemized list of the work done, not just a label.
- Which parts are new and which were kept, and where the new parts came from (for example, authentic Steinway parts or named suppliers such as Bolduc or Mapes).
- Who did the work: the restoration shop, the factory, or both.
- Documentation, such as a certificate of authentication.
- A warranty in writing. Every Riverton piano carries a 5-year warranty covering manufacturer-level repairs.
- A chance to hear it, ideally with time to ask questions about the work.
For the deeper argument about what a buyer should be able to expect, read What "Fully Restored" Should Mean. For how scope of work affects price, see How Much Is a Pre-Owned Steinway Worth?
FAQ
What is the difference between restoring and rebuilding a piano?
Restoring can mean careful preservation, while rebuilding replaces worn components to like-new tolerances. Both fall under "restored"; the work list tells you which was done.
Is reconditioning the same as restoring a piano?
Not quite. The Piano Technicians Guild describes reconditioning as cleaning, repairing, and adjusting, with parts replaced only where necessary. Restoration is the broader term for bringing a piano back to good condition, and it can include anything from careful preservation to a complete rebuild.
What does a full piano rebuild include?
A complete rebuild covers the structure (soundboard, bridges, pinblock, and strings), the action, the keyboard, and the case, followed by regulation, tuning, and voicing. Good original parts may still be kept; our 1985 Model B was fully rebuilt structurally while its original hammers were preserved.
Does rebuilding a piano mean replacing the soundboard?
Not always. The soundboard is repaired or replaced depending on its condition. A complete rebuild addresses the belly, but whether the board itself is replaced is a judgment made during the assessment.
Is a rebuilt piano still original?
The parts that define a piano's character, its rim, plate, and scale design, stay with it through a rebuild, and good original parts are often kept. We explore that question further in our essay On the Soul of a Rebuilt Steinway.
Can an upright piano be rebuilt?
Yes. Our rebuilt 1903 Steinway K-52 upright ($29,900) was completely rebuilt with all-Steinway parts in 2025, and our rebuilt 1968 Steinway Model 100 ($19,900) received a complete rebuild with authentic Steinway parts.
What should a restored piano's work list include?
An itemized list of the work, which parts are new and which were kept, the source of new parts, who did the work, any documentation such as a certificate, and a written warranty. Hearing the piano matters too; a live, interactive video walkthrough lets you do that from anywhere.
How do I know whether my piano should be restored or rebuilt?
Have it assessed. The right scope depends on the instrument's quality, the condition of its belly and action, its historic value, and how it will be played. Riverton offers full piano appraisals; you can request one here.
Find Your Piano, or Plan Its Next Chapter
If you're shopping, browse our restored Steinway pianos; each listing spells out exactly what work was done. Every piano ships nationwide with white-glove delivery and a 5-year warranty. A live, interactive video walkthrough is available upon request, where you can hear the piano and ask questions directly to the restoration staff. If you own a piano and want to know what it needs, request a full piano appraisal. Showings at our Lehi studio are by appointment.