PIANO TUNER
BASED IN MASTERTON
SERVICING THE WAIRARAPA

I have been getting a buzz out of playing music since my school day’s, which is over 50 years.
My tuning career started tuning pipe organs in 1985, with the encouragement of a English piano & organ builder.
I have since completed courses in piano technology with:
Stott’s Correspondence College 27/01/1995
Randy Potter School of Piano Technology 31/01/2006
To supplement my experience, the International Piano Tuners Guild is supplying a endless supply of information from piano tuners all over the world.

My Pledge to you is to;
Act honorably and in a professional manner
Render the best possible service under the circumstances
Always keeping the best interests of you, (the client) in mind

Tuning
Piano tuning is the adjustment of the tuning pins so that all the strings are of the proper tension (pitch), to have the correct sounding musical intervals. Most manufacturers and the Piano Technicians Guild recommend tunings at least twice a year to keep the piano sounding good. Getting your piano tuned will make the most obvious sound improvement. If your piano has sat many years without a tuning, even one that's not being played, it will drift much further out of pitch than is healthy for the piano. If this is allowed to happen, it may take several tuning appointments to get the piano back to where it had been before the neglect. An out-of-tune piano can discourage even novice musicians. Keeping your piano in tune is one of the basic rules of piano care. You'll definitely discover the difference in playing an in-tune piano!

Repair
Minor repairs and adjustments can usually be made at your tuning appointment. Remember, regular maintenance can help prevent expensive repairs in the future. Minor repairs and adjustments may include:
Loose or missing keytops
Broken or sticking keys
Broken strings
Broken hammer shanks

Regulating
You may notice a deterioration of your piano's performance, despite regular tuning. It's important to realize that tuning is only the adjustment of the strings and pins that determines the pitch of each note. Your piano also needs a periodic servicing called regulation, which attends to the mechanical parts which cause strings to sound when keys are played. While tuning corrects the pitch of your piano, it is only one component of a complete maintenance program. Regulation attends to the touch and responsiveness of your action. A smooth, even response throughout the entire range of the keyboard and an extremely quick action capable of playing rapid passages and repeated notes evenly is essential. Outstanding response is essential for a pianist to create an outstanding performance. Your piano many benefit from regulating if:
Your piano displays a lack of sensitivity or decreased dynamic ranges
You notice that the keys are not level
The touch is uneven or keys are sticking

Voicing
One of your piano's most important assets is it's tone. Properly voiced, your piano can offer you a rich palette of musical expression, and inspire good practice habits. If the only service your piano has received is tuning, the sound can likely be improved by voicing. Your piano may benefit from voicing if:
Your piano sounds different than when you purchased it
You don't like the sound, even after it's been tuned
Tone varies radically from note to note
You cannot acheive a range of tone (mellow to bright) at different volumes
The piano has lost it's ability to play softly

Reconditioning
Reconditioning is the process of putting a piano back in good condition by cleaning, repairing and adjusting for best performance, with parts replacement only where it is necessary. Reconditioning may include the following:
Thorough cleaning
Repair or replacement of damaged parts as needed, typically including such jobs as felt replacement, hammer filing or replacement, and partial restringing
Adjustment, regulation, tuning, and voicing to return all parts to proper function, reduce mechanical noise, and improve tone

Humidity Control System Installations
Your piano is made primarily of wood, which is greatly affected by humidity. Changes in humidity cause wood parts to swell and shrink, affecting the tuning and touch. Eventually, wood will crack and glue joints will fail. This is only the beginning. An effective answer to humidity problems is to have a humidity control system installed in the piano itself. These systems are designed to maintain the relative humidity of the air within the piano at the ideal level of 42%. The components are installed out of sight, and are easy to maintain. While not eliminating the need for regular piano maintenance, humidity control will allow more stable tunings as well as help to preserve your piano investment through the years