Frequently Asked Questions

STANDARDS make the difference.

Steinway is known as the standard by which all other pianos are compared. At Meyer, we honor that legacy by applying a formalized, factory-grade manufacturing system to every fatigued Steinway Piano.

Unlike typical repairs—where individual technicians decide what to fix as they go—the Meyer Renovation System is organized around a strict set of piano performance standards. Every Steinway Piano undergoes the same Meyer manufacturing system to guarantee a consistent high quality finished product. This is the distinction that elevates a Meyer renovation above the common piano services of repair, restoration, refurbishing, etc. We renovate Steinway Grand Pianos back to their AS-NEW performance standards.

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 Corporate Legacy 

The Meyer Pianos factory is located in Kalisz, a city in Central Poland, an area with a rich history of European piano crafting since 1778. Kalisz is currently the home city of the Arnold Fibiger Technical School, one of only two piano training centers in Europe. The Meyer Pianos factory was established by Mr. Withold Meyer in 1983 to manufacture new upright and grand pianos for a select group of European piano companies including Bechstein, Blüthner, Ibach, Schimmel and Bösendorfer. 

The company ceased new piano production in 2005 and since that time has concentrated all corporate resources to the renovations of vintage Steinway Pianos under the continued ownership and management of the Meyer Family. It is this legacy of new piano manufacturing that distinguishes a Meyer Steinway Piano renovation as compared to other repair, rebuild or restoration services. Given this manufacturing expertise the Meyer technicians have a unique set of skills to de-construct a Steinway Piano from the top down and then to re-construct the piano back to its original DNA. In other words, the Meyer renovation system is a reverse-engineered piano manufacturing system to re-construct what was once a fatigued Steinway Piano now prepared to make its second as-new performance debut!

The total cost of a Meyer Pianos renovation work product is typically 40% to 45% of the price of the same new model Steinway Piano.

Every Meyer Steinway Piano renovation work product quote is specific to an individual candidate piano. The Meyer technical department manager will collaborate with a local certified piano technician to verify the physical condition and general attributes of a candidate piano. This information will constitute a detailed renovation work product and price quote to be submitted for approval.

The Preparation, Funding and Logistics of a Meyer Renovation Work Product

A) Scope of Renovation: a candidate piano for renovation is first inspected at its current location by a certified piano technician. The piano inspection report is submitted to the Meyer technical services department which in turn creates the details and a price quote for a pending renovation work product. The proposal is then submitted to the designated representative of the school for approval and acceptance. An authorized Purchase Order issued to Meyer Pianos is required to initiate the renovation sequence.

B) Funding and Terms: A small deposit is typically requested to initiate a renovation work project. Upon receipt of the deposit Meyer will arrange for the local transfer and international shipment of the subject piano(s) to the Meyer Pianos factory. The outstanding balance of the renovation project quote is payable upon the return of the newly renovated Steinway Piano(s) to the Meyer U.S. business office and distribution facility located in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania USA. 

Project Funding Note: a Meyer renovation project might qualify as a “repair & maintenance service” operational expense, thereby avoiding a departmental capital appropriation approval.

C) Logistics: a four to six-month renovation timeline is typically estimated*. This includes the two-way international transfer to and from the Meyer Pianos factory in Kalisz, Poland. All transportation costs of a renovation project are included in the renovation price quote. Final payment for the renovation project is due upon delivery of the renovated piano to the Meyer distribution warehouse in Washington Crossing, PA. Upon receipt of payment Meyer will deliver and re-install the renovated Steinway Piano(s) to the original location(s).

*Interim loan Steinway Piano(s) can be provided upon request and included in the renovation proposal.

Due Diligence

New components, parts and sub-assemblies used to complete a Meyer Steinway renovation project are sourced from the best international top tier piano suppliers in the world, the same suppliers used by Bösendorfer, Fazioli, Steinway, etc. in their piano manufacturing systems. All sourced components used in the Meyer renovation system are manufactured to designs and specifications that will provide an as-new Steinway Piano performance tone and touch.

A Meyer Pianos renovation work product quote will include all costs of parts, labor and round-trip shipping and delivery logistics, including the re-installation of the renovated piano back to its location of origin. All bank transactions, international shipping and local delivery logistics are facilitated through the Meyer Pianos U.S. business office in Washington Crossing, PA USA.

Here is a Three-Part Analysis:

1.Tone

The "secret sauce" of piano sound emanates from the vibrations of the spruce wood soundboard. Spruce harvested in the 17th through early 20th centuries came from old-growth forests that experienced colder climate cycles and slower growth that created exceptionally tight, uniform grain patterns with high density but low mass—the holy grail for acoustic projection. These qualities are significantly diminished in 21st Century wood harvests. Therefore, Meyer revives the original piano soundboard during the renovation process to preserve the true Steinway sound of power and resonance.

2. Touch

As illustrated in our slide presentation, the entire Steinway action is assembled with all new parts per SS New York specifications by Meyer factory technicians.

3. Reputation

Meyer Pianos was established as a piano manufacturer in 1983 in Kalisz, Poland, the center of European piano crafting. The company re-organized in 2005 to exclusively renovate Steinway Pianos. The Meyer U.S. business office and distribution warehouse are located in Washington Crossing, PA. A five-year factory warranty is issued with each Meyer renovated Steinway Piano. Meyer Pianos is an active member of U.S. based music industry organizations including the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG).