Iain Gordon

“Iain Gordon seems to have achieved an unusually high level of accomplishment in the field of piano servicing and voicing. Since fitting a new action to our 25 year old Steinway D it has been used regularly by many of the Worlds finest pianists. The remarks and feedback have been almost 100% positive and to name a few, Andras Schiff loves it, Manny Ax wanted to take it on tour, Murray Perahia sat down to warm up and didn’t get up for 30 minutes, when his rehearsal time was over he stayed in the hall and continued practicing…clear approval!! As Simon Perry director of Hyperion Records says, it’s unusual to find such a good resident piano in a recording venue and especially one that top artists are happy to use!! Well done Iain!”

“Dear Iain

I believe I have now ascended to what I can only be described as the ‘Bush Plain’. This is a high, fuelled by a potent mixture of wonder, excitement and utter disbelief. I had always imagined Steinways were owned by people with mansions, models and multiple cars of exotic pedigree. Never by ordinary people like myself.

Every so often, I find myself peeking into the dining room just to check that the Steinway is really there. When I sit down to play, I feel like pinching myself. The bass almost growls in the arresting manner of a sports car engine. The richly textured and unique Steinway tone envelopes one in a sound system to end all sound systems. Even scales and arpeggios sound wonderful on this instrument. I have become a child again, once more bewitched and bedazzled by the real and fantasy worlds which combine in a most treasured toy.

My particular Steinway journey began, as you know, in a troubled way. At the Steinway showroom, I fell in love with the model B and yet a new B was financially out of reach. Luckily, I found myself talking to you and you persuaded me to bid for a B at the next auction. As you also know, I was pretty unhappy with the chosen instrument. The action was inconsistent and unreliable, the middle range tone was largely absent and I was loathe to bid for such an expensive item purely on the basis of a telephone relationship. Clive’s words of reassurance were crucial. It was still a shock though, when the hammer fell and the deed was done. I was convinced for many weeks afterwards, that I had made the wrong move. It was extremely helpful to meet you at the next auction and at the Steinway showroom where you were able to explain to me why my piano was ailing and how simple (relatively speaking) it would be to put things right. I am so glad that I kept faith.

Understanding how pivotal the top action and a new set of hammers were to the problems the piano was having meant that the dark tunnel now had some light at the end of it. When you installed the new action last week I knew we were out of the tunnel, even though you had yet to complete the voicing. I now have an instrument that responds accurately and faithfully to my input and in which I now have utter confidence. Any aberrations are now mine and mine alone. It is as good as new. My years in the piano wilderness are over.

So, Iain, your role in this has not really been that of piano technician, though skilled and true has been your craftsmanship. Your role has been to make a dream come true. A dream so large and improbable and so deeply buried that I was unaware that it even existed. I am really fortunate to have met you and I will always remember the impact your efforts have had on my life.

I only hope that I can be as high as the ‘Bushman’ is, and for as long.

Thank you.”

“ Iain Gordon has just completed work on my Steinway Model C. For a very reasonable price he replaced the action, upper strings and regulated, toned and overhauled the entire piano. I am so pleased with the result I now think that the piano had never been set up properly!!! Thanks to his meticulously careful work, I now have what feels and sounds like a brand new Steinway. I shall have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone. Many thanks”