Building and Repairing
Building / Repair / Restoration
Handling more than 60 instruments each year, our shop staff offers a full range of repair, rebuilding and technical services for any instrument, built by us or not. Instruments leaving our shop carry a full 5 year warranty on workmanship and materials. In addition, complete historically based decorative schemes are possible at the hands of Ben Martinez, our decorating specialist.

(Left) Glenn Giuttari surveying a chamber organ.

We begin any structural work with a thorough survey and diagnosis of problems in the case, soundboard and action.

(Left) John Bennett doing pipe work.

Depending on the instrument's needs, we can rebuild and repair both the inner and the outer sections of an ailing instrument, including case interior bracing and soundboard ribs. We have the knowledge and experience to repair case cracks and joint failure, repair or replace bridges and hitchpin rails and deal with soundboard cracks and excessive soundboard movement.

(Above) Soundboard damage before and after repair.

We also restring, regulate and voice, offering both major and minor repairs and adjustments to registers, jacks and the keyframe / keyboard structure.

(Left) Glenn Giuttari working on a small clavichord.

The shop can fabricate new guides, rebuild the action so that it is transposable, repair broken tongues and any other small moving parts. Revoicing may include installing plectra in a classic material such as crow quill or in a modern alternative such as Delrin or Celcon. Tuning services include the full range of historical and modern temperaments. Repair and rebuilding of the other parts of your instrument, including the lid, stand and music rack, are also offered.

(Left) Dale Munschy beginning keyboard work on a large double.

A complete menu of cosmetic and decorative options is also available, from retouching case dings and wear to complete refinishing and redecorating. We can undertake historically appropriate decorative schemes including marbling, painted panels and faux finishing, gilding and banding, chinoiserie and lid painting, papering and mottoes.

(Left) Lettering a motto on a virginal lid.

For soundboard decoration we can supply both Flemish and French style painting, complete with appropriate decorative borders. Click here to see more examples of our decorative work.