The time had come to either replace my 100-year-old Mason-Hamlin BB, or rebuild it. I tried hundreds of new and used pianos, and visited at least a dozen rebuilders. I had visited Reeder many years ago, and was completely amazed at the quality of his used and rebuilt pianos, but that was before all that shopping, and 10 or 15 years ago. Was his work really that good?
I returned, and there on the shop floor was a gorgeous rebuilt 100-year-old Mason-Hamlin BB! I couldn't stop playing it, even though I loved several other pianos he had there. I might have bought it, but it was black and the one I own is mahogany and matches my other furniture, so I sent my mahogany monster off to him for rebuilding, trusting him to do as beautiful a job on mine as the one in the shop.
My trust was well-placed. I have had the piano back for a year now; plenty of time for defects to become apparent. There have been none. I am completely delighted with the work, from the finish to the tone to the action. The regulation is where most rebuilt pianos disappoint, and this has been absolutely spectacular. After hundreds of hours of playing, it remains wonderfully responsive, even and easy to play.
Mr. Reeder has a small crew of long-time employees, but insists on transporting the pianos himself and observing the local moving crew. My 1100-lb piano made it from Lansing, Michigan to Chicago and up to my 3rd floor apartment without a hitch. I'm sure Mr. Reeder's presence had something to do with that. read more