Testimonials
I am so pleased with the excellent work that Sam Dwyer and his team have done on my 110 year-old Blüthner salon grand piano. It has considerable history in that it was originally bought by my great-grandfather, Sir John Monash, and both my father and I learned to play on it. It needed considerable work, including strings, felts and tuning pins. The cabinet was very faded, but French polishing restored it to like-new.
I am sure it will continue to delight our family for generations to come. Thanks Sam!
Our piano is back and one by one the family are turning up to inspect its lovely white notes, the inside and out and of course to play, hear and listen! It sounds wonderful with its rich tone and overall everyone is very happy and excited to have it back and in good working order. Thankyou for all the hard work in restoring it to its original beauty. It’s such a relief to have it done and sounding so good and no sticky or no existent notes!
Many thanks
Hi Sam
Just letting you know Dale and his wife safely delivered the piano and moved it into our home with the ease only true professionals are capable of and at no time did l feel at all anxious for its safety as they negotiated our awkward sloping house block.
The moment l set eyes on it l was thrilled to see its beautiful new interior and after they left l spent some time playing and enjoying how incredibly responsive it is and how resonant and sonorous it sounds. There is even resistance and action throughout the whole keyboard and It feels like new again. Every key has a lovely length of tone and timbre that sings like a beautiful voice both alone and in harmony with the others.
Thank you again for your attention to detail and giving the instrument a second life. I so appreciate all the work you have done on it.
Warmest regards
Janice
Dear Sam
My piano was delivered safely last Friday and I just want to tell you how delighted I am with your reconditioning work. It looks so much better with the scratches repaired but most of all it sounds and feels just as I remember it when I bought it in 1975. It is wonderful to play it again and feel the response and enjoy the lovely warm tone, especially in the low register. Modern pianos are very different so I think this is very special.
Many thanks for such a wonderful job!
Best wishes
Catherine
Sam to the rescue.
My Mother’s 16th birthday present in 1946 was a Borsendorfre Strauss baby grand (circa 1908), unfortunately it was not allowed into the house until it was painted white to match the existing décor. It was regularly played and maintained over the next 72 years. On the passing of my mother, the piano became mine and then I had to determine whether to take it back to its former glory or ultimately end up with a bit of historic furniture.
White went back to black, new strings, hammers, 170 hours of French polishing, the list was quite extensive. All of which was known well in advance and explained by Sam.
Sam, has a passion backed up with wonderful knowledge of his unique craft. On my part, there were a lot of unknowns and most importantly trust. What Sam said he would do, he did, the outcome was extra ordinary and do I trust Sam – implicitly. By the way he knows how to play the piano extremely well.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and most importantly I can now enjoy a beautiful musical instrument that also comes with a great history.
Thanks Sam and happy to be a referee.
Our Playola Piano has been in the family since the early 1970’s and though almost 100 years old has never been restored. I have waited close to 20 years to get the Playola mechanism restored – I am so pleased that it has now been done.
No more exhausting crunches and endless squats for me. I have literally trimmed inches off my abs and hips – all while singing I might add – just by pedalling my newly restored Playola 🙂 It has been – it is so much fun.
My adult children, who hardly remember it ever working, my sisters and parents have once again been reacquainted with those good ol’ favourites like “Ooo what a beautiful morning” and “Yabba Dabba Honeymoon”. Seriously, we are absolutely delighted with the work you have done – from the beginning when quoting to the end when you came to do the final tuning.
Thank you so much!
The transformation is miraculous, both cosmetically and mechanically. The case and stool went from looking dull and scratched to glossy and glowing. It is a pleasure to see the grain and beautiful colours of the wood veneer, and your attention to detail in re-applying the branding was much appreciated. Our piano is also a joy to play and listen to. The action is smooth and consistent, and we can now appreciate its tone fully.
Thank you for the long hours you spent on our piano. We will enjoy it for many years to come, and I will be sure to recommend your services to anyone I meet in the future.
Its burr walnut case gleamed warmly like it had never done before, and inside the case, the piano’s workings showed the full extent of Sam’s craftsmanship. The case, keys, frame, sound board, strings and hammers had all been restored to their former glory and when Sam came to tune it, the sound was round and rich, ready for many hours of pleasurable playing.
Sam’s holistic approach to this instrument should recommend him to anyone wanting to restore their piano to enjoy now and in the years to come.