Frequently asked questions about pianos
How often should I tune my piano?
The standard recommendation is once a year. However, if you play the piano a lot or are in a home with a swamp cooler, you may want to have it tuned two or more times a year.
What is a pitch raise?
A pitch raise is a preliminary tuning to pull the pitch close to where the actual tuning will be, in order to obtain a stable tuning. Pianos that have not been tuned for several years or that have undergone temperature and humidity changes will likely need a pitch raise.
How long does a tuning generally take?
Anywhere from an hour to two hours. It depends on how out of tune the piano is and how the pins and strings respond to levering.
Do you charge extra to fix sticky keys?
There are dozens of causes for sticky keys. Some fixes are simple, require just a few minutes of work, for which we do not charge extra. If we need to charge extra to fix the keys because of the work involved, we let you know beforehand.
What do I use to clean the keys?
Mix one part ammonia with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray a clean rag and wipe off the keys. This works to clean both ivory and plastic keytops. Use a separate rag for black keys if they have been touched up with a marker and the black might smear on the white keytops (test beforehand).
What is a regulation?
A regulation is like a tune-up for your car; it is a series of adjustments to the mechanical components of the piano. The goal is to make the piano play as consistently and as efficiently as possible from key to key.
For more details, see the Repair and Regulation website page.
How far do you travel?
We service the entire Denver metropolitan area. We have customers as far away as Bailey, Boulder, Castle Rock, Byers, and even Breckenridge. We, however, try to schedule at least two customers on the same day when we travel to outlying areas.