I would estimate that a string breaks during a tuning one time in every 100 pianos, usually only with older pianos, but occasionally on a newer one.Īs mentioned in the previous section, with a piano that is very flat, I recommend raising the pitch to the standard over several tunings. String breakage during a tuning isn't that common an event, but I mention it because it can be a point of misunderstanding: " This piano tuner just broke my string and is now charging me to fix it! ". There is an additional fee to splice or replace any broken strings, whether they were broken before I arrived, or break during the tuning. This can be due to rust (visible or hidden), a weak point on the string, or just the age of the strings. In this case, it is often still possible to tune the piano to itself, or in other words, to fine tune it without raising the pitch first, so that the piano is in tune when played by itself, but can't be played with other instruments.Īlthough I take every precaution to avoid string breakage during a tuning, strings do occasionally break. This is the case if there are rusty strings (which are more likely to break if brought up to the correct tension), or if there are problematic cracks in the soundboard or the bridges.
Occasionally I am called to tune a piano that can't be safely brought to the standard pitch, without major work being done first. In addition, since this will take more time than what a typical tuning takes, please let me know in advance when scheduling. In this case, I will need to do 2 or more rough tunings before fine tuning, so this is the one instance where the cost for tuning alone will be more than stated above. If it is important to have the piano at the standard pitch immediately, I can do that, though as mentioned, the risk of strings breaking is greater. Depending on how important it is to the owner to have the piano at the standard pitch, the next tunings can be done within a few months, or over the next few years. However, the piano won't be playable with other instruments, since it will be flat compared to them. At this point the piano will be perfectly in tune with itself, and can be played immediately without further tunings. In the event that the piano is so flat that it needs more than one tuning, I will raise the pitch as far as I feel is safe, and then fine tune the piano, all of which is included in the above quoted prices. In this situation, adding too much tension all at once to the strings creates a much higher risk of strings breaking, and it is even possible for the cast iron plate to break, though this is very rare. A piano typically becomes this flat from not having been tuned in many years. Occasionally I see a piano that is so far flat that, in my opinion, it should be brought to the standard pitch in stages. When getting quotes from piano tuners for the cost of tuning, it is a very good idea to ask for a similar clarification. I include this rough tuning or pitch adjustment in the prices quoted above, except in the special situations mentioned below. It all looks like tuning to the average person. This terminology can lead to some confusion, and even frustration, when a piano tuner quotes one price over the phone for tuning, but then charges more because the pitch needed to be adjusted. (For more detailed information on this please see Piano Tuning Information ). The pitch is the measurement of the overall tension level of the strings, which in turn determines how sharp or flat the piano is. Technically, this rough tuning is called raising the pitch, or a pitch adjustment. The reason the cost of a tuning varies is because sometimes a piano is so far out of tune that it must be rough tuned before it can be fine tuned. Within that hour time slot, I am on time at least 95% of the time, but if for some reason I am delayed, I make every attempt to call.įine tuning, rough tuning and pitch adjustments. This is because I never know exactly how much time the earlier tunings will take. For example, I'll schedule to arrive sometime between 1 pm and 2 pm, or 2:30 and 3:30, etc. Scheduling When scheduling, I typically give a 1 hour range of when I will arrive. I'm sorry, but I am not set up to take credit cards, or any of the online money payment systems like Paypal or echecks, etc. Personal or business checks, money orders and cash are the only types of payments I can accept.
There is a $20 mileage charge for all other areas. There is a $10-20 mileage charge for Huntingdon, Blair, and Cambria Counties and the rest of Centre County. There is no mileage charge for State College, Bellefonte, and eastern Clearfield County.
PIANO TUNER COSTS PLUS
I charge between $75 and $ 110 plus P ennsylv ania sales tax (or $79.50 to $116.60) to tune a piano, depending on how far out of tune the piano is. Tom DeFerrari Piano Tuning and Servicing: Cost and Scheduling
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