A Fully-Restored Steinway & Sons Model A Hamburg Louis XV Grand Piano reigns again with a classic mahogany hand-rubbed satin finish
Dallas, Texas — Uriel’s Piano Refinishing
The Gold Standard
Uriel’s Piano is excited to share “King Louis—The Gold Standard,” a beautifully restored Steinway & Sons Hamburg Louis XV Grand Piano. This incredible instrument is a true masterwork, showcasing both uniqueness and elegance. At Uriel’s Piano, we have always considered the Steinway Hamburg Louis XV Grand Piano the Gold Standard of musical instruments.
The term “Hamburg Louis XV Grand Piano” refers to a Steinway & Sons grand piano crafted in the Hamburg factory, featuring a stunning Louis XV style case.
These pianos are celebrated for their intricate rococo-style case work and rich finishes. While Steinway & Sons also produced wonderful pianos in New York, the Hamburg models hold a special place in our hearts for their unique aesthetic and distinctive sound characteristics.
A Distinguished Original Appearance
The Hamburg Louis XV style is a Rococo design that originated in France during the 18th century. It’s known for its ornate carvings, delicate scrollwork, and rich finishes, including gold leaf and walnut. This style shines in the Hamburg Louis XV grand pianos, which often feature beautifully elaborate cases adorned with hand-carved details and intricate scrollwork, sometimes enhanced with lovely gilded accents.
Many vintage Louis XV grand pianos continue to grace homes today and can be beautifully restored, with options for preserving their original finishes or exploring various modifications. Our piano, endearingly named King Louis, originally showcased a classic mahogany finish that enhanced the instrument’s overall appeal.
The Restoration Process
With over a century of history, the King arrived with dusty and sticky keys. His sound was flat due to a lack of maintenance and tuning. He appeared worn and ragged, with dings, watermarks from drinks, and years of sunlight fading his once stunning finish. This resulted in noticeable damage that required several restoration techniques to create a smooth and even bare wood mahogany surface for the restoration process.
Once the old wood was lovingly restored, our skilled technicians applied a satin hand-rubbed finish to the beautiful mahogany, carefully matching and blending it to achieve a flawless match with the original tone. We removed all the dull hardware and foot pedals. We polished them to restore their original golden splendor, successfully bringing them back to their former glory and allowing the King to reign again.
Precise Tuning and Vibrant Sound
Restoring the inner parts of a grand piano is quite the adventure! It involves several steps, including disassembly, repair, and reassembly. We start by carefully disassembling the piano, then repair or replace essential parts, ensuring we check the soundboard, pinblock, strings, and action before we reassemble and tune the piano to perfection.
During the restoration, we put in special care to repair and refinish the soundboard and iron plate and make necessary bridge repairs. We installed new pin blocks and treated them with fresh piano strings. The damper felts were replaced, and we refinished the damper heads, ensuring everything looked and sounded as good as it did in 1914. Additionally, we replaced key frame felts and bushings while installing new back checks, wippens, hammers, shanks, and flanges. To wrap it up, the damper guide rails were refurbished, and we meticulously adjusted the action to ensure smooth performance.
Thanks to our talented piano technicians, the grand piano was precisely tuned, resulting in an exceptionally rich and vibrant sound. After completing this thorough restoration, King Louis was gently transported back to his original residence, ready to perform for another hundred years!
Exceptional Customer Service Experience
Uriel’s Piano was delighted to dedicate resources to restoring “King Louis—The Gold Standard.” This meticulous restoration of such an exquisite instrument was a labor of love that transformed it into the King of musical instruments. Our team takes immense pride in restoring pianos with care and attention to every detail. In addition to our skilled craftsmanship, our client relations personnel strive to deliver an exceptional customer service experience, ensuring that each piano owner feels valued and appreciated throughout the entire process.
