As we head into the Holiday season with Thanksgiving upon us, our time will soon be spent with family and friends, places to be, shopping to be completed, and a full social calendar.  For many, this can cause a large amount of stress and in some cases; sadness for those who have lost loved ones or who feel lonely.  Studies have shown people who are taking piano lessons, or who play the piano consistently can weather the ups and downs of this time of year much better than those who don’t!

The positive benefits of playing an instrument such as the piano include relieving stress, and enhancing mental well-being. Depression, loneliness, anxiety and other emotional and mental issues can be directly affected by playing the piano. Studies have even shown that ongoing playing of the piano and other instruments can help to prevent future depression!

With that being said, make sure your piano is in tiptop shape with a tuning from Artisan Piano Services.  Depending on how often they are used, pianos generally need to be tuned 1-3 times each year to sound their best. Whether it has been a couple of months or 20 years since your piano was last tuned, give us a call to schedule an appointment with our expert piano tuners in the Seattle/Bellevue areas.  We offer a variety of piano tuning packages to suit your needs.  http://artisanpianos.com/piano-services/piano-tuning-services/tuning-packages/

This wonderful instrument can help you get through the stress that comes with the Holiday season.  The piano is also the perfect place to visit with friends and family and share your love of music with those you love.

You’ve decided to finally take the plunge and invest in your piano by having her restored to her original beauty. The best thing that you can do is to seek out a professional piano restorer — someone who has the judgment, knowledge, and proficiency to guide you when making such an expensive and important decision. We always recommend asking for referrals and opinions from friends and family when seeking out a Seattle piano restorer. Angie’s List, Yelp, Facebook and Google all have excellent review sections to help you research piano restorers in Seattle.

The key question you need to answer: when are major piano repairs appropriate?

When you are seeking out a professional, keep in mind a few important factors:

• The overall condition of the piano. Pianos that are subject to severe fire, flood, or moving damage may not be repairable, depending on the damage to the instrument.
• The quality, size, and type of the piano. In general, low-priced, smaller pianos of a poorer quality and design have limited potential. It might be a better option to buy a new piano of better quality and design.
• Does the cost of repairs exceed the price of replacement? This usually depends on the quality and size of the instrument. Smaller, lower-quality pianos may exceed the replacement price, but high-quality, large pianos may only cost half of the price to replace the instrument.
• Then there is the sentimental value of the piano to you and your family. If a piano has been in your family for generations, the value of the restoration can have a profound impact on you! Check out our video below of a piano restoration project we did in Portland. 

These guidelines on restoring your piano using a Seattle based piano restoration business should help you in trying to decide whether or not your piano is worth rebuilding or reconditioning. Again, ask for referrals from friends and family and read reviews online before making your decision on which piano restorer to use. Ultimately, this could help you save money in the long run, not needing to repair your piano again if it’s done well the first time.

A piano isn’t just a piece of the art of music, it is a masterpiece in itself. The machine is, to a great degree, complex and has a large number of moving parts. The piano is additionally one of only a handful of instruments out there that has stood the test of time. It has a gorgeous framework and a soundboard supporting string tension, all concealed by gorgeous finished cabinetry. The piano isn’t as delicate as different instruments, however it is subject to weakening over time. The felt wears, strings break, wooden structures weaken and split, and the exterior loses its finish. Given that a piano can mean a great deal to a family, these circumstances will lead the owner to question what to do next.  Their well-loved piano is in need of some TLC to bring it back to its original glory!

When discussuing how to restore a piano, our piano technicians at Artisan Piano Services usually refer to two terms: reconditioning and rebuilding.

Reconditioning Pianos in Seattle

Reconditioning a piano is a much less obtrusive service and is much easier than Rebuilding a piano.  Reconditioning includes cleaning, adjusting, repairing and replacing worn parts.  This service focuses on only the damaged or worn areas.

Rebuilding Pianos in Seattle

Reconditioning usually includes a complete disassemble of the piano — repairing parts that need to be repaired, including the replacement of any parts that show signs of being worn, damaged or deterioration.  Rebuilding focuses on the whole structure, including the soundboard, bridge, pinblock, and strings, and in addition the action, ivory keys, and case restoring. Rebuilding involves a complete facelift for the piano, totally converting it to its original state, or better!

Do you need to recondition or rebuild your piano?

Most pianos can go years without needing to be reconditioned or repaired, although the quality of the tone, touch, and outer appearance of the piano will continue to decline with age. This can be really agitating to someone trying to learn the piano, as the sound may not be at its best.  But ultimately, when regular maintenance that you perform on your piano (such as cleaning, regulating voicing, and tuning) can no longer provide a satisfactory performance, then it might be time for your piano to be reconditioned or rebuilt.

Now, whether your piano is in need of a little reconditioning or a total overhaul or rebuilding depends on its original quality, its surrounding climate, and its usage and performance requirements. One piano may need rebuilding after 20 years of use, but another may last over 50 years. Maybe the most important factor to some will be whether or not the piano has sentimental and personal value. If the instrument has historical value, this can be a key factor in deciding whether a piano should be rebuilt or repaired.  

If you are interested in learning more about Reconditioning Pianos in Seattle or Rebuilding Pianos in Seattle, please contact Artisan Piano Services in our Seattle office (425) 974-4100