The rates page has all prices, including for a standard piano tuning.
At least once a year; 2-3 times a year if you are a musician or frequent player, and regularly for a recording studio or concert hall.
A standard tuning usually takes about an hour. A pitch raise & tuning can take up to two hours.
Mainly because the strings gradually lose tension over time, causing them to go flat. But also because seasonal temperature and humidity changes affect the wood and metal parts of the piano. How often the piano is played will also affect how regularly a piano should be tuned.
The rates page has all prices, including for half day and full day piano services.
I often compare piano servicing to cars. If a piano is serviced periodically, the likelihood of everything working correctly is much higher than if it is neglected. Just like a car, pianos are more likely to suffer from faults that affect performance if not serviced, that can build up over time, and cost more money in the long run. Plus, a piano that feels and sounds in great shape is far more enjoyable to play.
It depends on how often it is played. A concert grand piano will often be serviced three times a year, but a semi-pro pianist might have their piano serviced every 3-4 years.
Depending on the service, this will include repairs of broken parts, action & keyboard regulation, piano tuning, and voicing.
Like any complex machine, pianos require maintenance to keep working properly. Over many years and decades, some of these parts will inevitably break and need replacing. It is normal in older pianos for this to happen, but regular tuning and servicing can delay the onset of this.
The most common repairs are broken/missing hammers, strings, keys, and dampers; squeaks, rattles, buzzes, and other noises; and sticking keys, loose keytops, and other mechanical issues.
Almost certainly yes. Squeaking pedals and action parts usually just need lubricating or moving slightly to alleviate the problem.
A sticking key can be caused by several factors, including humidity changes, dirt or debris under the keys, tight felt bushings, or minor misalignment. Even small objects such as coins, dust, or paper can become lodged inside the action and restrict movement of the key.
Not exactly. Tuning adjusts the pitch of the strings, whereas voicing adjusts the tonal character of the piano. A piano can be perfectly in tune but still sound harsh, dull, or uneven if the hammers require voicing. But a piano does need to be in good tuning in order to voice properly, so the two are linked.
Usually yes. Over time, hammers become worn and develop deep grooves which can soften the tone. By lightly filing the hammers, leveling them to the strings, and needling the felt, the proper tone of the piano can be restored.
Also yes. Certain brands (such as Yamaha and Kawai) and newer pianos tend to have a brighter tone. Needling the hammers can certainly help bring down the brightness and sometimes harshness that can come with these types of piano.
Absolutely yes. In fact, sometimes moving the piano around the same room or stage can change the tone significantly. In a living room or studio, soft furnishings and carpets can help with brightness, and harder surfaces can help with dullness. I'm happy to advise on this when doing a tuning session.
Usually, but it does depend. If the piano is a good quality instrument that isn't extremely old, then there's a good chance that it will survive a pitch raise. However very old pianos likely have corrosion, mildew/mould, and other issues that can cause problems when attempting a pitch raise. Usually this can result in broken strings, which can be time consuming and expensive to fix if there are many. I can always take a look at the piano and advise from there.
This could be for several reasons, but the main cause is probably the tuning pins are too loose. Unfortunately, tuning and pitch raising alone won't solve this. The piano will likely need new tuning pins and possibly new strings in the affected area.
It does yes. Especially in older pianos, the flatter they are the higher the risk there is of strings breaking due to corrosion and rust. This is more of a problem for bass strings where they have to be custom ordered as the scale for each piano make and model is slightly different. All this is partly why we recommend having pianos tuned regularly.
It really depends, mostly on the type of piano. High end grand pianos like Steinway & Sons and Bösendorfer tend to hold value, but many mid-range makes do not. It also depends far more on a piano's condition, brand, and playability than its age alone. Many older pianos, particularly mass-produced uprights, are unfortunately not worth anything anymore.
Usually not. If you mean an older upright off Facebook Marketplace or somewhere similar then I highly recommend avoiding them. Pianos are usually free for a reason, and one way or another they will cost you money. However if you know someone who is giving you a free Steinway then it might be worth taking!
Yes! I have a cleaning tool that allows me to get into hard to reach places such as this and clean almost every part of either grand or upright pianos.
