Tuning $150
The process of bringing your piano back into harmony as well as an evaluation of the operation of keys, action, tuning pins and pedals.
It is important to note that you and the music you play most certainly contribute to a more in-depth discovery of these functions and
therefore should be described to the technician for a more complete evaluation.
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Deluxe Tuning $220 (or mini $185)
In addition to tuning and evaluation listed above, we will provide a light cleaning which includes vacuuming the inside of the piano,
dusting of the cabinet, as well as keytop and keyfront cleaning. Please note that this is a light cleaning and pianos that have been
neglected for significant periods of time will only be partially improved by this process. The Deluxe portion of the service consists of
what we are able to accomplish in 60 minutes after we have completed the tuning. A mini is 1/2 of an hour.
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Pitch Raise $130 and up OR
Plan Ahead Pitch Raise $70 and up
The step prior to tuning when your piano has dropped in pitch more than 10%. To avoid this step, have your piano tuned at least every
one to two years or twice a year for new pianos or pianos with new strings less than 5 years old. Some regularly tuned pianos need a
pitch raise if the pins are loose or the last tuning was below pitch. A pitch raise will be more than $70 (for plan ahead pitch raise) if the
piano has dropped in pitch more than 50% of a semi-tone. (We measure this with an electronic tuning devise). Remember that a tuning
will need to be scheduled as a follow up if we didn't plan ahead of time for the extra time.
A Plan Ahead Pitch Raise is one where you and I have agreed in advance that the piano will likely need a pitch raise (last tuned more
than 4 years prior) and we are able to schedule the tuning during the same visit. The decreased cost reflects the need for only one visit
rather than two. If the piano is more than 50% flat, then the pitch raise will be more. Remember that the plan ahead pitch raise is $70
and the tuning is $150.
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Climate Control System Installation $440 upright / $580 grand
Also known as the Piano Life Saver System, this is the installation of a humidifier / de-humidifier / and humidistat which maintains the
relative humidity of your piano within an optimum range of humidity for your piano (around 42%). Maintaining optimum humidity
year-round will reduce the risk of your soundboard cracking, pins loosening, and general wear and tear associated with all wooden parts
of the piano expanding and contracting throughout the seasons. We are happy to inform you that our rates are below the industry
standard. For more information, please visit Dampp-Chaser.
If you would like to evaluate on your own whether or not you need a climate control system, place a hygrometer on or in the piano.
Monitor the percentage throughout the year and check to be sure that the humidity around the piano remains between 35% and 55%.
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Disklavier Calibration $60
Disklavier Adjustment $100 per hour
A Disklavier is a Yamaha acoustic piano with an electro-mechanical player and recording device. Think of it as a twenty-first century
player piano. To operate smoothly, the Disklavier requires annual maintenance. The maintenance begins with calibration. From there, the
operating system will alert the technician if adjustments are needed.
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Hammer Reshaping $180
When the hammers have visible grooves from where they hit the strings, then hammer reshaping will improve the tone.
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Voicing $90
The voice, or tone, of a piano is dependent on many factors including make/model, age and quality of the piano. Voicing is the process
of adjusting the hammers to be softer or harder to produce a more mellow or bright tone. All pianos become more bright with age.
Whether or not a piano needs voicing is dependent upon the pianists' preference. We usually recommend that older pianos be voiced
due to the hardening of the hammers with age.
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Action Regulation $300 - $600 upright / $600 - $1800 grand
Regulation is the process of adjusting the mechanisms that affect the movement between key-play and hammer-strike. This is one of the
most neglected aspects of piano maintenance. Many piano owners spend thousands of dollars purchasing a new piano rather than
investing in maintaining the one that they own. We do not discourage purchasing a new piano, however if you love the one you're with
(so to speak), treat it well by having it regulated about every ten years. This ten year mark is only a guideline. The need for regulation is
based on hours of use and quality of manufacturing.
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Restringing:
$50 one treble string
$60 one bass string
$1000 all bass strings
$2000 whole piano
As strings break, it is best to have them replaced rather than have an inferior instrument. On occasion, a string breaks as a result of
tuning. Your technician may charge you to replace this breakage if they have assessed that it broke due to no fault of their own; for
example, if the strings have aged. Older strings that have been stretched time and time again as a result of tuning may become unable to
withstand the further stress. Additionally, older strings produce additional invasive tones that interfere with the harmony of the instrument.
This becomes more and more evident after several decades. Whether or not to invest in restringing the whole instrument depends on the
quality (for example, you may want to greatly improve a Cadillac rather than a Peugot) and/or personal value of the piano.
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Piano Evaluation:
$80 verbal report on condition ($0 if combined with a tuning)
$120 verbal report on condition and value ($60 if combined with a tuning)
$160 written report on condition ($80 if combined with a tuning)
$200 written report on condition and value ($100 if combined with a tuning)
As a potential buyer of a used piano, a piano evaluation will tell you what condition the piano is in and what costs would be associated
with bringing it up to minimum or maximum standards. Condition and value will provide you with this information as well as an estimate
of the monetary value of the piano.
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Piano Repairs $10 and up (minimum fee for a piano visit $70)
Repairs can include many things such as inoperable pedals, keys that don't work, a slow action, and so on. Please be sure to inform
your piano technician of the problem that you encounter (preferably before the visit so that they can budget an appropriate amount of
time for the visit) to determine what repair may be required.
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