Custom Piano Service Specialists for Three Generations
Precision Piano Services was officially established in 1989 by Franco Skilan, a third generation Registered Piano Technician (RPT) of the Piano Technicians Guild. Together with his father, Giovanni Skilan, the father and son team had a combined experience of over 75 years in piano rebuilding and piano restoration prior to Giovanni’s fatal car accident in 2015.
With a state-of-the-art facility located in North Hollywood, CA, the studio continues to successfully repair and restore many of the finest grand pianos produced, most of which are built by the world’s most well known piano manufacturer, Steinway and Sons. Precision Piano Services has worked on thousands of Steinway and Sons Grand and Upright pianos, as well as hundreds of others by various fine piano makers. They have successfully transformed many otherwise useless and worn out instruments into concert-level, “as-new” pianos.
Meet the Skilan’s of Precision Piano Services
Giovanni Skilan 1934-2015
Giovanni was born in Trieste, Italy in 1934. His ancestors originally came from Czechoslovakia and settled in Trieste in the 1890’s. His great-grandfather was a musician and inventor, with interests in early photography, but especially in musical instruments. His experiments even included the construction of an early design style piano. Giovanni’s accomplishments and legacy continue to live on even though his physical presence can no longer enrich the studio. Precision Piano Services could not be what it is today had it not been for Giovanni!
Franco Skilan
Franco’s interest in piano’s started at a very early age. As a new immigrant, his father Giovanni worked 12-14 hour days, at multiple piano companies throughout the Los Angeles area, not only to establish his business and reputation in the Los Angeles area, but also to provide for the family.
We received the 1932 Chickering Parlor grand piano back in our home today, and I can only say that it is far better than I could have ever hoped. It LOOKS beautiful, it FEELS like new (better, actually) and SOUNDS incredible.
Not only did Precision restore the beautiful burled walnut finish to it’s original beauty, but they replaced the cracked sound board, re-strung it with better strings than it had when new, and improved subtle things like how the various components are placed, using their years of experience and knowledge to actually make it work and sound better than the original factory construction.
It was a GOOD piano to start with…NOW it’s an EXCEPTIONAL piano. I could not be happier.
John M. Poer
Feedback After a 1932 Chickering Parlor Grand Piano Restoration
We received the piano back in our home today, and I can only say that it is far better than I could have ever hoped. It LOOKS beautiful, it FEELS like new (better, actually) and SOUNDS incredible.
Not only did Precision restore the beautiful burled walnut finish to it’s original beauty, but they replaced the cracked sound board, re-strung it with better strings than it had when new, and improved subtle things like how the various components are placed, using their years of experience and knowledge to actually make it work and sound better than the original factory construction.
It was a GOOD piano to start with…NOW it’s an EXCEPTIONAL piano. I could not be happier.
John M. Poer
Nostalgic Interview on PBS Show The Bench with Huell Howser
In March of 1996, Franco and Giovanni were interviewed by the late Los Angeles local celebrity Huell Howser (1945-2013) for his PBS show, The Bench. This interview was filmed at our first location just a few years after the father and son team joined forces to rebuild pianos together.
Huell was a local phenomenon and true gentleman, traveling all around LA and California, pre-Internet, to showcase hidden treasures and wonderful people the state had to offer. Featuring this video, with its in the rough conversion from VHS to digital, pays tribute to both Huell and our own beloved master craftsman Giovanni.
RUN TIME: 25 minutes, 21 seconds
