As musicians, we get very attached to our instruments. We want them to sound and perform their best. With my training in piano technology and more than 30 years experience as a professional musician, you can be assured that I'll tune and service your piano to the highest standards. Whether you own the smallest upright or the largest grand, new or old, I'll make it sound its best!
A frequently tuned piano will stay in tune longer.
Over time, if a piano is not tuned, the repeated humidity and temperature cycles will cause the pitch to drop and stay there. In this case, often two or more tuning passes through the instrument are needed to bring it back to standard pitch. This is called a ‘pitch raise’. These multiple passes can be done as part of a single visit, but the tuner will sometimes charge extra because of the additional time involved.
Even if a pitch raise is performed, most pianos that haven’t been tuned in years will not stay in tune for more than a few weeks.
Most piano makers recommend having a piano tuned every six months.
Many piano owners elect to tune their pianos once a year. Doing so will not hurt it, but it will sound better and stay in tune longer if it is done every six months. Usually when the heat goes on in the Fall or when the heat goes off in the Spring.
Pianos go out of tune as the weather changes. Here in Maine Humidity is highly unpredictable: When the heat goes on or goes off your piano is shrinking or expanding mean your piano can go out of tune even more quickly than in other parts of the country which experience only major seasonal changes.
Service
Price
Standard service (tuning and minor work)
$120.00 Performance of limited minor repairs is included in the tuning fee.
Referral discount
$10/referral
Complete action regulation
$150
Hourly standard charge
$60/hour + parts ($30 minimum)
Appraisals
$60
Evaluations
$60
Regulating the Action
Keys can feel like they're tight and "bounce"
Keys can wiggle and feel loose.
Keys can become uneven.
Hammers can hit multiple notes.
There could be a buzzing sound when you play.
Action parts wear out and need to be replaced.
Children can drop things in the action.
Travel: I will not charge travel for any piano in southern Maine. I am willing to travel farther, although I will require compensation for considerable distances and trips to islands.
Facts About Tuning
There has never been a piano made by any company, at any price, that does not require a schedule of regular tunings. It is also a fact that a piano will go out of tune whether it is played or not.
By far, the main reason why pianos go out of tune is due to changes in humidity from season to season, affecting all pianos, new and old, played and not played.