• To remove and replace piano cabinet cover gently
• To tune with high precision and most stable strings setting on every piano
• To cater for every pianist tuning needs and request on key touch
• To apply correct tuning method
• To make tuning session educational/fun and affordable to all pianist/piano owner

How often should a piano be tuned?
Piano goes out of tune after some time, about half to 1 year, depending on the usage and the range of environment humidity it expose to. Strings also stretch after some time and the pitch will drop. Most of the time, unevenly. The result is a piano that's not too pleasing to listen to.
Recommended tuning interval is 8~12months.
I use standard equal temperament setting scheme with 20~30% stretch at treble end and -10% at bass end.

Service available for upright piano

• Tuning to A4-440 or to relative pitch (minimum pitch raise if string or piano is too old)
   
• Regulation : Adjust back check and let-off button to solve double strike trouble and to make all key touch even. Adjust damper system, ease sticky hammer and whippen bush, adjust capstan to eliminate "lost action" , lube key bush, adjust spring tension, adjust damper lift, align the hammer strike... etc
   
• Basic Voicing : If your piano tone is too "metallic", hash or lost it's ability to play softly, the contact point at where the hammer head hits the strings have become flatten. When the surface becomes flatten, tonal quality of piano become harsh instead of pleasing. Reshaping the hammer can bring back the fundamental spectrum of the tone. Performing needling on the hammer can make the tone more mellow.
   
• Repair : Worn-out hammer butt and catcher leather can be replaced. If the hammer action is tight, it can be made smooth again.
   
• 2nd Opinion : If you have found a 2nd hand piano and intends to buy it but is not sure if it is a good deal, why not give me a call. I can help you to check the piano mechanism and help you decide if it is in good condition before you commit your purchase.
   
• If you accidentally drop your mechanical metronome, the Tick and Tack sounds different speed, it can be align again to produce equal Tick-Tack ratio.

Tuning
Tuning A4(5th A from left) at 440Hz is standard pitch. Almost all modern pianos are design to be tuned at this tension. This A4 pitch may drop as time goes by. This is due to steel strings stretching or soundboard compression. When this reference pitch drop below 430Hz, the piano will sound strange, twangy and wow-wow like. But generally, if the piano is tuned regularly, at least once a year, the strings and soundboard will stabilize and hold its pitch better.

Time taken to tune a piano varies from 1.5 to 2.5hours. Tuning duration are shorter for pianos that are tuned regularly. Effort and steps will be taken to ensure stable tuning.

If a piano pitch has drop too much, it will need 2 tuning. First tuning is called "overpull". The entire note range may need to be tuned to 441Hz temporary. After this, some moderate key striking is done to equalize the string tension. Then a final fine tuning to 440Hz is done to ensure stability. The second final tuning can be done at another day too in order to achieve even better stability if pitch was very low before the overpull. It depends on the quality and the state of the piano component. Good condition strings and soundboard can usually take the pitch raise well. Good tuning pin setting combine with proper test blows will produce stable tuning. After tuning, I test the tuning with 3rds, 4th, 5th, 10th intervals for progressive beats. And I will function check all notes for any irregularities.

Don't worry if you are thinking of having an old-old out-of-tune piano tuned. I will inspect and assess the strings condition before tuning. If condition is OK, not too much rust or loose tuning pins, it can be tune.

Kasey Low

24May2009

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