chords and boards piano tuning and repair

Piano Services

From a quick stop to remove a pencil in the action to a full tuning, voicing and regulation, Chords and Boards is there to do the job. High quality work with a personal touch and a reasonable price tag.

Tuning

Although the term "tuning" has come to refer to most work done on pianos, it specifically refers to adjusting the tension of the strings themselves to allow the piano to play in correct pitch in order to sound it's best. Piano strings will slip out of tune due to many factors; environment, use, age and quality, and regular service all affect the stability of a piano's tuning. Due to the wide swings in temperature and humidity found in our part of the country, the average piano should be tuned twice annually. Pianos in studios, churches, schools, or other institutions where the environment varies and the instruments are played daily may need more regular attention.

Repair and Other Services

Pianos may need a quick fix for a sticky key, a new string, a complete hammer re-facing, or just about anything in between. Minor repairs are usually completed in the customer's home in one visit. In some cases the repair is best done in the shop.

Other services we offer include:

  • Regulation of the action ensures a consistent key response throughout the entire range from the lowest A to the highest C. Do you have a few keys that have a sluggish response? Have a few notes that are double striking or feel fluttery? Regulation addresses these and other similar issues.
  • Voicing is the process of working directly with the hammers to maintain a consistent timbre throughout the instrument. There may be one or two notes that stick out, or the hammers may not have been touched in decades. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the re-awakening of your instrument.
  • Evaluation of a piano you may be considering purchasing. For a nominal fee I will perform a thorough inspection of the instrument and render my best impression of the condition of the instrument.
  • Cleaning your instrument. The inside of your piano accumulates just as much dust as the rest of your house, but in most cases I am the only one who ever sees the insides. For a minimal fee I will carefully vacuum the insides, clean the soundboard, removing the action for complete area cleaning is included in most cases.