Services
pp = Pianissimo Option
Standard Tuning Package = Intended for pianos in mostly
playable condition that have been tuned regularly.
Includes: Basic inspection, light key and case polishing,
bench bolt tightening, minor adjustments to fix issues like a sticking key or
squeaking pedal, double pass tuning (rough pass/pitch raise; fine tuning),
minor voicing (volume/tone consistency) adjustments.
$200
p = piano option
Includes: Basic inspection, string cleaning, interior vacuuming, light key and case polishing, bench bolt tightening, lubrication of key pins, action screws tightened, minor repairs to fix issues like sticking keys/pedals or a single broken treble string, double pass tuning (rough pass/pitch raise; fine tuning), minor voicing (volume/tone consistency) adjustments.
$300
mp = Mezzo-Piano Option
Includes: All the cleaning, adjustments, and tuning of the Premium (p) Package, preceded by spinet-specific repairs (elbows, grommets, etc.) needed to get the piano acceptably functional.
$400 (May be additional parts charge if extensive parts replacement is required).
mf = mezzo-forte option
Repair Package = Customized service for making pianos playable and ready for continued standard (pp) maintenance.
Includes: Making significant repairs necessary to achieve functionality.
$ = Cost determined upon inspection.
f = Forte Option
Regulation Package = Optimizes playability through precision adjusting of the piano action mechanism for peak performance.
Includes: Full action regulation, plus everything included in the Premium Tuning (p) Package.
$600
ff = fortissimo option
Voicing Package = Designed for peak performance by enhancing tone and optimizing
playability.
Includes: Shaping or needling of all hammers, or use of other techniques to improve tone. Followed by full action regulation adjustments. Plus, everything included in the Premium Tuning (p) Package.
$800
F.A.Q.
How often should I have my piano tuned?
In most cases, a piano should be tuned a minimum of once a year, preferably every 6 months. This is especially true in New England, because the greatest enemy to your piano’s stability is the temperature and humidity changes that come with each season, causing the wooden and metal parts inside the piano to expand and contract, changing the tension, and thus, the pitch.
Of course, if your piano hasn’t been tuned or maintained in decades, it’s gotten used to being out of tune. When you finally have it tuned, it probably won’t stay in this new condition as long as a piano that has been regularly maintained would. So, you might need to have it tuned again in 3 to 6 months to help it stabilize, before you can go on to a 6-12 month routine maintenance schedule.
Another factor to consider is how often the piano is being played. A piano casually played a few times a week is more likely to stay in tune longer than one that is played intensely for 8 hours every day by students or professionals. On the other hand, a better quality instrument will generally hold its tune longer than a lower quality one.
Whether you are content with the bare minimum yearly schedule, want to go with the optimal 6 month schedule, or even if you are looking for a more frequent tuning schedule to meet your professional needs, Pianissimo is ready get you started on the road to regular maintenance.
What is Double Pass Tuning?
Concert pianos are generally tuned such that A = 440 Hz. Whether your piano is just a little bit off from this or far off, depends on several factors: when it was last tuned, how much the room’s humidity has fluctuated, how tight in the block your piano’s tuning pins are, etc. The piano soundboard is literally under tons of pressure from the strings. That means, if the piano is far off from A = 440 Hz, so much tension has been changed by the time the technician gets to the end of tuning all the strings, the ones at the beginning and middle are often slightly out of tune again. This necessitates that the piano is tuned all the way through a second time, a fine-tuning, if you will.
Many piano technicians will schedule a “standard tuning service”, making the assumption that your piano is close to A = 440 Hz. When they arrive to service your piano, they then make a judgment as to how far from A = 440 Hz it is, and whether or not they can do with tuning the strings only once or not. They will then charge you an extra 50% to 100% fee for a “pitch raise service”.
To make it simpler, more fair, and transparent, Pianissimo does a double pass tuning every time, without an extra fee. That means going through every single string on the piano twice instead of just once with hit-or-miss spot checking thereafter. It takes a little longer this way, but at Pianissimo, quality comes first.
What if I need a day or time other than what is available online?
What is your Referral Discount Program?
Pianissimo appreciates when you introduce others to our services. As a way of saying “Thank you,” we have a Referral Discount Program. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: As an existing Pianissimo client, tell someone you know about our great service, and that they should call Pianissimo at (401) 358-4084 or schedule service on our website.
Step 2: (Very important) When they call/schedule service, make sure they mention your name as having referred us to them.
Step 3: After the completion of the new client’s service appointment, the referral is considered successful. You will receive a $50 discount on your next service (valid for 1 year). If you are especially good at successfully referring new clients, you can use more than one discount at a time!