San Diego Piano Tuning – Pricing

Fine Tuning: $175

Tuning is the work of bringing the piano strings to standard pitch (A=440) and making any quick minor repairs. This involves adjusting over 220 tuning pins that hold around 30,000 pounds of tension.

Pitch Raise: $75

If considerable time has passed since the last tuning your piano may be too flat or sharp to fine tune effectively. A pitch raise is the initial step of overpulling the strings in order to bring them to the appropriate range before tuning. If this step is skipped a fine tuning will not hold for long as the amount of tension added will cause significant stretching.

Cleaning: $75

Pianos tend to gain a lot of dust and debris. During a tuning service a cleaning can be added. This includes wiping and vacuuming the sound board (under the strings), removing the action and all keys, vacuuming under all keys and action cavity, etc.

Partial Regulation: (case-by-case)

There are many steps to fully regulating a piano action (21 for uprights, 24 for grands). Each of these is time-consuming, specialized work that is done for each of the 88 keys. During a tuning I may recommend one of these steps that I assess would have the most positive benefit on the feel of the action with the lowest cost. This would be completed during the service appointment.

Full Regulation: (case-by-case)

Should you decide to have your piano action be the best feeling piano it can be, I can fully regulate it for you. This would involve me taking the piano action home to my shop with specialized tools to adjust every part of the action to make sure it is optimal.

Voicing: (case-by-case)

Voicing is the method of shaping and preparing the hammers to adjust the tone of the piano. Over time the felt begins to harden and grooves are formed where the strings are struck. This can produce an overly bright, harsh tone. I carefully file the hardened felt off and voice the hammer to your liking.

Travel: (case-by-case)

I will drive anywhere in San Diego County to meet your needs. No travel fee is charged for locations within 10 miles of my home in Chula Vista. Additional miles are charged $1 per mile. For example: if your piano is 37 miles away from me a fee of $27 will be added to the service appointment.

Theory/Improvisation Lesson: $50

If you would like me to stay for an additional 45 minutes for a lesson I would love to provide some guidance. As a well-established professional jazz/rock/blues/worship keyboardist and veteran music teacher of 20 years, I can effectively support you in your musical development.