Autumn news and piano SALE!

Autumn is well under way and our annual bonfire party this Saturday looks set to be an indoor affair this year as the forecast is wet. The Devon countryside around us is ablaze with wonderful colours this season as always, and with a huge waiting list of repairs, our minds are turning to Christmas already! 

We have several large restorations which will be completed during November, including a unique and extremely special 1890s Bechstein grand featuring ornate gilt embellishments on its rosewood case. 

It's a joy to work on this unique antique Bechstein V grand piano

 Another rosewood Bechstein is going back to Exmoor next week to its piano teacher owner having been full restored, and a beautiful restored Bluthner upright will be delivered to its new owner later this month - a recording studio in Bristol.

Bechstein grand piano soundboard during restoration

Our new technician Henry has proved himself invaluable to Bill in the workshop this year. His engineer's mind and expertise as a pianist mean that he's learning fast, and Henry is now undertaking everything from complex action work to restringing and fitting new wrest planks. He now works several days a week with Bill, as well as keeping up with his private teaching commitments, and has also enjoyed developing his refinishing skills during the year. As well as refinishing conventional wooden cases, both antique and relatively modern, Henry has become highly skilled at bespoke lacquer finishes. He's also made some amazing key rings from reclaimed piano parts which are proving popular as gifts.

Key rings made from authentic reclaimed piano parts are just £3 each.
Top to bottom: ebony notes, Bechstein hammer heads and tuning pins

We have seen a huge rise recently in the number of clients requesting bespoke coloured pianos. Using ultra hardwearing lacquer colour matched to Farrow & Ball shades, we're able to transform lacklustre mid-century pianos into statement pieces. Greys are perennially popular of course, but we've also had requests for some fabulous dramatic colours, including Inchyra Blue (see photo), which looked amazing in its new contemporary home. 

Bespoke colour upright pianos. The right hand one is in Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball

Tom, our tuner/technician, remains busy as ever touring many weekends of the year with The Beach Boyz Tribute Band but is also essential to our team! Tom got married earlier this year and he and his new wife Becky are expecting their first child just before Christmas. Most of the team has now seen Tom perform and we were all blown away by his stage presence as well as his voice! Luckily, Tom still finds time to undertake tunings and many repairs, and we've lost count of the glowing reports coming in from clients. 

Another exciting development for the business this year was when Edward Jacobs joined us in a sales role - albeit very part time, as he has many other commitments including teaching and as musical director for several choirs. Edward is a talented pianist and has a happy knack of sourcing the perfect piano for clients, taking into consideration their budget and preferences. Edward has already been able to grow our piano sales this year and has also helped to increase the number of pianos available for sale. We're all looking forward to working together next year and beyond. Edward currently has nearly 20 upright pianos for sale, some ready for immediate delivery, with a few one-off price deals on pianos delivered before Christmas - so if you're considering a family piano in the near future, do give him a call on 01297 552143. 

Hailun SE120 upright piano, £3,399. Brand new, soft close hinges.
Beautiful piano with a 10 year manufacturer's guarantee

Our newly augmented team gave W Young Pianos a strong presence at the Honiton Show back in August. We took our usual stand within the Blackdown Hills Business Association tent, and were delighted to see so many visitors, from long-established clients to new faces. Everyone loved the variety of pianos on show and the chance to see behind the scenes with a baby grand currently undergoing restoration.  A lot of work to move so many pianos for a one day show, but it was another successful show and we're looking forward to next year already!

The full team at Honiton Show! L to R: Tom Read,Henry Perry, Sarah Young, Edward Jacobs, Bill Young

As always, we tend to be too busy with the ever-growing business to update the blog much, but we are always delighted to hear from piano lovers anywhere! Keep in touch with us on Instagram and Facebook where you'll see the very latest news on pianos for sale, including any flash offers, and plenty more inspiring photos of the beautiful instruments we are lucky enough to work on. 

 

Compact modern upright pianos PLUS Yamaha uprights now for sale

Hello sunshine! Summer is finally here and the workshop is beautifully cool to work in thanks to all the insulation needed to keep pianos comfortable!

As well as the usual restoration and repair work, I've managed to get a couple of small modern uprights ready for sale.

Both will be on the Pianos for Sale page on this website soon, but in the meantime they're listed on eBay - seller name is pianoredwood73 - and can also be found on my Facebook page (see Home page of website for link).

Rogers, small modern upright piano in light oak case. Refurnished throughout and case has been stripped and refinished. 

£750 including delivery and tuning in Devon/Somerset. Further afield just ask for a delivery quotation. 

This is a school model with safety casters which are super easy to manoeuvre and a robust lock on the fall (keyboard cover). Perfect for school, village hall, choir, pub or home use. Ideal for beginners right through to later grades. 

Eavestaff, small modern upright piano in teak case. Refurbished throughout and case has been stripped and refinished.

£950 including delivery and tuning in Devon/Somerset. Further afield just ask for a delivery quotation. Perfect for home or studio use and as above, this piano is also ideal for beginners through to later grades. 

YAMAHA

We are also very excited to now be stocking top quality secondhand refurbished Japanese pianos including Yamaha and Kawai. These are stunning instruments, always in bright (shiny) black finish, and excellent for pianists of any standard; also extremely popular for their attractive appearance which looks perfect in contemporary homes. They range from £2,500-£3,500 depending on age and amount of refurbishment work done. Again, more details on Facebook and eBay or give us a call on 07881 644911 to discuss your requirements. These pianos are superb value for money - they're often in mint condition, indistinguishable from new, yet to buy a new piano of the same model would be thousands more. They give many years of uncomplicated service to pianists of all standards through to professionals and teachers - no wonder they're so popular!

We have had an excellent working relationship with one of the largest importers of these pianos in the country for over 20 years and are lucky enough to be able to choose each of our Japanese pianos from an enormous number in their warehouse. We frequently choose pianos according to clients' specific requirements; there's no obligation but we pride ourselves on finding the right one for you!

Image credit: Venetia Norrington

In other news, our hire pianos continue to grace weddings, parties, festivals and all kinds of events. Our beautiful rosewood grand piano recently paid a visit to the stunning Deer Park Hotel near Honiton for a classical recital - doesn't it look incredible in that amazing space?!

WATCH THIS SPACE!

We are in the process of updating our Pianos for Sale page on this website - other pianos will be coming soon. In the meantime, please keep an eye on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WYPianos/

Do check back soon for more news from the piano workshop. Enjoy the summer sunshine! 

February News from the Workshop

COMING SOON FOR SALE: Yamaha U1 upright piano. Secondhand top quality piano, excellent for students through to professional level.

The last few months have been extremely busy, with a great many fine pianos coming through the workshop. At the moment I'm restringing a beautiful 1881 John Broadwood grand for an internationally renowned professional musician. Photos will follow soon. I also have a 20 year old Yamaha grand which has sadly been damaged in a house fire coming in this week.

As well as my piano work, I am regularly asked to restore and French polish other pieces of furniture. Recent commissions include a coffee table, music cabinet, chest of drawers, Pembroke table and a large four leaf dining table. I'm also quoting this week for the restoration and reupholstery of a set of 6 antique dining chairs.

Another recent project was the restoration of a very large antique mirror which had fallen off a wall and smashed; the frame needed fixing and regilding and the glass had to be replaced. It's now back in place with much stronger fixings!

The sideboard it fell onto has also been through the workshop and is looking beautiful once more.

Apologies for the delay in posting this update, but here are a few photos of recent pianos to leave the workshop, as well as the current instrument undergoing restoration:



Schimmel baby grand. Currently undergoing restoration.

This 1930 Schimmel baby grand has a warm but powerful sound. Please get in touch for more details or to try this piano.


Gors & Kallmann baby grand after restoration

Bansall baby grand after restoration

Schiedmayer boudoir grand after restoration



Schiedmayer boudoir grand after restoration

Latest piano for sale: Young Chang upright, immaculate condition

Young Chang U131 upright, mahogany, beautiful condition 

£2200

This superb Japanese piano was made in the 1990s in traditional style

We are delighted to present the latest piano for sale. This Young Chang upright is a superb quality instrument in a dark mahogany case which has been refinished by W Young Pianos. The unusual styling of this modern (early 1990s) piano makes it eminently suitable for traditional interiors. The ornate columns and panelled top door along with other touches such as a two part hinged lid complete the traditional appearance, which is combined with a modern touch and tone.

This piano is ideal for pianists of all abilities and will easily take students to Grade 8 and beyond.

The U131 is a top quality piano and ideal for students of all levels

The hammers on this piano show almost no signs of wear. Its most recent use was as a choir piano but the musical director found it rather too tall to be able to see his singers over the top! This height is in fact a great advantage in most settings, as the string length is sufficient to produce a big sound with a deep, rich tone.

This Young Chang mahogany upright has very little wear on the hammers. It's now ready for a new home

Anyone interested in this beautiful piano is welcome to view and play it by appointment.

Call 01823 681605 now for an appointment to try.

This piano is currently in the music room in our home; Bill will shortly have two more restored upright pianos for sale alongside it. Watch this space for updates on the next pianos to leave the workshop. Most of Bill's work goes straight into high end showrooms but his TRADE prices remain the same for dealers and private clients alike. Buy with confidence from a highly experienced and sought after restorer - low overheads mean great prices go hand in hand with the service Bill has always prided himself upon.

Brinsmead grand piano

Welcome to our first blog post on the new website! It's a rainy Tuesday in Devon, but Bill is tucked away in his workshop restringing a grand piano for a private client. Photos will follow once it's looking its best.

At the moment several large showrooms across the UK are considering Bill's latest piano for sale; private clients in the know can buy direct from William Young Piano Restoration and save thousands of pounds! If not sold privately, this piano will only be available from a showroom and will be priced at around £8,000. However, low overheads mean we are able to sell this piano for just £3,500. If you're looking for an excellent instrument and a beautiful piece of furniture, don't delay!










This stunning Brinsmead boudoir grand (6' long) is a fine example of English Edwardian elegance. In a mahogany case raised on octagonal tapered legs, it dates from c.1906 (serial no. 56669) and benefits from new hammers and strings. With a deep, rich tone and consistently responsive touch, this piano is suitable for everyone from beginners to professional pianists. Available to see and play at our location in beautiful Devon countryside - why not combine your piano search with a last minute short break at Luggs Barn (www.luggsbarn.co.uk) and take time to soak up the glorious views while trying out this instrument? If you don't play (or are feeling shy), we can play the piano for you so that you can appreciate the tone as well as the fine craftsmanship of this English beauty.