Steve Benjamins playing the restored piano Photo Sophie Braccini

On the morning of October 10 Steve Benjamins was waiting for the piano movers who were going to take the Lescure's piano back to its Orinda home. The 1908 Hoffmann didn't look anything like it did when it was brought to Benjamins' shop almost a year ago, and it didn't sound the same either.
"When I got that 1908 piano it looked like an old instrument that sits in a garage waiting to be given away," said Benjamins. But it was, in fact, a very high quality instrument that had been in the Lescure's family since 1908. Benjamins restored everything, from the inside out, including some resurfacing of the original ivory keyboard. The result is stunning. "I have been tuning it and playing it every day for the past week," says Benjamins, "it is visceral to hear it." The upright piano delivers a very rich and powerful sound.
Benjamins' next piano restoration is a Steinway from Berkeley, and there are many very fine instruments in his shop waiting for his attention. "Since we moved to this new location on Golden Gate Way a year ago, business is taking off," says Benjamins. "I've done my best work here." Benjamins tunes pianos and performs in public as well. Pictures of the restoration can be seen on the business' web site, along with a sound recording of the instrument.
Find Benjamins at 3434 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette, 284-3077, restorationpiano.com.