1st October 2007

Earlier this year, we requested a quotation for restoration of an 1892 Bechstein V grand piano.  Titterington Peck Pianos in Preston were one of the companies that we contacted for a quotatio

Theirs was the cheapest of the quotations and, after viewing the quality of their work in their showroom, we agreed to proceed with the restoration. 

The piano was removed very professionally in June/July, shipped to their workshops for its restoration and delivered back to us, on-time, in September having apparently had 700-1000 man hours of work carried out on it 

We can fully vouch for the quality of the restoration, which extends to every part of the piano's structure and mechanism.  Every item from the castors up has been meticulously polished and restored, or replaced.  We were told to expect that we would not recognise the piano and this is certainly true.  The item which we sent away was very dirty and dusty and, after many years of neglect, the rosewood case had completely lost any visible grain or beauty, simply being a dull matt brown colour.  The frame was dull and stained. The ivory keys were stained and dirty. The best aspect of all regarding the restoration is the way that the beauty of the original rosewood case has been brought out.  The finish is mirror like and the wood has been beautifully restored to bring out the original grain and colour.  Similarly, the frame has been regilded to a very high standard.  I have seen other restorations where the regilding process has resulted in runs and pooling, with an uneven and unsatisfactory finish.  This is clearly not the case in this particular restoration.  We look forward to a follow up visit from Maurice Peck or James Titterington, both expert tuners and restorers, who will carry out the final setting up of the piano, which already sounds beautiful. 

We are absolutely delighted with the standard of this restoration which has exceeded our already high hopes.  It is always difficult handing over any cherished instrument but, after seeing the quality of this restoration, we can comprehensively vouch for both the quality and value for money that Titterington Peck  and their craftsmen can provide. 

It is a measure of the quality of this restoration that we are now planning to send a second Steinway grand piano from within the family to Titterington Peck, and we now have every confidence that this will be subjected to the same highest possible quality of restoration. 

In summary, we can comprehensively recommend Titterington Peck  and their restorers to any potential customer as providing the highest possible quality and value for money and, (as above) will have no hesitation returning to them again in the future. 

Peter Duffy

Footnote

We have taken delivery of Mr Duffy's Steinway for a full restoration which includes re-veneering the case in rosewood. Thanks, Peter.