First, I apologize that this is such a long review, but once you get to the end you'll see why it needed to be - you'll be glad you read on to find how a home burglary led me to Lindeblad Pianos. I'll bet that piqued your attention!
Being the victim of a burglary is upsetting enough, but I was crushed to come home from vacation to find my New York Steinway Model B semi-concert grand piano had also sustained many thousands of dollars in damage during the burglary. I spent hours searching up and down the eastern United States for a company that had the necessary expertise to work on such a high-end instrument, and had a reputation I could trust. And then, finally, I found Lindeblad Piano.
Lindeblad Piano was hands down the most responsive and attentive piano restoration company I'd made enquiries with. I received a phone call from Todd Lindeblad less than 30 minutes after I sent my first email asking for help. Todd listened attentively, explained my options, answered my questions plainly and honestly, and reassured me they could address my needs. I drove from Philadelphia, PA, to their showroom in Pine Brook, NJ, to see their pianos for myself and to judge the quality of their work - and I am not your typical piano customer. I've been playing the piano for 37 years, and during my twenties I spent 7 years working as an apprentice piano tuner and technician for a fourth-generation piano restoration company in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I know what good piano restoration looks like, and I'm very, very fussy. Although I certainly have the skills, and I suppose I could have repaired my Steinway myself, I've long-since moved on to another career and I don't have the facilities, the tools, or the time to take on a piano of this caliber at this point in my life. And I'll be honest, I really didn't expect to be all that impressed when I drove into the Lindeblad parking lot - it takes a great deal to make me say "wow!" about a piano restoration, and up to that point I'd been far less than impressed with any other piano company.
Todd clearly had prepared for my arrival. As soon as I walked through the door I was greeted by Lindeblad staff who recognized my Pennsylvania license plates and knew exactly who I was, greeting me by name as I walked through the door. After being offered a cappuccino I was taken into the showroom and left to privately browse their extensive selection of Steinways - every model of grand piano that Steinway ever made was on that showroom floor ranging in age from the late 19th century to the 21st century - shimmering wood finishes, gleaming hardware, some factory original, some restored - all looked new as though they'd just left the Steinway factory and had just been uncrated. But what really distinguishes a piano repair from a true restoration is sitting down to play at the keyboard. The beautifully-finished piano cabinets aside it was the thrill of playing those pianos that knocked my socks off - I'd been "wowed!" The quality of the work done to each instrument was flawless, one piano after the next. I spent nearly 4 hours carefully lifting each lid and peering into every piano on their showroom floor, looking for poor hammer alignment, running scales up and down keyboards looking for uneven regulation of the actions, for poor hammer voicing, for even one out-of-tune piano - nothing!! An entire showroom of Steinways, and not one that was less than a flawless instrument in every regard. How was it possible? Well, if you're a LIndeblad I've learned, it's a way of life. They profess to live and work by the highest moral and ethical standards and it shows in every Lindeblad piano I've ever seen.
In the end, I fell in love with a 1965 Hamburg Steinway Model B that surpassed my New York Steinway B particularly in the musicality of the instrument and in overall condition of the case and action. I hadn't driven to Pine Brook, NJ, to buy a piano that day, but that's exactly what happened. Todd gave me a fair value for my piano in trade and within a week my Hamburg Steinway was delivered to my home free of charge. But the story doesn't end here: the 50-year-old finish on the lid of my Hamburg Steinway developed problems after it was delivered. Todd and his father Paul promised they'd make it right, but I wasn't expecting how far they'd go to do it. A few days later they delivered a loaner piano, picked up my Hamburg Steinway, and returned it to their workshop. But they didn't repair the finish on the lid - they refinished the entire piano - and returned it to me a few weeks later! No question, no push-back, no hesitation. I was "wowed!" for a second time!
I couldn't be happier with both the piano and the experience I had working with Todd and the Lindeblad family. Todd is honest, easy to work with, and highly ethical in his work. He responds very quickly to inquiries, is upbeat and positive, and is an excellent listener. That last point is an important read more