Two miles south of Bethany is an overlooked gem of a business nestled next to a cornfield. A small, unassuming building beside a farmhouse is Chupp’s Piano Service, which was founded in 1975 by Dennis Chupp, a 1974 Bethany alum. He has dedicated his life and passion to piano restoration, leading him to become a Master Technician and one of the foremost experts in his field in the United States.
Dennis’ path to becoming a master piano tuner started early. His fascination with the craft was sparked in high school, where he observed a local piano tuner working on a church piano. This initial curiosity led him to think about a career of fixing things like his builder and cabinet maker father had been doing. During the tuning of the family piano by a local concert piano technician, he exhaustedly asked questions about the piano tuning business. The technician invited him to his shop to learn more and an apprenticeship soon started while he was still in high school. Little did he know then that the road would be the beginning of a career restoring pianos.
Under the tutelage of the regional Steinway & Sons service representative, Dennis honed his skills in piano tuning and repair. His dedication and talent were quickly recognized, earning him the opportunity for advanced training at the prestigious New York Steinway & Sons Factory. There he had the privilege of receiving personal instruction from Fred Drasche, the legendary head service representative for Steinway & Sons. Fred’s expertise and mentorship were instrumental in shaping Dennis’ career, setting him on the path to becoming a true master in his field.
The family-owned Chupp’s Piano Service has grown from a workshop behind their home to a state-of-theart workshop that meets all their needs. The facility now includes an office managed by Carol, Dennis’ wife, a storage area for incoming pianos, three dedicated work areas for restoration, and a showroom capable of displaying nearly 30 grand pianos. Their son Tim is the VP of Operations and Sales and is a Master Refinisher, overseeing rebuilding production, piano moving, and scheduling. Daughter-inlaw Juliana contributes her skills in final piano assembly, marketing, and office management. The team is completed by Philip and Peter Balke, accomplished musicians and piano technicians who bring their tuning, action regulation, and refinishing expertise to the business, creating a harmonious blend of family and professional skills.
Dennis says, “Restoring pianos is a labor intensive business. A typical restoration, depending on the condition of the soundboard will take anywhere from 200 to 500 hours of work.” In his shop are multiple grand pianos in various states of repair. In one area several keyboards and actions are waiting to be rebuilt with new moveable parts. He says, “A typical grand piano is made up of 12,000 parts, and the action or keyboard consists of nearly 8000 of these parts.” In a separate work area he has three pianos in various states of being restrung. In the back room is a refinishing area. Refinishing includes both the cabinet and the 400 to 700 pound cast iron plate. Each part is meticulously refurbished to its original quality. Sometimes individual parts are sent out for detailed work; for example, the screws for the plate are sent off to Chicago to be rechrome-plated. Currently, he has 63 pianos in process of restoration.
Dennis and his team have rebuilt over 2000 pianos during his career. His restorations are mostly vintage Steinway & Sons grand pianos, but he has restored multiple brands. Some were made in the late 1800s, and one was formerly owned by Kenny Rogers. The craftsmanship and precision of the nearly 20 beautifully pristine pianos displayed in the showroom is apparent. “The veneer on the cabinet of this piano is made of Circassian walnut and is native to the Caucasus region of the former Ottoman Empire and the Soviet Union, which is now Russia but most of the piano rims or cases are made of a laminate of maple and veneered with various woods such as mahogany and walnut.” Dennis sits down and starts to play. He says, “I consider myself a ‘hack’ at playing the piano but I enjoy playing. Two of our technicians are accomplished pianists Dennis doesn’t have any plans to retire as he enjoys his work and career. “The process of restoring and training others in the process is very fulfilling.” Reflecting on his time at Bethany he says, “The man whom I watched tune the church piano spoke at our church which met in the chapel at Bethany Christian when I was still in high school. He talked about his mission work in the West Indies and his passion for piano tuning. He was the one who inspired me and then gave me my initial training in piano technology.” This year the class of 1974 plans to visit Chupp’s Piano Service during its 50th reunion. Perhaps, if you give Dennis a call he might give you a tour as well.
