Welcome to Vic's Piano Tuning & Repair, serving Los Angeles County & Orange County California.

How do I know if my piano needs to be tuned?

• Has it been more than a year? (or 6 months if played frequently or with great fervor!) since the last piano tuning? Piano strings are under great tension. Over time, they contract or expand, depending on tempurature changes, how frequently the piano is played, and other factors. This causes the piano to sound out of tune. A piano tuning is required to re-adjust the piano strings, and restore optimal sound and performance.
• New Pianos. A new piano can take up to 3 years to "settle in," and should be tuned more frequently than more "mature" pianos.
• Old Pianos. There are approximately 2,000 moving parts in the average piano, grand or upright. I'm talking about the "action" inside the piano. So, besides the tuning, you might notice some keys that don't work as well as others. These problem keys can be fixed quite easily by a skilled technician.
• Has your piano been moved lately? Pianos are very sensitive instruments. When a piano is moved, subtle changes occur that cause the strings to go out of tune.

What should I look for in a piano tuner?

• Experience. An experienced piano tuner knows how to bring out the best in a piano in a way that best suits the pianist. And an experienced piano repair person knows how solve problems the first time out. I've been servicing pianos for 30 years, and have played professionally for 40 years. I've seen and heard it all before, literally.
• Knowledge & Skill. I've been fortunate to have worked for some very big piano stores in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. Having this background has given me the opportunity to work on hundreds of brands and models.
• Honesty. It would be nice to know if that sluggish key, squeak, or buzzing sound will require costly work on the piano's "action," or just tightening a screw, or a well placed drop of oil. I will advise you of all costs before any work is started.

How much does a piano tuning cost?

• Piano Tuning. (No hiding the price tag here!) I charge $100.00 for a piano tuning. Your piano will be tuned to standard pitch A440, and there is no extra charge for minor adjustments that don't take a lot of time.
• Pitch raise. When a piano is very flat in pitch or extremely out of tune, a quick tuning done before the final tuning may be necessary to bring up the tension of the strings. Both tunings are done on the same visit. I use a machine that will tell exactly where your piano stands. I charge $30 for a pitch raise.
• Repairs, regulating, voicing, refinishing, & key tops. Maybe you do not need a piano tuning, but need only a repair of some sort. The cost really depends on the nature of the repair, so please call to get an estimate.

What's next?

Call to schedule an appointment, get an estimate, or for any other piano related questions (e.g., buying or selling pianos). If I don't answer, I am probably tuning a piano, so I'll call you as soon as I'm finished.

You may also want to check out Piano Health Care tips!