Discover Piano Tuning Facts & Fiction
In part two of this series, we reveal more facts about piano tuning and debunk the fiction that surrounds this important service.
Myth #6: You need to have a brand-new piano tuned right away.
Not necessarily. Many retailers and tuners will advise you to allow a new piano to acclimate itself to its new environment. After a week or two the wooden parts will adjust to the new airflow, temperature, and relative humidity level where it resides.
It’s at that point that piano tuning can adjust and stabilize everything. While one can tune a new piano immediately after moving it to a new environment, there is the possibility that its sound will change slightly over the first few weeks.
You do want a brand-new (or new to you) piano tuned sometime after it is delivered. Tuning can help with adjustments the move itself caused as some parts may have shifted slightly out of position. Not only will tuning help the instrument sound its best, but having a piano service technician examine it after delivery will establish everything is working properly, ensuring you have the best playing experience possible.
Myth #7: Piano tuning is a quick job.
For a professional with years of experience, tuning can be done in under an hour (or less). At A Kopp, we typically schedule two hours for tuning, even though we can complete most jobs around the one-hour mark. We allocate that extra hour for the unknown.
If a piano is seriously out of tune, it might require we perform a pitch raise and a tuning, or even a pitch raise and two fine tunings. Pitch raises or extra fine tunings only increase the time required to tune a piano.
These extended tuning jobs are very intensive due to the hyper-focused attention required for a longer period of time. They’re akin to showing up to run a 5K only to discover you will actually be doing a triathlon but for your ears and forearms.
Myth #8: Piano tuning is only about making the piano sound good.
Piano tuning is about keeping the piano in tune, but it is also about keeping the instrument in good condition and extending its life and value.
Owning a piano is very much like owning a car. A car will need regular maintenance and oil changes. As things start to degrade, keeping up with repairs will not only make it a better drive but will also extend its life because worn parts will not cause other problems.
Having a piano technician service your piano every six months will keep it in tune, but it will also allow for a professional to advise you on whether there is anything happening that an owner wouldn’t normally detect which could have an ill effect on its playability or long-term upkeep.
Myth #9: Tuning a piano actually hurts the piano.
Tuning a piano does not hurt a piano. The parts of a piano are designed to be skillfully manipulated and repaired. That means tuning pins are intended to be turned and strings have a certain amount of stretch built in.
Tuning pins should have a torque of between 180 and 220 psi. Anything below 180 and the pins will slip and shift on their own, meaning the piano will not stay in tune. Anything above 220 and it is so difficult to turn the tuning pins that the pin itself will break when attempting to adjust it.
Many piano manufacturers consider what service technicians might have to do to repair or regulate a piano. Not only do they design a piano to be tuned, but they also design a piano for ease of repair.
Myth #10: Tuning can fix an old or neglected piano.
Tuning is only one of many services that a piano service technician is qualified to perform. Tuning an old, neglected piano can bring a piano back in tune. However, an old, neglected piano may have many more issues affecting it. There could be repair issues due to the environment, accidents, or even rodent damage; the working mechanisms might be out of alignment; or the hammers’ wool felt could have hardened over time necessitating voicing work to improve the sound quality.
Another factor to consider is whether a piano is even worth resurrecting. Unfortunately, free pianos are never really free. They sometimes need to be moved which should only be done by a qualified professional piano mover. Not only are these professionals equipped to move a very heavy instrument, but they also know how to do so without damaging it.
Free pianos will need tuning and might need maintenance as well as regulation. If the instrument is lower quality or old and neglected, buying a new piano might prove a better investment than sinking a lot of money into the “free” one. Typically, people will spend a lot of money to resurrect an old piano if they have a sentimental attachment to it or if it is a high-quality instrument like a Steinway.
Some folks may consider rebuilding an old piano which can be done. The pin block, soundboard, and parts of the action can all be replaced, and the piano can be restrung and keys retopped. However, rebuilding a piano is an extremely expensive endeavor and not every piano technician does this kind of work or even wants to.
A piano rebuilder is a specialized professional who will not only address issues inside a piano but also outside (woodworking, cabinet repair, bench repair, etc.). As with free or old neglected pianos, the cost of rebuilding is usually not worth the piano itself unless it is an older, high-quality instrument.
Finally, there are some instances when a piano should not be rebuilt or repaired. Rodent infestation, fire damage, mold and mildew, extensive water damage, or catastrophic physical damage (like a tree falling on a house) may make a piano unrestorable. While it won’t hurt to have a technician provide you with their professional opinion, it may sadly just be time to say goodbye to your old piano.
Contact A Kopp Music to learn more, get a service estimate, or schedule a piano service appointment today.
10 Myths About Piano Tuning Debunked (Part 1)