GRAND PIANO REBUILDING

All Overs rebuilt grand pianos are finished and prepared to standards the equivalent of the concert and broadcast instruments rebuilt for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Sydney and Brisbane. Custom rebuilt grand pianos are produced to order. A period of four to twelve months may be required for acquiring a suitable instrument, undertaking the rebuild and preparing the piano prior to delivery. All rebuilt and new pianos carry a ten year warranty. Overs Pianos has a history of producing custom rebuilt grand pianos spanning a ten year period.

Overs Pianos has rebuilt several Steinway D's for various professional clients and venues since 1990. The first two (Pymble Ladies College 1990 and the ABC Ultimo center 1992) were rebuilt incorporating a redesigned string scale. This improved scale exhibits superior tuning stability when compared to the original Steinway D factory scale.

In 1994 Overs Pianos adapted a recognised industrial process, for hardening the capo' and duplex bars. This process enables the capo' and duplex bars to be hardened subsequent to reshaping to a small radius. Furthermore, the string approach angle to the capo' bar can be reduced where necessary, and subsequently hardened (Some concert grands produced during the 1970s had a string approach angle to the capo' bar of up to 22 degrees. Premature string breakage has been a major problem with some of these pianos). Reshaped capo' and duplex bars allow for the production of 'clean' tone, while hardening the bars enables the tonal improvement to be retained for a longer service period. Recently, further work has been done on reducing sympathetic resonance of the front duplex system. Results of this investigative work will be incorporated into future rebuilds and the new Overs-Steinbach 225 grand pianos (from piano no. 2)

In 1995, Overs Pianos manufactured and installed tuned, individual rear duplex blocks into the rebuild of a Steinway D (Queensland ABC's circa 1963 Steinway D - rebuilt 1995). This modification allows for a cleaner tone in the treble sections. This technology is used in all Fazioli grand pianos. It is not applied to modern Steinway Ds, but was incorporated in Stienway Ds produced during the 1870s. There remains considerable debate regarding the merits of this technology.

In 1999 Ron Overs spent much of the year investigating improvements to the geometry of grand piano actions. A new design was developed on CAD from July to October '99, and action models were built and assessed from November to March 2000 when a patent application was lodged with the Australian Patents Office. The first Overs action was fitted to a new Overs Steinbach 225 grand piano for exhibition at the July 2000 Australasian Piano Tuners and Technicians Convention in Sydney. This action is now standard equipment for all Overs manufactured grand pianos and is available as an option for rebuilt instruments.

During 2003, new equipment for soundboard manufacture was designed and constructed, including a dedicated pneumatic sound board press and a sound board panel drying box. Sound boards are now constructed using the rib crown principal. Soundboard panels are now, by default, made from laminated construction. The use of accurately quarter sawn wood for the construction of sound board panels improves the dimensional stability, which also improves tuning stability. Laminated sound board panels (with 100 % spruce) exhibit superior tuning stability compared to conventional solid sound board panels. Titebond extend is used for rib to sound board glue joints.

During the period June to August 2003, an intensive period of sound board research lead to a completely new sound board design (patent pending). This technology is being incorporated into the construction of Overs 225 pianos no. 4 and 5. A Kawai KG5 is about to become to first rebuilt grand piano to receive one of the new sound boards.
 

---

SOME EXAMPLES OF OVERS REBUILT GRAND PIANOS

STEINWAY model D custom - rebuilt with modifications

KAWAI KG6 custom - rebuilt with modifications

YAMAHA C5E, 6'6" - rebuilt with modifications

A WARNING ABOUT PURCHASING GREY MARKET PIANOS

 

---

STEINWAY custom model Ds

The above photograph, was taken at Sydney Town Hall during the1999 Festival of Sydney, featuring the ABC's circ' 1986 Steinway D (rebuilt March-May 1998) and Overs Piano's Hire Steinway D (rebuilt 1995-96).

To view close up image of the (LH) piano shown above, click on the image

Custom grand pianos are remanufactured with revised specifications which include:

The new Overs action for improved touch response and longer service life

 

Revised sound board taper and ribbing - for improved impedance matching

 

The manufacture of a bass corner sound board cut-off bar - where previously, only an 'excuse' may have existed

 

The incorporation of the Overs' revised string scale - as used in previos rebuilds - for improved tuning stability and ease of tuning

 

Custom agraffes - manufactured from harder materials for extreme service

 

Reshaped and hardened capo' and (detuned) front duplex bars

 

Tuneable, individually adjustable rear duplex blocks - optional

 

Reset down bearing specifications

Custom rebuilt instruments are supplied with an adjustable bench, free standard delivery to the Sydney metropolitan area and a ten year warranty. A new Steinway D would cost in excess of AU$178,000. A remanufactured Overs modified Steinway D can be supplied for the sum of AU$120,000. We are confident that the custom rebuilt model D pianos are more than a match for the new factory original instruments.