PIANOFINDERSOUTHWALES
Nigel Morton's Guide to Buying a Used Piano

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PIANO SERVICES

TUNING.

My basic Tuning Fee is now £65.00.(small excess mileage charge applicable if outside the Cardiff, Barry, Penarth area) .The instrument will be tuned to A.440Hz (provided the required pitch move is less than 10 cents), the pedals adjusted and any essential regulation carried out.

PITCH RAISING

An operation involving tuning the instrument twice is the preferred, and certainly the most cost-effective option for getting a piano up to A.440 and in a stable condition. There is no limit to how far the pitch can be raised, I often raise the pitch of old pianos by as much as 3 notes [300 cents]. The two tunings should be carried out as close together as possible because after the first one [tuned slightly above pitch to allow for it dropping] the intervals in the treble will be very "rough"! The cost of this operation is that of a double tuning plus any strings should you be unlucky enough to lose any!

SERVICING

I offer a complete maintenance service including Regulation: The precise adjustment of Touch, Repetition. Escapement & Blow - spacing of Hammers. Levers and Dampers and adjusting the exact point of Damper lift, in order to maximize the evenness efficiency and performance of the mechanism. Hammer Refacing &Voicing/Toning: The removal of the string cuts in the Hammer Felt and necessary reshaping together with needling the felt in such a way as to restore an evenness of tone throughout the compass and the dynamic range; and Valeting: Thorough cleaning out of action, keyboard. key-frame & carcass( including washing grand soundboards) often combined with cleaning & dry lubricating/reburnishing all points of contact within the action in order to reduce friction and remove squeaks.

REPAIRS

I can undertake any repair work necessary to Action, Keys, Strings, Tuning-pins, Bridges and Pedals "In Situe" or, where appropriate, have the workshop facilities to carry out restoration work to Actions & Keys.

VALUATIONS & INSPECTIONS

I am happy to provide written valuations for Insurance purposes (£25) or verbal ones for those thinking of selling (£20) {refundable if sold through website} Likewise , following the inspection of a potential purchase, I can provide a written report on condition inc. a price suggestion (£25) or a verbal summary & price suggestion (£20) - {refundable if Tuning/Repair work in excess of £75 follows}.

REPOLISHING

For casework repair enquiries, "in situe" French polishing or work on easily portable parts - I recommend Selwyn Bond [CONTACTS] or Mike O'Keefe [CONTACTS]. For complete casework jobs (shipping the piano to and from workshops) in traditional French Polish or Cellulose Spray finishes I would recommend Gren Elliot [CONTACTS] or Gardner Piano Specialists. [CONTACTS]

REMOVALS

For D I Y room to room Upright moves I can offer some basic advice & the loan of my piano trolley. For Upright Pianos only, in the Cardiff area , provided there are no flights of stairs my Budget recommendation is Graham Allen [CONTACTS] .A mid-priced specialist mover covering all of S. Wales and beyond is John Bennett [CONTACTS] . For a full price specialist with all the extras try Shiftas. [CONTACTS]