Tuning ~ Pitch Raise ~ Repairs ~ Regulating
Quality You Can Hear
K E N F O S T E R, RPT
P I A N O T U N I N G S E R V I C E Sw w w . K e n F o s t e r . c o m If there are major problems with your piano, such as cracked bridges, tuning pins that are extremely loose, rusted or corroded strings, it might not be possible to raise the pitch to the correct tension (without some major repair or rebuilding work). There also might be the possibility of breaking strings.(801)255-TUNE
COSTS
First Time Service:
2 - 2.5 hrs
$85.00-
$150.00To help you budget costs, on a first time service call this will be the maximum you would have to pay (regardless of what I do)... including Pitch Raise, Fine Tuning, Repairs of any kind, Parts, Regulating, Voicing or Cleaning...
Subsequent Service:
1 - 1.5 hrs
$85.00 - $100.00
Fine Tuning, plus minor repairs and adjustments (if done at least annually).
Regulation:
10 - 15 hrs
$400.00 ~ $700.00 Complete regulation of the piano. Regulating the action to make everything work properly (all 3,000+ adjustments). Voicing:
$300.00
Adjusting the tone quality, dynamic range, sustain, evenness from note to note, and balance from section to section. Major Repairs: Free quote Including key repair, broken hammers, strings, pedals or action parts. All Day Service:
8 hrs
$450.00 Tune, Regulate, Voice, Repair Specialty Service:
Free quote
Piano Life Saver installation
Honky-Tonk Strip
Practice Mute
Hydraulic Key Lid installment
Deep Cleaning
Appraisals
Moog Midi Adapter
TUNING REQUIREMENTS
You should allow up to two hours
It should be at a time when it is relatively quiet
Payment should be made at the time of service
Pitch RaiseIf your piano has not been tuned for a long time (a year or more), it could be as much as a quarter step or more out of tune. As a result, bringing the piano up to pitch could add over two tons of pressure to the frame and plate. This requires tuning the piano two or more times to equalize the tension along the entire harp of the piano. If this is not done, as one section of the piano is tuned, the warping effect would cause the other sections to go out of tune.
If you would like to know in advance if your piano needs a pitch raise, you can call and play several of your notes over the phone, I will be glad to measure the difference from the standard (A=440HZ). If the note is 15% or more off, it will need a pitch raise.
Scheduling regular tunings two to four times a year should help in alleviating most major pitch problems. Installing a humidity control system in your home, or piano would also greatly benefit your instrument.
The costs for a pitch raise is $40.00 (pre-tension adjustment). If a piano is severely out of tune (over 80% ~ rare cases), you might want to consider a gradual increase over a few months to a year. This would allow the strings to adjust to the increase tension, and help in avoiding the cost of replacing broken strings. We also would be able to determine if the cause is perhaps in the frame, pinblock, bridge, etc. There are some "quick" fixes that I can perform if needed.. (i.e.: pin tighter, installing larger pins, etc.)... I will be glad to work with you (both on costs and time) if needed.
Regulating Regulating consists of adjusting the action to make everything work properly. If you find that playing your piano feels a little rough and uneven, or that it requires more articulation to perform, you should consider having your piano regulated. The affect of weather and humidity on the various wood, felt and leather parts of a piano will cause the tuning and action to go out. Years of wear will also cause hammers to wear down, creating deep grooves and poor response from the action. Reshaping the hammers eliminating the deep grooves, refurbishing any other parts would all need to be done prior to regulating. If repairs, replacement or refurbishing of parts are needed, I will be sure to go over your options. As always the choice is yours.
Action ~ ToneOn upright pianos, there are up to 25 points of adjustment, on a grand, up to 35 points of adjustments for each key. This can be quite a time consuming project, since a typical grand has over 3,000 adjustments. Many of the nearly two to three thousand adjustments need to be calibrated to within 1/16th of an inch or less. However, once done, your action should feel even to the touch, responsive to your interpretations, and overall be a very exhilarating experience to play.
Tone regulating consists of changing the tone quality, dynamic range, sustain, evenness from note to note, and balance from section to section. This is accomplished by careful manipulation of the hammer head using various techniques. There is a craft and art to this procedure, being a pianist myself I find helps tremendously in accomplishing this goal.
If your piano's tone starts to distort or break up as you play louder, or perhaps sounds muffled with no dynamic range, or has a metallic, brittle or harsh type of quality. Your piano would need to be voiced. If it is serious enough that tone regulating has little or no effect, you might also consider replacing the hammers. There have been significant improvements in the way hammer felt is manufactured in the last decade or so. The interlocking weaves are stronger, which provides more resilience and elasticity in the hammer, this helps produce a full beautiful pristine tone quality plus the ability for a wide dynamic range. These hammers respond well to voicing techniques which brings out the quality you are looking for from your piano..
Typically, an action should be regulated every three to five years. If it is much more, and I know of many who have never had there pianos regulated or voiced, the adjustments could be numerous.
The costs typically would run from about $400 to $700. I will be glad to evaluate your piano and provide a estimate for your consideration. If repairs or new parts are also needed, I will include this with my quote.
