As a piano rebuilder, I get to work on a lot of meaningful projects. But every once in a while, one comes along that’s especially personal. This fifth-generation Andrew Kohler piano rebuild is exactly that.

This 1926 Andrew Kohler upright has been in my wife’s family for almost a full century. It began with my wife’s great-grandmother, then passed to her grandmother, then her mother, and eventually to my wife when we were first married. Now it’s being passed on to our daughter, Abby, as a wedding present — making this a true fifth-generation heirloom piano.

WATCH TO HEAR ABBY'S LULLABY

5 GENERATIONS!

Complete Restoration From Top to Bottom

Just like every fifth-generation rebuild project we take on, we approached this one with the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail as any professional restoration in our piano shop.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the work we completed:

Action rebuild: new hammers, shanks, butts, dampers, felt, leather straps — everything in the action was replaced and meticulously regulated.

Soundboard and plate restoration: the original soundboard was repaired and refinished, and the plate was cleaned and replated to bring it back to its original structural and aesthetic integrity.

New strings and tuning pins: installed throughout for long-term tuning stability and rich tonal quality.

Keys and bushings: completely replaced to restore the proper touch, feel, and responsiveness.

Cabinet refinishing: we fully stripped and refinished the case to give the piano a beautiful, original-style finish that showcases the wood.

This is by far the nicest I’ve ever seen this piano in my lifetime — and I hope it will continue serving our family for another century.

AFTER PHOTOS

PROGRESS PHOTOS

At the end of the day, this fifth-generation Andrew Kohler piano rebuild wasn’t just another restoration project—it was a chance to give something meaningful to our daughter.

Abby grew up hearing this piano in our home, and now she’ll begin her own family surrounded by the same music and memories that shaped her childhood.

My hope is that one day her children—and maybe even her grandchildren—will sit at this same piano and feel that same connection to those who came before them. As a father (and a piano rebuilder), I don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than that.

Read the "BEFORE" BLOG about this piano! 

Watch the YouTube Playlist as we transformed this piano! 

National Piano Moving & Restoration Services

While this particular Andrew Kohler piano rebuild fifth-generation project is personal to my own family, we regularly perform similar heirloom restorations for families all over the country.
If you have a family piano that’s been handed down through generations and needs restoration, we can help no matter where you live.

We offer:

Nationwide piano pickup and delivery using professional piano movers experienced in long-distance transport.

Full heirloom restoration services here at our piano shop, including action rebuilds, soundboard restoration, refinishing, and more.

Detailed communication and progress documentation throughout the rebuild process so you can follow along as your piano is brought back to life.

Whether it’s an Andrew Kohler, Steinway, Baldwin, or any other heirloom upright or grand, our goal is always the same — preserve the original design, restore the integrity of the piano, and keep the family legacy alive.

If you’re considering your own Andrew Kohler piano rebuild project (or any other heirloom restoration), feel free to reach out. I’d love to talk about how we can help you keep the music and memories going for the next generation.

FREE Heirloom Piano Restoration Evaluation