Steve Jackson Pianos Ltd.
An Interview with Master Piano Technician Steve Jackson
No matter the cost, no matter the make, no matter the country of origin,
without fail, every new piano requires proper service and preparation
before delivery. In Toronto, there are maybe 2 or 3 dealers who do
this. Most deliver the piano from the warehouse, often in the crate,
and explain the piano tuner will take care of all of the issues. This
is the piano tuner who is paid a very low flat rate for tuning the
piano and is not paid at all for any preparation.
without fail, every new piano requires proper service and preparation
before delivery. In Toronto, there are maybe 2 or 3 dealers who do
this. Most deliver the piano from the warehouse, often in the crate,
and explain the piano tuner will take care of all of the issues. This
is the piano tuner who is paid a very low flat rate for tuning the
piano and is not paid at all for any preparation.
A new vertical piano, for instance should be dismantled and the action
removed. The strings should be tapped down on the strings to get the
best tone. All packing materials should be removed and all of the
screws tightened. The keys should then be checked for friction or too
much play and corrected, and then leveled and squared. In many
pianos, the hammers need to be filed so they will hit all 3 strings
squarely. The action should then be placed back in the piano, and all
of the regulation and adjustments should be checked and corrected.
The pedal work should then be adjusted, and the cabinet checked for
flaws. At that point, the piano should be tuned for the 1<SUP>st</SUP>
time. The technician can then smooth out the 'voicing' of the piano.
Just before delivery, the piano should be tuned again. On a grand,
the work is even more extensive.
removed. The strings should be tapped down on the strings to get the
best tone. All packing materials should be removed and all of the
screws tightened. The keys should then be checked for friction or too
much play and corrected, and then leveled and squared. In many
pianos, the hammers need to be filed so they will hit all 3 strings
squarely. The action should then be placed back in the piano, and all
of the regulation and adjustments should be checked and corrected.
The pedal work should then be adjusted, and the cabinet checked for
flaws. At that point, the piano should be tuned for the 1<SUP>st</SUP>
time. The technician can then smooth out the 'voicing' of the piano.
Just before delivery, the piano should be tuned again. On a grand,
the work is even more extensive.
At a minimum, it is at least 3 hours for an upright and a day for a
grand, but usually it can be much longer. It also entails the cost of
shipping the piano from the warehouse to the store. For an upright,
this means an extra $500 in costs or more, and for a grand, 2 to 4
times that cost. No wonder only a few dealers do this!
grand, but usually it can be much longer. It also entails the cost of
shipping the piano from the warehouse to the store. For an upright,
this means an extra $500 in costs or more, and for a grand, 2 to 4
times that cost. No wonder only a few dealers do this!
Why does it matter?
I have tuned 1000's of pianos of all types and all ages. The majority
of newer pianos I tune have not been setup. These pianos are
essentially dead in 20 years. The action wears prematurely as the
loose screws mean the action parts, after 100's of thousands of blows
are working not as designed, in a straight line, but with wobbling to
and fro. The hammers wear prematurely as they consistently strike the
strings on different angles making the felt go flat against the steel
strings. The pedals rarely work as designed, and the desiccant they
use to control moisture from shipping can decay the parts and prove
poisonous to kids and animals should they get their hands or paws on
it. Surprisingly, I see even the most expensive pianos that have
never been opened up and inspected with bags of desiccant and packing
bolts still in place.
of newer pianos I tune have not been setup. These pianos are
essentially dead in 20 years. The action wears prematurely as the
loose screws mean the action parts, after 100's of thousands of blows
are working not as designed, in a straight line, but with wobbling to
and fro. The hammers wear prematurely as they consistently strike the
strings on different angles making the felt go flat against the steel
strings. The pedals rarely work as designed, and the desiccant they
use to control moisture from shipping can decay the parts and prove
poisonous to kids and animals should they get their hands or paws on
it. Surprisingly, I see even the most expensive pianos that have
never been opened up and inspected with bags of desiccant and packing
bolts still in place.
The best thing is an educated customer. The list price of the piano
includes the dealer's cost for this, and some companies even pay the
dealer extra money for this that unfortunately goes into their
pocket, not your piano. Insist the work is done, and do not accept
delivery until the new piano has been inspected by you at the store,
or you know that the dealer does do this work. If you insist on that,
you may find the low low price will no longer be available, or the
dealer may refuse your request. Considering what pianos cost, do not
shortchange yourself.
includes the dealer's cost for this, and some companies even pay the
dealer extra money for this that unfortunately goes into their
pocket, not your piano. Insist the work is done, and do not accept
delivery until the new piano has been inspected by you at the store,
or you know that the dealer does do this work. If you insist on that,
you may find the low low price will no longer be available, or the
dealer may refuse your request. Considering what pianos cost, do not
shortchange yourself.
We, at Steve Jackson Pianos Ltd. do and have always fully prepped our
pianos before delivery. Your piano arrives in tune, regulated and
voiced.
pianos before delivery. Your piano arrives in tune, regulated and
voiced.