Piano Services
Tuning:
I use only the finest tools and techniques to achieve an equal-tempered tuning
on your piano. Using the state-of-the-art Reyburn Cyber Tuner, most historical
and other unorthodox tunings can be replicated for accurate performance of
ancient and contemporary music.
Pitch Adjustments:
Has your piano gone years without a tuning? Most can be pitch-stabilized in a
single working session. Tuning pitch can be set to A-440, A-441, or most other
European or American standard A4 pitch levels.
Humidity Control:
I am an authorized installation and sales representative of Dampp-Chaser
humidity control systems.
In Colorado, with extreme changes of humidity, pianos benefit greatly from
the application of a humidity control system, protecting your investment
from soundboard cracks, loose tuning pins and other effects of dryness while
stabilizing pitch and tone. For more information, go to www.dampp-chaser.com
Regulation:
Over time, the wooden and felt components of the keyboard become compressed or worn,
adversely affecting the action of the instrument. Regulation is the process of making
15 to 25 separate adjustments on each of the 88 notes so that the mechanism operates
precisely as designed. Routine adjustments keep your piano consistently playing like new.
Consultation:
With my experience, knowledge of piano construction and maintenance, I can help you
make an informed decision when purchasing an instrument. I assess a
piano’s condition and give an estimate of what would be required to put a used instrument
into good condition. It’s difficult to make an assessment of a problem or an instrument
without seeing it but I am always happy to give whatever advice possible over the phone. I
am available to travel to a site for more extensive evaluations and recommendations for a fee.
Customer Service:
I serve my customers with individualized service programs designed specifically for their
piano and needs. Most pianos should be tuned once every six months. Other pianos and
other situations can get by on one tuning per year. My service takes the worry out of
caring for your investment whether your piano gets the rigorous workout of professional
playing or the lighter use of the amateur.
Voicing:
This process produces an even tone throughout the range of the piano. Certain specific
manipulations are performed on the felt hammer heads to make them harder or softer. It
is also possible to make the sound of the entire instrument darker (mellower) or brighter (more brilliant).
Hammer Replacement:
Hammers can get to a point where they are just plain worn out and cannot be revived.
Replacing the hammers in an older piano with new ones (especially of the latest
technology) can really make a piano sound better than it ever did.
Bass String Reconditioning:
Over time bass strings often lose their initial brilliance of tone. Dirt builds up
between the coils of the string causing a dull or thuddy sound quality. My
reconditioning technique loosens the dirt and corrosion to restore near-original tone
without the higher cost of restringing the piano.
Restringing:
Installing new strings is a substantial job which greatly improves the sound of an
older instrument. When restringing, I carefully measure all aspects of the current
stringing scale. I then analyze the measurements and can usually substantially
improve the evenness of the scale. I use only the finest piano wire and have bass
strings custom-fabricated for each individual piano.
Repairs:
Detection, diagnosis and correction of all such problems as:
- Sticking keys
- Missing or broken parts
- Extraneous noises (e.g., jangles, buzzes, rattles and squeaks)
- Dampers (note rings on after key is released)
- Broken or chipped keys
- Broken or chipped case parts
This Week's Fun
A grand piano action is faster than a vertical (spinet, console, upright) because it has a repetition lever. This allows the pianist to repeat the note when it is only half way up. A vertical action requires letting the key all the way up to reset the hammer action.
Check back next week for more action-packed fun.