Broken Piano Plate Repair

Pianotec skilled technicians offer total repairs of cracks, simple, and compound (total) fractures of piano plates. Our unique method has repaired an average of 5 plates a year since 2010 with all being tuned to A-440 with no failures.  For your piano to be considered for this repair you must e-mail or send the manufacture, model, size, serial number, and photos of all damage and areas for repairs. If you have a high quality piano we can probably do the repair. This repair normally is not cost effective on low end pianos where the quality of plate casting was a possible cause of the failure.

All repairs require the complete piano case with action, plate, and original wire installed so we can first determine the reason for failure of the plate before making the repairs. All repairs include removal of all pins, wire, and plate. Contact me if there have been attempted repairs before doing anything else to the piano.

First is to correct the reason the plate failed in the first place. Piano plates almost never break unless they have been improperly installed with uneven stress on the plate. This stress can be tolerated by the cast plate for years until some type of trauma happens to the piano and becomes the trigger for the plate failure. Usually it is not the dropping or mishandling that actually breaks the plate, it is the event that adds to the existing stress on the plate and causes the fracture. Once the reason for the fracturing of the plate is determined and corrected the repair can be made.  

The plate must be removed to repair all of the fractures, rebronzing, and hand lettering of the plate. We then reinstall the plate with a new pin block or existing one, and pin and string the instrument. Additional services are repairs and refinishing of the soundboard, decal installation, and complete action restoration and case refinishing. Complete action voicing and regulation are also available.

Piano will be delivered tuned to A-444 or A-440 as requested.

We can also offer refinishing, regulation, voicing, parts replacement and additional repairs as needed to provide a concert performance ready instrument when delivered to your venue. The instrument will be set up at your destination ready to perform on with a final tuning. I am a Bosendorfer, Yamaha, Kawai, Schimmel, and Steinway Concert support technician so the piano will be very close to top potential of the piano when delivered. Final tweaking to match your stage and hall may be necessary.

See our service page for general prices on refinishing and repairs. Discounts available to the trade and members of the MPT and PTG. If your instrument is less than 6 feet with one or 2 cracks or fractures expect about $7500 to repair and refinish the plate and restring the piano with new block and wire using a Delignit block, Rosleau steel wire and Mapes Bass Strings. Costs may be less if we repin the original block. All action repairs are quoted separately with factory replacement or Renner parts. Moving is not quoted in this general price estimation. We can arrange for door to door pick up and delivery to all points in the Continental USA. At this time we are scheduling 18 months out on incoming instruments. The repair usually takes about 6 more months once started. Anticipate about 2 years from date of delivery to our facility to completion. We can accommodate “Crisis” repairs but expect a 20% surcharge for advancing in the queue. Thank you for considering the “Pianotec” team for this repair.