Sykes & Sons Pianos - Manchester

30/06/2026

One of my favourite parts of having one of our pianos delivered to the customer is seeing the little details that tell you it’s already become part of someone’s home.

In this case, our customer chose a soft grey cushion for the stool, a small change that complements both the room and the piano beautifully. It’s a reminder that no two homes are the same, and every instrument eventually takes on its own character as it settles into a new family.

We’ve shared this Chappell Model B several times over the past few months, from its history and restoration to its final preparation in our workshop. Seeing it in its new surroundings feels like the perfect conclusion to that story.

We wish its new owners many happy years of music, and we’d like to thank them for choosing Sykes & Sons. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing another fine British piano exactly where it was built to be.

17/06/2026

Traditional craftsmanship. Modern precision.

12/06/2026

Every piano that leaves our workshop carries hundreds of hours of work that most people will never see.

From the action and keyboard to the pedals, keybed and cabinet, this Chappell Model B has undergone a thorough programme of preparation, all undertaken with respect for the instrument’s original character.

This is a glimpse behind the scenes at the process.

10/06/2026

Today, this 1976 Knight K10 was delivered to its new home following a comprehensive programme of reconditioning and refinement in our workshop.

For decades, it served one family. Now, having been carefully prepared for the years ahead, it begins the next chapter of its life with another.

There is a particular satisfaction in seeing an instrument settled into the place where it will be played, enjoyed, and ultimately become part of a family’s story once more.

This is the moment every workshop hour is working towards.

02/06/2026

This Knight arrived with a strong musical foundation and responded well to the initial stages of reconditioning. Even so, there was a warmth and clarity within the instrument that had not yet fully emerged.

Here in the workshop, we have continued refining its voice, carefully balancing and shaping the tone across the compass. The result is a richer, more expressive piano with greater colour, improved definition, and the effortless musicality for which the larger Knight uprights are so highly regarded.

Knight produced some of the finest British upright pianos of the post-war period. When properly prepared, they continue to offer a level of performance that comfortably exceeds many modern instruments.

26/05/2026

Not all school pianos were engineered equally.

The second image shows a piano that has overturned onto its back. Unfortunately, this is not as uncommon as many people think. Institutional uprights are frequently moved by caretakers, contractors, and teachers, rather than specialist piano movers, and once a conventional upright passes its tipping point, there is very little stopping over a hundred kilograms of piano continuing backwards.

The Danemann shown in the first image was designed with this reality in mind.

Look closely at the cabinet architecture and you begin to understand how seriously Danemann approached institutional safety. The extended lower structure, rearward ground contact area, and mid-set mass distribution all work together to resist rearward rotation during movement. The piano’s stability is engineered into the cabinet itself rather than added as an afterthought.

It is one of the reasons these pianos earned such a strong reputation in schools, colleges, and music departments throughout Britain. They were not simply built to sound good. They were built to survive decades of constant use in demanding educational environments, while protecting the people moving and using them every day.

10/04/2026

Yamaha C5 action up on the bench for reconditioning

06/04/2026