| Piano Technicians |
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If you are looking for a quality Piano Technician we recommend the following individuals.
The following items are best practices when having a technician come over to your house.
Below you will find a section of Frequently Asked Questions which we have received in regards to the care and maintenance of your piano.
How often should I tune my piano? Will my piano be damaged if it isn't/hasn't been regularly tuned? How long will it take to tune my piano? What will it cost to tune my piano? Why do I need to have it regulated? Do all pianos need to be regulated? How often is regulation needed? What are the signs that my piano needs regulation? What should I use to clean/dust my piano? How can I repair damage to the cabinet of my piano? What causes my keys to start sticking? (The FAQ is a new addition to our webpage our technicians are currently working on answers to and adding new questions to this page. Please come back soon for the expanded section)
How often should I tune my piano? Because your piano contains materials such as wood and felt, it is subject to change with climatic conditions. Extreme swings from hot to cold or dry to wet cause its materials to swell and contract, affecting tone, pitch, and action response or touch. You can reduce the severity of these effects by placing your piano near a wall away from windows or doors that are opened frequently. Avoid heating and air conditioning vents, fireplaces and areas which receive direct sunlight. Your piano will perform best under consistent conditions neither too wet nor dry, optimally at a temperature of 68 degrees F and 42 percent relative humidity. Baldwin Piano Company Professional service is the key. In the first year, the National Piano Manufacturers Association recommends that you have your piano tuned four times. This is a period of environmental adjustment for a new instrument, and proper attention is important. After the first year, the piano should be tuned at least twice each year, depending upon the frequency of use and atmospheric conditions. Contact the Piano Technicians Guild for a list of qualified technicians to perform this service. Young Chang America, Inc. Piano owners will receive optimum performance from their piano if it is properly serviced during its lifetime to compensate for the effects of environmental conditions and use. Due to the natural elasticity in new piano strings, we recommend that your instrument be tuned two to four times the first year, twice the second year and a minimum of once per year thereafter. Of course, you may choose to have your piano tuned more or less often to satisfy your own personal requirements. Ask your piano technician to also inspect the action and mechanical parts of your instrument along with regular tunings. Registered Piano Technicians have proven themselves qualified to give advice on the needs of a piano in its specific environment. Click here to return to top of FAQ
Will my piano be damaged if it isn't/hasn't been regularly tuned? A piano that hasn't been tuned on a regular schedule is in no more danger of being damaged than one that has be regularly tuned. However, be aware that there may be extra costs involved beyond just a regular tuning when a technician comes. These may be, but not limited to, the following: Pitch Raise (possibly more than one) Regulation Issues Voicing Problems Rust on the strings Remember that tuning your piano on a regular schedule by a qualified piano technician can often find and fix piano problems early (which usually means they are easier and less costly to repair). Click here to return to top of FAQ
What will it cost to tune my piano? Piano technicians are independent business men/women, as such they can set and charge their own rates. The average tuning rate appears to be be between $90.00 and $130.00 for a basic tuning (a pitch raise usually costing extra). You may want to speak with multiple technicians to in order to receive a number of quotes. Always get an estimate in writing if you are told that more repairs are needed beyond a basic tuning. Click here to return to top of FAQ
How long will it take to tune my piano? A piano tuned on a regular basis normally takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to tune. Click here to return to top of FAQ
Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical aspects of the pianos to compensate for the effects of wear, the compacting and settling of cloth, felt, and buckskin, as well as dimensional changes in wood and wool parts due to changes in humidity. The three systems involved in regulation are the action trapwork and damper system. The action is the mechanical part of the piano that transfers the motion of the fingers on the keys to the hammers that strike the strings. It is comprised of over 9,000 parts which require adjustment to critical tolerances to be able to respond to a pianist's every command. The trapwork is the assemblage of levers, dowels and springs that connects the pedals to the action affecting sustain and dynamics. The damper system is the mechanical part of the piano that stops the vibration of the string when you release the key and is controlled by the key and pedal systems. Click here to return to top of FAQ
Why do I need to have it regulated? While tuning corrects the pitch of your piano, it is only one component of a complete maintenance program. Regulation attends to the touch and uniform responsiveness of your action, all vital to making each performance pleasurable. In addition, regulation ensures that your instrument is capable of producing a wide dynamic range -- a critical factor, particularly in pianissimo passages. Music is one of the most complex vehicles for expression. Its beauty is reliant upon personal dynamics and tempi. These changes require extremely fine adjustments to respond to the pianist's nuances and subtle shadings. A smooth, even response throughout the entire range of the keyboard and an extremely quick action capable of playing rapid passages and repeated notes evenly is essential. Outstanding response is essential for a pianist to create an outstanding performance. Click here to return to top of FAQ
Do all pianos need to be regulated? All upright and grand pianos need periodic regulation to perform their best. Frequency of regulation is dependent upon amount of use, exposure to climatic changes, and the instrument's quality, age and condition. New pianos may require regulation in their first year because settling and compacting of parts sometimes necessitates adjustment. Click here to return to top of FAQ
How often is regulation needed? Only you and your technician together should decide how frequently your piano needs regulation. Several factors can contribute to this. The intensity and number of hours your instrument is played, and climatic conditions are all determinants. A piano kept in relatively consistent conditions which are neither too wet nor dry, optimally at a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 42 percent relative humidity, will require less adjustment. The quality of the instrument itself also can affect frequency of regulation. Some manufacturers decrease costs by not going over the regulation and voicing processes in the factory as much as needed. *Riverton Music always checks and performs the proper regulations prior to selling our pianos, but others may not. Also, performance instruments may require some regulation before each use, due to the higher demands placed on them. Click here to return to top of FAQ
What are the signs that my piano needs regulation? If you instrument displays a lack of sensitivity or a decreased dynamic ranges, it's a candidate for regulation. If you notice that the keys are not level (some higher or lower than the rest), the touch is uneven or that the keys are sticking, the need for regulation is indicated. However, a sluggish action or deep grooves in the hammers indicate the need for reconditioning or repair. Ask your technicians to show you what needs adjustment on your piano. No amount of practice can compensate for a poorly maintained action. Poor legato touch, chord playing where all notes of the chord don't speak clearly, a gradual loss of subtlety in phrasing and an inability to execute quick passages or note repetitions evenly may be the fault of the piano -- not the player. We would like to thank the Piano Technicians Guild for the information on regulating a piano. Click here to return to top of FAQ
What should I use to clean/dust my piano? The safest way to clean your piano with two microfiber cloths. Dampen one slightly with water, gently wipe away dust with in the direction of the grain and quickly dry with the other cloth. This will suffice for most cleanings. Do not scrub the piano if you have stubborn fingerprints/dirt you may occassionaly use a polish to remove the markings. If you want to use a polish with your piano we recommend using Cory brand piano polish in either high gloss or satin, depending on the finish of your piano. To clean the key on your piano follow the above recommedation and add a third cloth and use this on exclusivly on the black keys. Click·here to return to top of FAQ
How can I repair damage to the cabinet of my piano? Most damage to the piano cabinet should be repaired by a professional. To receive a quote for the repairs please contact Christoph's Fine Finishing at 801-836-6285. Please tell him you were referred by Riverton Music. Click·here to return to top of FAQ
What causes my keys to start sticking? Piano keys can stick for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is that an object has fallen between or under the keys and is holding it down when the key is pressed. Another reason a key can stick is the felts have swollen or become enlarged, usually caused by an increase in humidity. The next reason for a stuck key is that the key may be getting wedged against the keybed cover. There may be other reasons for a key to stick but these are the most common. To keep from damaging any part of your piano please contact a qualified technician to perform repairs or adjustments on your piano. Click·here to return to top of FAQ |