FineTuning Services:
Tuning: The approximately 220 strings on your piano exert about 40,000 pounds of tension on the plate and frame, and about 600 pounds of down-bearing on the bridges and soundboard. Seasonal changes in the humidity, as well as the normal, continual decrease of static tension, cause all pianos to go out of tune. Depending on where you live, the degree of humidity change from season to season, the quality and condition of your piano, and how much the piano is played, your piano could need tuning two to four times yearly.
Pitch Raises:
A pitch raise (or pitch correction) is needed if the piano is more
than 5 cents sharp or flat. If a piano is in need of a pitch raise, the first tuning
is designed to pull your piano’s pitchslightlysharpofconcert A-440, knowing
that the strings will stretch and go flat again. A secondtuning, called a
“fine tuning,” is then done immediately to stabilize and correct the
tuning caused by the strings stretching. In some cases multiple pitch raises
are needed depending on the age and/or state of tuning neglect the piano has
experienced.
Installation of Dampp-Chaser Humidity Control Systems:
Pianos are designed tobe at 42% relative humidity (R.H.). Having a PianoLife Saver System from
Dampp-Chasser Corporation installed in your piano keeps your piano at 42%, plus
or minus 5% R.H. year round. Because the thousands of wood and felt parts
remain more stable, your tuning and regulation will remain more stable as well.
Proper humidity control prevents rust on the strings and sticking keys and
actions (from too much humidity), and loose keys and action parts, loose tuning
pins, split pin blocks and cracks in the sound board (too little humidity).
Please contact me and I would be happy to provide you with more details
about this system.
Regulating and Cleaning:
As a mechanical device, your piano action needs
regular adjustment, called “regulating.” Parts swell and shrink as the humidity
changes, wear out with use, and fatigue with age. Dirt and grit prematurely
wear out felt, leather, and wood action parts. Regulating and cleaning prolongs
the life of your piano.
Proper regulation is necessary for the best performance
of your piano. A well regulated piano is a joy to play, because it is more responsive
to the demands of the pianist. While new pianos usually arrive fairly well
regulated, the felt and leather parts “break in”, and minor
regulating is usually needed even during the first or second year of use.
Voicing: Voicing is also called “tone regulating”, and is usually the final part of regulating the piano. Althoughit involves many aspects, voicing includes adjusting the piano’s hammers to achieve a full, smooth, and pleasing tone in the piano.
Keytop Replacement: Having your keytops replaced is an affordable way to bring back the look and touch that your piano may be missing. Whether you have cracked, chipped or missing keys or just stained and yellowed keys, having them replaced will greatly improve the look and touch of your piano.
Key Rebushing: Perhaps the most needed item with older pianos,other thantuning, isthe need for keyrebushing. Your piano has two felts (bushings) inside the underneath side of each key. These felts prevent the keys from wobbling in the front when the front rail bushings are worn and wobbling side to side, and tilting, when the balance rail bushings are worn. Over time these bushings will need to be replaced to give back the stable feel that your piano once had.
Repairs: Your piano is a mechanical instrument, made up of 9,000 to 14,000 parts, most of which are wood and felt. Being a mechanical device, your piano will need repairs from time to time. Felt and leather parts wear, and wooden action parts can break, even on the most expensive of pianos.
Piano Moving: If you’re wanting your piano moved, FineTuning is partnered with, and highly recommends Carmel Piano Movers.
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