TuningRepair.Com

 714-636-3122

 Piano tuner, movers, restorers 

Orange County &  Los Angeles

Welcome to Leo's

 Perfect

PIANO TOUCH

Quality touch far above the field

LIST OF PIANO TOUCH PROBLEMS

 

key echo  key stuck  key rings  key too soft  key too hard  pedal squeaks  key repeats too slowly   key repeats too quickly  key makes noisy sound  key goes down too shallow  key makes harsh metallic sound  key has no sound if played softly  key continues to ring after the key returns  key uneven touch from one note to the next

 

TOUCH REPAIR MENU

(Full Regulation)

Let Off Key dip Damper repair Reapply graphite Replace keybed felt Reshaping hammers Install new bridal tapes Replace defective parts Pedal repair and lubricate All parts are properly aligned Setting hammer blow distance All action screws are tightened Install new underkey punchings Keyboard height setting and leveling All parts recalibrated to factory specs. Lubricate parts that cause friction in movement    (Optional Services) Repinning the Action Centers for proper friction Do Steinway Permafree Teflon Action Centers Touchweight Evaluation Action Replacement         Upright Pianos - 3 days Grand Pianos  - 4 days

QUESTIONS ABOUT TOUCH REPAIR

(Regulation)

 

What is the technical name for touch repairs? Regulation.   Why have touch repairs? The purpose of TOUCH REPAIR is to make sure the piano plays evenly with the same touch weight.   Is Regulation necessary? Regulation is necessary for the good of the piano, just as an annual medical check up is good for the human body. As a conscientious piano owner, you probably have your piano tuned regularly by a qualified technician. You may, however, notice a deterioration of its performance despite regular tuning. It's important to note that tuning is only the adjustment of the system of strings and pins that determines the pitch of each string. Your piano also requires a periodic servicing called regulation, which attends to the mechanical parts which cause strings to sound when keys are played and affect the sound through use of the pedals. Using your car as an example, a car needs to have the oil changed every 3 months, the tires rotated every 5,000 miles, and the belts and hoses replaced every 3 or 4 years. Then it will need new spark plugs and a tune up, new brakes and shocks, and an alignment. If you keep your car until it has 100,000 miles or more, you probably need to have new gaskets and seals, a new water pump and alternator and have the transmission overhauled and so on. Some people have regular maintenance done to their cars to keep them in good shape, and others will drive their car into the ground and then buy a new one! It is the same with a piano.   How often should I regulate my piano? In order to prolong the life of the action and its optimal performance, most manufacturers recommend that the action be regulated at least once every two years.  Depending on the climate and use, the schedule may be more frequent.  This job should only be performed by highly-trained, qualified technicians because the quality and the life of the action depends on the precision of the regulation.   The piano action is affected not only by mechanical wear and tear, but also by the ever-changing temperature and humidity levels surrounding the piano.  In order to compensate for wear, compacting of cloth & felt, and changes in wooden parts due to humidity, periodic adjustments must be made.  Keeping the correct relationship between every part will prevent unnecessary wear, and will make the action "feel right" - that is, each key will function smoothly and evenly throughout the whole keyboard. No more sticking keys, uneven feel, notes that don't do what you want them to do, pedals that don't work properly, squeaks, clicks, rattles, buzzes and so on. Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical aspects of the pianos to compensate for the effects of wear, the compacting and settling of cloth, felt, and buckskin, as well as dimensional changes in wood and wool parts due to changes in humidity. The inner playing mechanism, called the "action" of a piano, is an amazingly complex and sensitive machine. Like any other machine, it needs to be kept in adjustment so that it works the way it was meant to work when it was built. Each key on your piano has over 25 points of adjustment which need to work together to produce the sound you hear when you play just one note!   A piano that is not working properly can be a real discouragement to the musician. A student practicing on an unregulated piano can become frustrated and give up in despair, thinking that they just can't play. A well regulated piano is a joy to play! Have your piano tuned and regulated today so that you can once again enjoy beautiful music in your home!   If I have my piano tuned regularly, why do I need to have it regulated? While tuning corrects the pitch of your piano, it is only one component of a complete maintenance program. Regulation attends to the touch and uniform responsiveness of your action, all vital to making each performance pleasurable. In addition, regulation ensures that your instrument is capable of producing a wide dynamic range -- a critical factor, particularly in pianissimo passages. Music is one of the most complex vehicles for expression. Its beauty is reliant upon personal dynamics and tempi. These changes require extremely fine adjustments to respond to the pianist's nuances and subtle shadings. 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.     Do all pianos need to be regulated? All upright and grand pianos need periodic regulation to perform their best. Frequency of regulation is dependent upon amount of use, exposure to climatic changes, and the instrument's quality, age and condition. New pianos may require regulation in their first year because settling and compacting of parts sometimes necessitates adjustment.     What are the signs that my piano needs regulation? If you instrument displays a lack of sensitivity or a decreased dynamic ranges, it's a candidate for regulation. If you notice that the keys are not level (some higher or lower than the rest), the touch is uneven or that the keys are sticking, the need for regulation is indicated. However, a sluggish action or deep grooves in the hammers indicate the need for reconditioning or repair. Ask your technicians to show you what needs adjustment on your piano. No amount of practice can compensate for a poorly maintained action. Poor legato touch, chord playing where all notes of the chord don't speak clearly, a gradual loss of subtlety in phrasing and an inability to execute quick passages or note repetitions evenly may be the fault of the piano -- not the player.     How often is regulation needed? Only you and your technician together should decide how frequently your piano needs regulation. Several factors can contribute to this. The intensity and number of hours your instrument is played, and climatic conditions are all determinants. A piano kept in relatively consistent conditions which are neither too wet nor dry, optimally at a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 42 percent relative humidity, will require less adjustment. The quality of the instrument itself also can affect frequency of regulation. Some manufacturers decrease costs by not going over the regulation and voicing processes in the factory as much as needed. Reputable retailers sometimes do the necessary regulation themselves prior to selling the pianos, but others do not. Also, performance instruments may require some regulation before each use, due to the higher demands placed on them.     Why is reconditioning or rebuilding of the mechanical systems sometimes necessary prior to regulation? Prior to regulation, your technician will assess the condition of your instrument. If it has badly worn parts or if there has been corrosion or moth damage, the piano may not be able to be properly regulated without some repair or replacement of parts. Reconditioning is the process of putting your piano back in good condition by cleaning, repairing, and adjusting your instrument for maximum performance with replacement parts only where specifically indicated. If you piano has deteriorated beyond simple reconditioning, it may need to be rebuilt. Rebuilding involves complete disassembly, inspection and repair as necessary with replacement of all worn or deteriorated parts. The piano is then reassembled, tested and adjusted to the same or similar tolerance and performance as when it was new. Your piano is a major investment which deserves to be protected through regular servicing by a qualified technician. Properly maintained, your piano will sound its best and give you and your family a lifetime of enjoyment.     What is involved in concert piano preparation? Heavy regulation and voicing work. To prepare a concert grand piano for the season or even for a single performance can take two or three days of intense work.  I  regulate the action for the fastest possible repetition and absolute evenness. The voicing is prepared over and over again, each session more carefully than the one before. When finished with a concert service, a good technician knows the sound of every wire in the instrument and the feel of every knuckle. The piano should sound better than it has ever sounded before, especially better than when it was new!   TOP

 

The Perfect Pitch Piano Tuner 

Leo 714-636-3122  

Piano Tuning & Repair

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"At home I'm relaxed. I may be in the yard talking to neighbors, or riding my bike, or fishing, making up the bed-and things just come to me. I'll hum a melody, and if it feels real good, I'll play it on the piano and put it on tape, and then develop it later. The music speaks words to me."

  pop jazz singer Anita Baker
 

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since April 2005