SERVICES
Tuning
Repair
Regulation
Inspections and appraisals
Harpsichord Service
Humidity Control Systems
Rebuilding
Refinishing
Appraisals
For information about moving, including its effect on tuning, see the FAQ page.
I am always willing to explain to customers what I am doing to their pianos. You are welcome to watch me at work and to ask questions.
I am very qualified to do piano work. Please go to www.ptg.org to learn more about the qualifications of a Registered Piano Technician.
"I have been impressed with the musicality and stability of Loren's tunings. He is very reliable and trustworthy, and it is my pleasure to recommend him."
Ben Klinger, Manager, Classic Pianos - Bellevue
FEES
Tuning $150 Tacoma area
The fee is higher in other areas - please call for the fee in your location
Pitch Raise $50
Second piano, same location $90
Inspection $105
Regulation $75/hour
Repairs $75/ hour
Humidity Control System $220 Verticals
$265 Most Grands
Appraisal $170
Forms of payment: Check is preferred and cash is fine. For credit card transactions, there is a 3% fee.
Please read the rest of this section for a description of these services and things you can do to prepare for my visit that will make it go smoothly.
The above rates apply to the Tacoma metropolitan area, which includes Lakewood, Spanaway, Puyallup, Sumner, Federal Way, and Gig Harbor. For fees outside of this area, please contact me for a quote.
Occasionally, parts may break during tuning. Among the most common are strings and hammer shanks. This is not related to the process of tuning, and there is an additional fee for the repair.
When customers have family members or friends nearby who also need service, I am willing to tune additional pianos for a reduced fee.
TIPS FOR SERVICE VISITS
Scheduling: It normally takes me about an hour and 15 minutes to tune a piano. If I am raising the pitch first, it can take closer to two hours. Please note that these are approximate times. All pianos are different, and I would much rather do the best job I can instead of hurrying through. Unexpected repairs can also add time to a visit. Please allow +/- half an hour for my arrival due to traffic and other factors.
Noise: When I come to tune your piano, please keep in mind that I must listen very closely to what I am doing. I don't need silence, but a reasonably quiet environment. Please avoid activities such as vacuuming, washing dishes, conversation and other activities that produce similar sound levels in rooms adjacent to the piano. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc. can also make tuning difficult.
Access: When I service a piano, I always need to open it. Please remove photos, books, and other items from the top of the piano before I arrive. The piano does not normally need to be moved.
Tuning means adjusting the tension of the strings to put them at the proper pitch. The notes in an out-of-tune piano waver in an unpleasant way. When it is in tune, a piano has pure, pleasant-sounding unisons (single notes) and octaves.
When a piano is noticeably out of tune, tuning will definitely make it sound better, but it does not address everything. The condition of the hammers and strings determines the tone quality. If the tone of a piano is dull or too bright, shaping the hammers and voicing them can improve things. If there are clicks, squeaks, buzzes, or other unwanted sounds, additional repairs are needed.
A pitch raise is a first rough tuning, which is necessary when a piano has not been tuned for a long time and the pitch of the strings is well below the standard pitch. This is generally more than 10 years. Newer pianos tend to sink in pitch more quickly.
Regulation means adjusting the motion of the keys and action parts to give the pianist optimal control of dynamics, repetition, and other aspects of performance. It affects what is commonly called the piano's "touch."
An inspection is especially important when you are considering buying a used piano. I inspect the piano and highlight potential problems or indications of a quality instrument, and discuss your musical needs. Or you might own a piano already and are wondering whether it is worth having extensive repairs done on it as opposed to purchasing a new piano. Or you might be wondering whether it is worth the expense to ship a piano long distance.
An appraisal starts with an inspection as above. I then provide a letter describing the condition of the piano and an approximate value. The value is based on my judgment and does not assure that the piano will be sold for a particular price. The selling price can vary significantly due to how long the seller can keep the piano on the market, the preferences of local buyers, and so on. An appraisal can be shown to potential buyers if the piano is for sale, or it can be used for insurance purposes. An appraisal makes sense for a valuable, high-quality piano, almost always a grand.
Rebuilding means doing major repairs and replacement of parts. For the action, this would include replacing hammers, and felts such as key bushings that allow the smooth, quiet operation of the moving parts. For the structural components of the piano, this would include replacing the pinblock, the tuning pins and strings, repairing the bridges, and filing cracks in the soundboard, and sometimes installing a new soundboard. Rebuilding usually involves refinishing too. I rebuild actions but do not rebuild major structural components; I can refer you to a qualified rebuilder.
Purchasing a Piano: I enjoy helping people find the right piano for their needs. For no fee, you are welcome to call me with questions or to ask during a service visit. I am familiar with local stores and can give advice about looking for a piano through a private sale.
Moving Piano moving requires special equipment and trained workers. It should not be left to general movers. I can recommend several movers for the local area, the larger Puget Sound area, and nationwide. Please send me an email and I will reply with the list.
