YES. Many piano tuners refuse to service older pianos (60yrs+) because of the effort required to achieve reasonable tuning stability and a quality end result. My personal philosophy is that regardless of a pianos age or condition, it deserves the opportunity to be playing as good as it can be rather than discarded as "not good enough". My 27 years of expertise means I'm happy to service the pianos that other tuners fear.

NO, the cost of a standard piano tuning service remains the same regardless of the pianos age, condition, or when it was last serviced. In situations where the piano requires extra work or restoration, I'm happy to provide further advice or a detailed quote during your initial tuning service.

Yes. If you have a piano with notes that seem slow or stuck, these keys can often be repaired (during a standard piano tuning service) at little or no cost. Although "sticky notes" can be a symptom of a serious underlying issue, most are related to moisture in the wood and can be easily addressed with mechanical adjustments.

The only way to accurately provide a quote for repairs or restoration, is to first schedule a "piano inspection". During this appointment I can thoroughly inspect the instrument and evaluate it's potential for restoration etc. If restoration or repair IS worthwhile, then the cost of this initial service would be included in the quote provided. If restoration is NOT worth considering, then you could either decide to have the piano tuned anyway (without extra work), OR do nothing, which would incur the standard inspection fee cost.

Most pianos require Tuning at least once every 6 to 12months... However here’s a few common conditions that cause a piano to go out of tune quicker or require more regular servicing. 1. Changes in temperature or rapid fluctuations caused by heating or cooling. 2. Lack of regular Piano Tuning or Maintenance. 3. Issues with the loose Tuning Pins, Cracked Bridges or a Split Soundboard. 4. A poor quality piano or a piano in poor condition. 5. Heavy or Intense Usage 6. Movement or transport It’s also important to note that there are certain environments in which a well tuned piano is more critical (e.g. Recording Studio) not to mention individuals with a desire for tuning perfection.

In some instances a piano may have certain “terminal issues” that would deem it “untunable”, which generally means it would no longer be able to stay in tune for any reasonable length of time. The most common issues that affect the tuning stability are things like; loose tuning pins, splits in the pin-block or bridges, various structural issues with aspects of the frame and/or soundboard. The other reason a piano may be “written off” is because the cost required to repair a piano to “basic working order” far outweighs the estimated worth of the instrument after it’s repairs. In other words, if it’s going to cost $1500 just to get a piano working and you’re still left with a piano that’s only worth $100 then this would be considered a write-off. This kind of assessment is not given lightly, but should your piano fall into this worst case scenario, we charge our minimum “call out fee” to cover our time & travel.

A standard piano tuning service normally takes up to an hour to complete.

The only way to receive an accurate piano restoration quote, is to first schedule an on-site inspection. During this appointment I can thoroughly inspect the instrument and evaluate it's potential for restoration. If restoration IS warranted, then the cost of this initial service would be included in the quote provided. If restoration is NOT worth considering, then you could either decide to have the piano tuned anyway (without extra work), OR do nothing, which would incur the standard inspection fee cost.

Cost Of Piano Restorations: Piano restorations can range from repairing minor mechanical issues through to complete rebuilds. Basic Repairs are often included in the price of a standard piano tuning but for more extensive work here’s a basic guide on price. Restoration Quotes are only provided after detailed inspections and comprehensive consultations are made with our Clients: Minor Mechanical Repairs: $0 – $550 Minor Body Repairs: $950 – $2,200 Larger Mechanical Repairs: $1,500 – $4,500 Major Restoration: $6,000 – $11,000 Major Restoration with Polishing: $11,000 – $15,500 Complete Rebuild inc. full Body Restoration: Uprights = $15,000+ Grands = $25,000+ (Please Note: For all Body Repairs & Polishing we outsource this work to specialists polishers)

#1. Is the Piano Structurally Sound? Ensuring the structural integrity of the piano is essential to a successful and worthwhile Restoration. The entire piano is built around several structures which are either very difficult to repair or impossible to effectively restore. Before considering Restoration We always inspect these areas of the piano which include the Frame, Soundboard, Pinblock, Bridges and Back Posts (Structural Beams). #2. Does this piano have any Sentimental Value? From a Piano Technicians point of view we need to consider the value this piano currently has in the eye of the beholder before evaluating the genuine worth of the piano to the general public. When there is a sentimental or emotional attachment to the instrument then the cost of any Restorations or Repairs may be viewed as insignificant. #3. Cost of restorations Vs. Pianos Market Value? The finical commitment involved in any Piano Restoration must be weighed up with other options such as selling the piano to invest in a piano upgrade or a piano already restored. Here’s a simple equation we use as a rule-of-thumb to help bring clarity. The estimated Market Value of the Piano after it’s Restored must be Equal or Greater than (The current Market Value + Cost of Restorations). #4. Will a restored Piano be suitable for the individual playing it? Finally it’s important to consider who will be playing the piano and what level of technicality will it need to support. Although a beautifully restored piano may look & sound great, not every piano is designed to be used at a professional level or for heavy usage.

Although sticky notes can be a symptom of a greater underlying issue, in many cases sticky notes are caused by friction throughout the mechanical workings of the piano or keyboard and can be easily addressed. If you have a piano with notes that seem stuck, these keys can often be repaired (during a standard piano tune) at little or no cost.

Mechanical issues can arise for various reasons due to worn, loose or broken parts. We provide competitive quotes on all kinds of repairs whether they be individual parts or entire sets of replacements. Some felts are easily repaired or rejuvenated while others may require a complete replacement. Book an On-Site Inspection Today!

String breakages are not a common occurrence but corroded/rusty strings can certainly make strings more susceptible to breakage. If a string in the middle or treble section of the piano needs replacing, this can be fitted during a standard tuning appointment for $40 to $100. Bass strings however are quite unique to each piano and need to be measured and made to order. Replacing a single bass string can cost up to $240.

Mechanical noises and vibrations throughout the piano are quite common especially for older instruments. Some of these “sounds” can be due to worn-out or “sloppy” action parts, loose screws, missing felts or even foreign objects that have fallen inside the piano. Regardless of wether these problems are a result of normal wear & tare or from poor maintenance, we can assess the pianos potential and advise the best course of action!

Pedal complaints are generally because a pedal’s either making a “strange sound” or “it’s not working at ALL”… With pedal problems, 95 times out 100 it usually just needs a simple 5min adjustment or repair which costs nothing during a standard piano service. The rare cases are where the entire pedal mechanism has either completely worn out or was just poorly engineered... in these situations pedals need a full restoration.

A clear value can only be ascertained by weighing up several key aspects of your piano… These things require inspection by an experienced Piano Professional with a keen eye and great ear. The best Piano tuner to evaluate your piano is one that is both independent from the local “Piano Retail Market” but also in touch with piano pricing locally and online. Contact us for advice!

NO. In order to provide unbiased advice to clients that may be looking to purchase, sell, or evaluate a piano, we’ve chosen to remain independent of the “sales” market. With this in mind, we’re always pleased to recommend reputable retailers but prefer to work closely with each client to provide for their individual piano needs. If you’re wondering what a piano is worth, we do provide an Evaluation service with a detailed inspection & report to give a clear idea on a pianos condition and value.

You can easily find out the cost of a pre-purchase inspection or valuation via our online quote form. Generally it's a little less than the cost of a piano tuning and you'll discover all the information needed to buy with confidence.

Yes, but there is no fixed formula that connects the age of your piano with a specific value. Several factors are considered when valuing the monetary worth of a second-hand piano including condition, quality, tone size, brand etc. A clear rule of thumb is simply that “older” does not equate to “more valuable”… Because unlike a piece of furniture, a piano is only valued on it’s instrument worth (how does it sound, respond and perform etc) and holds no “antique” value. For this reason it’s considered that generally speaking a newer piano would be in better condition and therefore play better and be worth more than it’s older equivalent.

Generally most piano manufacturers keep records of the year each piano was made based on its serial number. The best resource for researching your pianos age and potential value is with PianoCalculator.com

Often serial numbers are well hidden or difficult to read, and in some cases completely missing. Even if you find a serial number, many piano manufactures have little or no info available on when pianos were made. If you’d like to find out more about your piano, we recommend contacting your local Piano Tuner and schedule your next Piano Service. An experienced Piano Tuner can provide excellent insights on the pianos age based on various aspects; the type and style of mechanics used, the body shape and design, the condition of the instrument as well as inscriptions and markings found throughout the piano.