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FAQ's

How Important Is It To Have Humidity Control For My Piano?

It is important to the majority of piano owners living in the United States.  Without being boring, the USA is in a temperate climate, meaning that there are 4 seasons, which translates to varying temperatures, and in many areas, varying humidity.

A piano, in order to function well, must maintain stability in humidity so the body of the piano doesn't fluctuate in shape (soundboard, bridges, pin block, body parts), and also metal parts (strings, plate, tuning pins, action pins, etc.) don't develop rust or stickiness on rotating parts. There are also the other parts to think of, i.e..-hammers, damper pads, leather, cloth, etc., that can be greatly affected by humidity changes.

It is suggested that anyone who values the investment they make in their piano have a Humidity Control System installed by a "certified piano technician".  Many people are handy with tools and electronics, but there are several factors involved in having an experienced pro install your system:

 1 - Warranty can be affected by a non-piano technician installation.  If the manufacturer knows that the system was not installed by a piano technician, they can void the warranty.

 2 - Placement of the system is critical for optimum performance in your piano.  There may be several places to install the system in larger pianos, but the brain parts have to placed correctly for proper humidity detection to be at optimum performance.

 3 - Warranty service must be performed by a "certified piano technician", otherwise, all warranties, implied or no implied, can be voided.

 4 - Maintenance is extremely important, especially for proper operation of your system.  Changing of "pads", cleaning of tank, heater bar, hose, and the use of the "conditioner" for the water are all paramount for proper operation.

Many times, the investment in a piano is FAR GREATER than the investment in the Humidity Control System.  Even if the HCS is 25-50 percent of the cost of the piano, it will protect the piano, and therefore, helps the value of the piano remain higher than without protection. 

NOTE: In certain instances, the HCS can also be of help for people with allergies to mold and mildew.  We have seen several old pianos where owners asked us to fix them so they are "playable".  The biggest problem to overcome in "old" pianos is to get by the dust and mildew caused by years of neglect and damp locations.  When pianos are kept in basements and garages, or rooms where they are subject to high humidity conditions, mold and mildew become quite common.  These conditions make the piano much more expensive to repair, as ALL the parts that contain felt MUST BE REPLACED with NEW PARTS, and the piano has to be cleaned thoroughly.  The labor alone in a project like this can add an additional $500. + to the total repair.

If you value your piano, don't let this happen to you.  Watch where you keep your piano, have it professionally serviced, and make sure the humidity levels are monitored carefully and consistently.

How Often Should My Piano Be Tuned?

Most manufacturers recommendations for new pianos are 4 tunings in the first year of its location, and a minimum of 2 tunings per year thereafter.

The reason for 4 tunings in the first year is primarily to "educate" the piano to stay at correct pitch, which, in turn, helps it to keep in tune. Thereafter, you need to have a tuning 1 time every 6 months OR more often if you so desire.

For those piano owners who also have player systems, it is highly recommended that a minimum of 3 tunings a year (1x every 4 months) be completed.  This will enable the piano to sound better when the player is in use.  Those pianos that are not tuned on a regular basis with players will not sound good when the player is used, especially systems with added functions, such as recorded music playing with the piano.

Another great reason for having your piano tuned on a scheduled basis (as mentioned above) is that the trained tuner/technician will be able to spot possible trouble in your instrument, let you know about it before it develops, and possibly save $$$$$'s on expensive repairs that can be prevented.

Lastly, a piano that is not in tune is really crying out for help. After all, a piano expresses feelings too!

Should my tuner/technician keep me on a regular schedule of tuning and maintenance, OR should I be the one responsible?

A tuner/technician who is truly interested in the welfare of your piano will have a system to follow up regularly with you to make sure your piano stays in shape.  It doesn't matter what method he/she uses, as long as you are given the chance to say "Yes or No".  What we believe a sincere tuner/technician will do is to make sure you do not forget about the care and maintenance of your piano. It is the job of the tuner/technician to make sure a schedule is adhered to as closely as possible for your pianos' TLC.

Personally, RGPT uses technology to help make business flow smoothly and efficiently.  We have a habit of keeping all customers on a 6 month tuning schedule UNLESS requested for a different schedule.  This way, you, the customer, do not have to think about scheduling piano care appointments - WE DO IT FOR YOU!

WHAT KIND OF PIANO SHOULD I BUY OR RENT?

The kind of piano you would like to obtain depends on several key factors:

1 - How much room do you have to put your piano in?

2 - How much $$$$'s do you plan to invest in the piano you would like?

3 - Are you looking for a basic instrument to learn (beginner), to enjoy playing for personal reasons, or are you looking for top quality sound as a professional musician?

4 - Are you looking for a specific brand name? Color? Style? (old, unique, "antique", modern, sleek, etc.)?

5 - Are you looking for extras, such as computer player, OR electric piano, or piano with rhythm section and other sounds?

6 - If you want to buy a high priced piano, are you willing to COMMIT TO A CONTINUOUS SCHEDULE OF PIANO CARE?

A lot to think about....there are more items to think about as well.  We can't cover all, but there are also individual items that are for each person to decide.

Good luck in selecting a piano for your enjoyment.  Feel free to contact us for ANY questions on obtaining a piano.  We will do our best to answer all questions as quickly as possible.

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