For
now, your inquiry might be found in
frequently asked questions (faq) following below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I
tune my piano?
Not
very often, (you should have a professional piano tuner do
it)---once a year at least. If you play the piano more than 7
hours a week you should be having it tuned and serviced every six
months. If you schedule an hour and half service call you
should get tuning plus routine maintenance, which included we
call <"regulation">
How much does it
cost to tune?
Between $45 and $125 depending where
you live and of course who does it. $45 is close to wholesale
to the music industry or rural areas where school teachers start at
$21,000, or by weekend "tuners" hopefully with a
machine. $125 if you live in the Big City and want the
tuner for the Symphony---or you live in Canada.
How do I find
a tuner?
If you are
looking at the Yellow Pages, see who is closest. However the best
way is from personal recommendation. You may not need the
symphony tuner, but certainly the recommendation from a piano
teacher should suffice. If you want to call around,
try the local college or university, the public schools, or a
piano store. If your piano is a brand name still being
sold look in the Yellow Pages for the nearest
dealer.
What about tuning
machines?
If you have engaged a tuner through
recommendation, it should not matter if a machine is used. It is not
true that an aural tuner is better than a machine tuner or vice
versa. Tuning a piano is an effort by an individual, and results can
vary but between full time professionals there should be
no noticeable difference, whether by ear or machine.
The consideration among tuners is that the ETD (electronic
tuning device) is a tool and makes the work easier.
The tuner said.... My
piano needs two tunings.
This is true in many cases. If
it needs to be raised to pitch yes it might need tuning
anywhere between 30 days and six months. Raising to
pitch can take twice as long than if it was at pitch which
today is called A-A440. (The 440 means the string of note A
above middle C vibrates 440 times a second. A piano that has
not been tuned for a long time will probably be flat or lower in
pitch from the A440 tuning fork and should be raised to
pitch if possible or prudent. Raising to pitch
means all of the strings must be "tightened" or tuned
sharp. This increases the string tension which results in
more 'stress' to the piano. There are 211 tuning pins on a
piano (more or less by 5 or 10) at an average tension of 160 lbs
figures out to 33,760 lbs, which is 15 to 20 tons of tension!
The tuner said,
"....needing new pads, or felts".
Get it in writing, ie a formal
estimate and get a second opinion. Unless he or she is highly
recommended and your piano is a worthy brand.
The fee seems
steep.
Is it more than 3 tanks of gasoline
for your car? If you can't afford this for your piano, don't
worry letting the tuning slide for two, three or four
years. Once again it depends on how often you are playing your
piano. If every day, then tuning twice a year should cost
under 50 cents a day.
My Child likes to
play with the electronic keyboard. Can he/she take lessons on
that? We can't afford a "real piano".
YES! Lessons on an
electronic keyboard are better than no lessons at all. I believe
that electronic keyboards have served as the best introduction to
music for all people since the piano itself. Also consider that any
piano player today is also expected to be proficient on electronic
keyboards in church, school band rooms,
entertainment, recording studio,etc, etc.
The tuner has come and gone but I
don't hear a difference.
You
shouldn't hear a difference. That is what "in tune" is all
about. If you wait for it to sound out of tune to your ears,
most likely it will be so far out the tuner will recommend two
tunings. Just resolve to tune your piano twice a year, once a
year or once every two year depending on use and
budget.
What about cracks in the
soundboard?
Most sound board "cracks" are cosmetic. Some cracks are
not cracks at all but rather "expansion stresses". The
soundboard reacts to changes in weather and humidity. In moist
humid weather it "expands", in dry winter weather it
"contracts". There is no reason for a sound board to crack
except if extreme changes in temperature and humidity.
Consider that 50% of all pianos before 1960 can be found to have
anywhere from a cosmetic hairline crack to a major "eye opening"
split. However in only 5 to 10 percent of these do the cracks
have an effect on tone. If your piano is less than $1000 in
value don't worry about cracks in the soundboard.
The way a crack
affects tone is that it "rattles" or vibrates sympathetically with
certain notes in the manner of a kazoo. Major cracks can also
"muffle" the sound. Most often a small crack makes no difference in
tone.
The tuner says my piano cannot hold a tune
Sometimes the tuning
pins are so loose they slip immediately after being tuned.
This though can be readily demonstrated. Sometimes one
or two or three or four pins are "loose". Sometimes these
can be made to hold by tapping them further into the pin
block, or applying the modern CA or crazy glue. Sometimes most
of the tuning pins are loose. In a majority of cases these can
be treated with tuning pin tightener. If a tuner has told you
that "doping the pins ruins the pin block", seek a second
opinion.
Remember always get a
recommendation for a piano tuner through your local church, school,
music store or some one who has had satisfactory service for a
number of years.
or email to ask@pnotec.com | 
