Last Tuning

Type of Piano

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English

Handlin Piano

An extreme pitch adjustment includes all the additional procedures necessary to raise or adjust the pitch of a piano which is more than 70c flat.   This service is recommended for instruments which have been neglected and/or unserviced for a significant period of time.  This service may require multiple visits and can take as long as 3 to 4 hours to complete.
An extreme pitch raise is required under any of these circumstances.  When a piano:

has not been tuned in a decade or more
is more than 70 cents flat or sharp
has been in long-term, non climate-controlled storage
has been in an environment with fluctuating temperature and/or humidity
has had minor damage due to rodent/insect infestation
In the circumstances listed above there may be additional repairs necessary that would not be included in the Extreme Pitch Adjustment pricing.

Not all pianos may be serviceable – the cost of repairs may exceed the value of the piano.

Call for consultation to determine if this service is appropriate for your instrument and circumstance.

Extreme Pitch Adjustment

A standard tuning assumes the piano has been tuned within the last 3 years and is within 10 cents of A440.  A standard tuning does not include additional prep work which may be required on some pianos which have not been serviced regularly.  A deluxe tuning is recommended for an older or more valuable piano.   A new piano less than 1 year old, may also require a deluxe tuning – depending on the preparation at the dealer/manufacturer level.
For musicians and piano teachers, whose instrument is played regularly and who require the tuning to be as accurate and stable as possible – should schedule a deluxe tuning every 2 years and 3 standard tunings in-between.

If in doubt, call for a recommendation and/or consultation.

Standard Piano Tuning

The fee for the piano evaluation can be reimbursed if the piano is tuned or serviced at a later date

Piano Evaluation

A standard pitch adjustment tuning assumes the piano is no more than 20 to 70 cents off from standard pitch at any given note.  100 cents represents the distance between two adjacent notes – a half step in music terminology.

This does not include an extreme pitch raise of 70 cents or more.  A standard pitch adjustment tuning does not include additional prep work which may be required on some pianos.    Lubricant is applied during a pitch raising to help the strings to move along their bearing points – to prevent breaking strings.

Depending on the instrument, this process may be divided into 2 separate visits, a rough tuning (setting all the strings at their approximate pitch), and a follow-up “fine” tuning.  The first several tunings generally do not hold well (go out of pitch) after a significant pitch adjustment.   The pitch will generally stabilize after several standard tunings.

Standard Pitch Adjustment

For existing clients only, booking within one year of a previous appointment.  Includes a standard tuning.

Select a time

Handlin Piano

Extreme Pitch Adjustment

October 2024

Handlin Piano

Summary