Pitch Raise - ‘Plan Ahead’

If we have discussed the length of time that your piano has gone prior to its last tuning, then we can plan ahead if we think a pitch raise might be necessary. Or you may say that you don’t know, or that the last owner said ‘x’ amount of time ... It doesn’t mean that you will automatically be charged a pitch raise if you are frank with me. It only means that I can make room in the schedule in case you do need one, which is determined by my electronic tuning device, not by what you said (because sometimes pianos don't need a pitch raise even when it has been awhile.)

$50 for 20 to 50 cents flat / $100 for 51 to 100 cents flat / $150 for 101 cents flat or greater (In the case of a piano that is more than 101 cents flat, I might suggest two visits; one for the pitch raise and the next for the tuning)

Pitch Raise - ‘Surprise!’

If you were mistaken about when the last tuning occurred and I haven't made the proper adjustments in my schedule to accommodate a pitch raise and tuning in the same visit, then the pitch raise and tuning might require two separate visits.

rates vary

Cleaning; 1/2 hour $40 when combined with another piano service

Cleaning; 1 hour $75 when combined with another piano service

I primarily focus on the inside of the piano, parts that you can't easily reach, unless you would prefer that I spend more time on the exterior. Dust and debris inside a piano can cause it to become sluggish and lose responsiveness. Cleaning the action, vacuuming under the keys, and polishing keypins all can improve its performance abilities.

Half Day of Service (4 hours) $320

Full Day of Service (8 hours) $600

If you would like more for your piano than just a tuning, but you don’t know specifically what it might require, then requesting a block of time allows the technician to determine what is the order of priority. Or if you have a list of what you would prefer (such as pitch raise, tuning, cleaning, voicing, touch up regulation), then we can discuss what might be able to be accomplished in the time allotted. A half day or full day is not usually enough time to cover everything that could be done for your piano but it is often enough time to make a big difference. A half day or a full day gives you the biggest bang for your buck and gives your piano the opportunity to receive attention in the regulation/voicing/cleaning department, if that is what is deteremined to be the priority.

Hammer Reshaping $80 and up

Voicing $80 and up

Hammer reshaping and voicing usually go together but on occasion can be requested one or the other. (If just one, then hammer reshaping should be first.) If you would prefer both and a tuning, then you would be better off requesting a half day of service and letting me know what you have in mind. It is less expensive this way and I might be able to add some cleaning if time allows.

Regulating (See home page for January 2012 special offer)

$300 - $600 vertical; $900 - $1500 grand

Regulation rates vary depending on how out of regulation your piano is - how long it has been since your last regulation, how much your piano is played, and your standards for performance. (You might want your piano to play at its very best or you might just want it to be better than it is.) The rates above are for a complete regulation (not including replacement of parts, repairs, etc.) If you would like to gradually improve your piano over time and delay the expense of a complete regulation, we can start with a half day or full day of service. As a result, I can start with what is most important in my opinion or what you have specified is most important to you.

Climate Control System and Installation

$450 vertical; $550 grand

A Climate Control System, also known as the Piano Life Saver System, helps maintain the humidity of your piano around 42%. Maintaining a consistent level of humidity for your piano helps reduce the significant fluctuations in pitch by stabilizing the crown of the soundboard which can increase and decrease with the changes in weather. In addition, reducing the significant fluctuations in relative humidity can help reduce the aging process of the wood parts of the piano. For more information, visit www.pianolifesaver.com. Our installations include the smart heater bar and an undercover for a grand when warrented.

Evaluations

$90 verbal report on condition (or $0 if scheduled with a tuning*)

$130 verbal report on condition and value (or $40 if scheduled with a tuning*)

$170 written report on condition (or $80 if scheduled with a tuning*)

$210 written report on condition and value (or $120 if scheduled with a tuning*)

Evaluations are helpful for buying a piano, selling a piano, having a piano insured, donating a piano, giving it as a gift, deciding whether to move it, or even letting it go into permanent and non-reversible retirement (yes, the dump).

* Please note that the rates for evaluations and tunings combined means that the tuning and evaluation occurs during the same visit; not two separate trips.