Christopher P. Smith, Piano Technician - Services

Christopher P. Smith, Piano Technician - Tuning, Repair, Regulation, Voicing & Restoration 717-817-7810

Services Offered

Piano Tuning

Pitch raise/pitch correction
Piano repair
Voicing
Regulation
Humidity Control
Finish Repair and Restoration - Polyester and Lacquer (available "IN-HOME")
Appraisals
Instrument Selection
New Client Service and Piano Evaluations

Photos from the Road

*NEW*NEW*NEW* - "New Client Service" is recommended for all new clients, especially for those who have not had their piano tuned in a number of years or those who recently purchased a used piano. Over the years, pianos take on a large amount of dust, dirt, and foreign objects, most of which are not visible at first glance. Years of dust and dirt become very abrasive on moving parts and can develop into more severe, costly repairs. This service includes a standard tuning, a thorough inspection of the piano and interior cleaning. I would recommend to all new clients that I perform a pitch correction AND fine tuning, to ensure better tuning stability.

How often should your piano be tuned?:

This is by far, the most commonly asked question. My answer. . .it depends. Most piano manufacturers recommend between 2-4 tunings the first several years. Until your new piano is fully acclimated to your home's environment, strings stretched, and tuning pins set, your piano may need frequent tunings. As your piano ages and if the piano does not go through extreme climate changes (temperature and humidity), you should see the frequency of tunings decline. It is still recommended that you tune your piano twice a year in order to keep it under the proper string tension. Pianos are engineered to be under a certain amount of tension (18-20 tons) and extreme deviations from this specification can cause deterioration of the moving parts and the structural integrity of the instrument.

Frequency, duration, and intensity of playing are also factors which determine the need for tuning and service.

Tuning:

Piano tuning is the craft of making minute adjustments to the tension of each string in order to achieve a piano which has properly aligned intervals between its tones, resulting in harmonious tones.

Pitch Raise/Lowering (pitch correction):

Performing a pitch correction is the craft of making substantial adjustments to the tension of each string in order to achieve a piano which has properly aligned intervals between its tones.

If your piano has not been tuned in a number of years,there is a good chance your piano will need a pitch correction. Pitch correction will ensure the best chance of your piano handling the extreme change in string tension during this process; thus improving the chance of your piano holding its tune. A pitch correction consists of two or more tuning passes on your piano. The first tuning will be a rough tuning in which I over pull or lower the tension of the strings to that of the desired end result. By the time this tuning is complete, the strings will once again be flat/sharp. The second tuning I perform will be the fine tuning of the instrument.

Voicing:

The art of manipulating the tone of a piano. Some pianists prefer a "bright" tone and others prefer a "mellow" tone. Through careful manipulation of the hammers and proper action regulation, I am able to finely voice your instrument to your liking. Overtime, some pianos will develop an "unevenness" in its tone as the fibers in the hammers compact. Some notes will stand out more than others resulting in a noticeable variation in tone quality of the piano. Voicing will also correct this and result in a more even tone across the length of the keyboard.

Disklavier Training/Tech Support:

The Yamaha Disklavier is a truly remarkableentertainment center. Not only is it a world class piano, but it is also a remarkable reproducing piano with the latest in technology and features. I have years experience in sales and service of the award winning Yamaha Disklavier . Is your Disklavier too loud for your room? Did you know there are ways to correct this, including hardware and software updates. Call or email to schedule a consultation and see how you can get the most out of your Yamaha Disklavier.