“SERVICES & PRICES” (Abbreviated List with Pricing)

(1) PIANO TUNING ($120 in and around Fredericton)

(2) MAJOR PITCH RAISE ($20 for a “pitch-raise or pitch-lowering” that exceeds 15 cents sharp or flat)

(3) REPAIRS ($30 an hour, plus the cost of parts, plus travel time (charged as to how far outside of Fredericton I have to drive to get to your piano))

(4) ESTIMATE of repair & tuning cost ($60 flat rate BUT if you choose me, I return $20 to you as a gift for choosing me)

(5) REGULATION ($30 travel time and $30 an hour to do the work plus parts)

(6) INSTALLATION OF HUMIDITY SYSTEMS (Depending on the system, for instance, for a Vertical ($670) or a Grand ($700…depending on current price of Dampp-Chasher System))

(7) ADVICE and APPRAISALS (Free (over the phone) but I charge $60 if a visit to the piano is necessary)

(8) VOICING ($30 travel time and $30 an hour to do the work)

(9) LOOSE TUNING PINS ($375 price includes the cost of glue and a new tuning see below) ***same price for vertical and grand pianos.

(10) PIANO CLEANING ($30 travel time and $30 an hour to do the work)

——See matching number below in “Services & Prices” for details——*************************************************************

SERVICES & PRICES (detailed explanation)

(1) PIANO TUNING ($120 in and around Fredericton with a light charge for gas the farther outside of Fredericton that I need to travel)

-This $120 charge has some free items in it such as (1) I oil all the Upper Bearing Points and Felts (within reason) to prevent bonding (2) I check and adjust the Damper Pedals (within reason) and (3) I check and tighten (if needed) your piano bench legs (again within reason).

-Piano tuning is the process of adjusting the sound intervals we hear as “in tune.” I tune the A above middle C to 440 Hz.(cycles per second). This is referred to as “concert pitch” or “standard pitch”. If I need to deviate from this standard, I will explain. I tune with the aid of a computer program designed specifically for pianos. I believe the computer to be an advantageous tool. I also use an app on my cell phone, and my ears but mainly I use the computer program.

(2) MAJOR PITCH RAISE ($15 for a “pitch-raise” or “pitch-lowering” that exceeds 15 cents)

-A deviation of this sort is generally caused by the instrument having been neglected or exposed to severe swings in relative humidity. Regular tuning and a stable environment will help a piano “stay in tune.” The computer program I use is extremely helpful in achieving the most stable tuning possible. Piano manufacturers generally recommend four tunings the first year of a piano's life and twice a year thereafter.

(3) REPAIRS ($30 travel time and $30 per hour to do the work plus parts)

-This charge is for the time spent for repairs only. The price of any parts is additional.

-I can repair squeaks, clicks and buzzes. If one of the 9000 parts of your piano is broken or malfunctioning, I can repair or replace it. If there is a repair I cannot get to the bottom of, I will find the answer by consulting my colleagues on line.

(4) ESTIMATES ($60 flat rate)

-I charge a service fee of $60 for a visit to your piano if you require a quote price which includes tuning plus repairs. IF after a few days you decide to hire me to tune and repair your piano at the quote I have previously supplied THEN I will return to you (by deducting from the invoice) $20 as a reward for hiring me as your technician for the job. 

(5) REGULATION ($30 travel time and $30 an hour to do the work plus parts)

-Quite frequently, if it is just a few alignment issues etc., I will not charge for these at all.

-“Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical aspects of the piano 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.”

(6) INSTALLATION OF HUMIDITY SYSTEMS (Between $650 - $700 depends on the cost of the System at the time)

-I am a field representative for Dampp Chaser Systems and can install a system on your grand or upright piano that is designed to keep the relative humidity of the air within your piano at the ideal level of 42%. This protects your instrument from wide humidity swings and makes your tuning’s stable.

(7) ADVICE and APPRAISALS (“FREE” over the phone, etc. but I charge $60 if a visit to the piano is necessary)

-I can help you find information to help you with the purchase of a new or used piano. I can accompany you to look at a piano and give you a technician’s opinion of its condition and needs. If you are unavailable, I can look at a piano and report back to you.

-I am qualified to give you my opinion of the value of your instrument. Whether you’re looking for an insurance value, replacement value or resale value, I can provide the information you need.

(8) VOICING ($30 travel time and $30 an hour to do the work plus parts)

-Voicing is the adjustment of a piano’s tone or quality of sound. Tone can be changed without affecting the pitch. A very “bright” piano can be mellowed and vice versa. Other tonal qualities can be adjusted. The degree of change possible depends upon the piano’s design and condition.

(9) LOOSE TUNING PINS (I recommend Piano-Tilting ((on a vertical pianos)) if the tuning pins cannot be stabilized by any other means—see below—for $375 which includes the price the glue and a new tuning***same price for grand pianos whereby I need to remove the “action”.)

-When your tuning pins are loose they will not hold the tremendous pressure of the strings as they are placed in tune. Therefore, one of the solutions for this is to put the piano on its back via a piano tilter (see my “Images” section) and then glue all the pins (220 of them usually). What this does is wick the pin to the pin-block hence giving valuable grip back to the tuning pin itself. I believe this is a fair price at $375 which includes a fresh tuning before the job is complete and the price of the glue. What satisfaction to have your piano stay in tune again for a much longer period of time.

(10) (PIANO CLEANING) Please note that it is IMPOSSIBLE to make a piano look like it did when it came out of the factory where it was originally made. Therefore, please understand I will not be polishing the exterior. However, I will attempt to clean and improve every major place on your piano that obstructs operative parts from performing their proper function plus I will eliminate as much dust and crude as I can. For instance, on a vertical piano I remove all the keys and vacuum the usual accumulation of fur-balls and well, you would not believe the dust and dirt (and “things”) hidden there. That is just one example of the type of cleaning I will do to your piano and there are many other hidden places that inhibit function that I will attempt to extinguish.

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Frequently Asked Questions (more in-depth answers)

How much does it cost to tune my piano? 

    My charge for tuning your piano will be $120 if you live in and around Fredericton. The price increases proportionately depending on how far you live out of the city. I throw in free of charge simple but helpful fixes like adjusting the dampers and pedals and I will check the piano bench for loose legs and tighten them if needed (this is free as long as no repairs are needed), etc.

  If your piano has not been tuned and maintained regularly (at least once every 12 months) then it might require a “major pitch raise” (or pitch lowering). This applies to any piano that is 15 cents flat or lower (sharp or higher also).

I charge an additional $15 to the price of the tuning for a “major pitch raise”. I charge extra for a major pitch raise because of the complexity of the process. A major pitch raise requires me to go through the piano up to three times before “fine-tuning”.

Any additional regulation adjustments or repairs and parts have a separate charge.

I will tune your piano to Standard “Concert” Pitch which is A440 unless I deem the strings are too rusty or fatigued. In such cases I will explain how to prevent string breakage by tuning below standard pitch. I will only proceed with your consent.

How much do you charge for a sticky key?

    I charge $30 per hour plus parts for general repairs on your piano. The good news is that I can get a lot done in an hour or less, depending on the situation, of course. Most sticky keys just need properly placed CLP which is a special cleaner and lubricant, and the key is as good as new.

If the flange pin needs replacement, then I would charge a little more. When I tune your piano, I do not charge for minor adjustments and simple repairs (and I make many of them spontaneously when going through all the keys) unless I have to remove the “piano action” to repair it.

As I tune your piano key-by-key, bringing it up to pitch I will find and free any sticky or sluggish keys on the spot.

What if I have broken strings on my piano?

    Most often, depending where the string breaks, I will be able to "splice" the string first. I charge $40 per string for splicing. I can replace any string but some strings need to be specially made (I’m talking about Bass Strings) and therefore I would need to order them from a supplier. The cost is generally in the vicinity of $60-70 installed. For regular steel strings (not Bass Strings) the charge is $50 per string installed as I supply the string and install it also.

I have been told that I need new strings on my piano. How much does that cost?

    When restringing a piano there are two things to consider: 

    -First question: "Is the piano worth it?" If it is a high quality piano, it is worth the expense.  If the piano has sentimental value, then you have to consider whether it is worth the expense. For instance, if the piano is an heirloom and is likely to be passed to other members of the family.
  
    -Second question: "Does it need both treble and bass strings to be replaced or does it just need the bass strings to be replaced?"  Bass strings become dead from temperature and humidity changes. They also collect dust in the windings. If your bass section strings have the sound of a dull thud (in the field we call this a “tubby” sound), more than likely the bass section needs to be replaced.  

    I recommend that the piano be completely restrung, both treble and bass strings. This will give a more beautiful sound to the piano.  The tuning pins are typically replaced at the time of restringing. The cost of a complete restringing on a piano will require a quote per project.

What if I have broken hammers.  How can they be replaced?

    If a hammer breaks on your piano, save it as I will almost always use it again on your piano. It is best to place it somewhere inside the piano, as it will easily become lost, or you will forget where you put it.  
    
    I can usually repair the broken hammer in your home, but if not I will take the action out and bring it to my workshop and repair it.  Before I take the action out I will inform you as to the expense of repairing the action.

    If all the hammers need to be replaced, the cost will be quoted per project. It usually takes several weeks to replace hammers as each hammer is taken out of the action and is handled separately.

I have several Ivories missing and considering the ban on ivory, what can I do?

    I carry a supply of old ivories (and simulated plastic ivories) taken off old pianos that have been destroyed.  Most of the time I can match the coloring or aging of the ivory. I install and charge $10 a key top.

Is it possible to replace all the keytops on my piano?

    Yes, it is possible to replace the keytops on your piano. The new keytops are made of plastic, however, new keytops will greatly improve the look of your old piano. I will give you a quote as to the cost per project.

The last time my piano was tuned I was told that the tuning pins are loose. Is there anything that can be done for my piano?

There are several ways to tighten the tuning pins on your piano.

        1. I recommend “gluing” the pins in the upright position for vertical pianos. Although this is quite effective and is the method I use at first it is time consuming “if” there are a large amount of the 220 tuning pins that will not hold.

As a last effort I use a method (if possible) that involves laying the vertical piano on its back (similar procedure for a grand only they are already laying flat) and applying very thin but also very potent CA glue on every tuning pin.

This thin glue is gravity fed down the length of the pins where it hardens and causes the wood to swell around. This is the cheapest way to correct the issue of loose tuning pins. I charge $350 which “includes” the cost of the glue and a new tuning. Please note that by performing this procedure on your piano this means the tuning pins will have good resistance for many years to come. The piano should hold its tune for at least 12 months now as opposed to tuning it every 6 months or less without this procedure. The only thing that could prevent this is a malfunctioning “tuning block”.
       

2. Another very effective approach for the loose tuning pins especially if there is just one or perhaps a few tuning pins (not many) that will not hold is to take the string off the tuning pin at the loop and take the pin out. Next you swab the pin hole with CA glue and pound a new pin (or the same one) back in part way then screw it in the rest of the way. Re-attach the string and bring the string up to pitch.

3. Also and more commonly I will glue them one at a time or in other words “as I find they need it” with the piano in the upright position. After I apply the glue I “punch” the tuning pin in a few millimeters. This is very effective I find.
       

4. There is another way to tighten the pins. When the piano is restrung and new pins are installed whereby the technician can replace the pins with a larger diameter pin if need be.

Where is the  best place to put my piano in my home?

    It is preferable to place your piano on an inside wall. However, with modern houses that are well insulated, there should not be a problem placing the piano on an outside wall if no other wall is available.  

The piano should not be placed near any heat and A/C vents, or anywhere near moving air.  

    The piano should not be placed in a basement unless it has a dehumidifier or has a Piano Life Saver System installed in the piano.  If your piano needs a Piano Life Saver System, I can install the system you need after looking at the piano. I charge $650 to purchase and install this system in your piano ($700 for vertical piano and $775 for a grand….if a tuning is required). This is a savings 15% (actually $50 savings) if your piano needs to be tuned as well.

Here is a video that will demonstrate and educate you as to the benefits of installing the Piano Life Saver System:

How long does it take to tune my piano?

    It usually takes about 1-1/2 to 2 hours to tune a piano depending on the last time it was tuned, etc. If the piano needs minor repairs, the amount of time will increase. It will also take extra time if the piano's pitch is considerably lower than A-440. It takes extra time to do a pitch raise.

I hope this has been helpful.

Written by Duane Graves @ Duane's Piano Tuning & Technology