Piano tuning and technical services.
Piano tuner covering Oxford and all Oxfordshire including. Kidlington, Witney, Banbury, Eynsham, Abingdon, Chipping Norton, etc. However, tunings outside Oxford or Oxfordshire can be specially arranged. For more information please refer to the "contact.me" section.
Maintenance of all styles by Martin Winter. A qualified professional piano tuner and technician. Member of the Piano Tuners Association, Based in Oxford providing:
Complete tuning service for residences, clubs, restaurants, recording studios, theatres, schools and the concerts stage.
- Tuning, voicing, regulation, repairs and refinishing at an expert level.
- Technical advice maintenance.
- Standby services available for concert or recording situations, at a set fee.
For more information regarding tuning, please refer to "Contact.me"
Past clients:
- Abingdon Music School
- Oxford University College
- Radio Head
- Sheldonian Theatre (Oxford)
- Magdalen College (Oxford)
- Apolo Theatre (Oxford)
- Channel Five
- London University
- American Metropolitan University (Oxford)
- St. Mary's University Church (Oxford)
- Jacqueline du Pre. JDP (Oxford)
- Brookes University (Oxford)
For piano tuning, these are some of the towns covered:
Holton, Waterperry, Waterstock, Tiddington, Woodperry, Noke, Horton-Cum-Studley, Elsfield, Woodeaton, Worminghall, Oackely, Ickford, Shabbington, Tiddington, Waterstock, Beringsfield, Dorchester, Apleford, Long Wittenham, Litle Wittenham,Dry Sandford, Steventon, Rowstock, Culham, Shippon, Lower Radley, Marcham, Grove, Tacley, Filchampstead, North Hinskey Village, Yanton, Cassington, Worton filchampstead, West end Sutton, Northmore, Eaton Stanton Harcourt Cuddesdon, Kennington, Littleworth, Denton, Garsington, Great Milton, Wheatley, Kidlington, Witney, Abingdon, Oxford.
About tuning:
The piano should be only tuned by a qualified tuner. Don't try tuning it yourself as inexperience may cause damages. Inexperience will produce unnecessary forces on the tuning pins on the strings and therefore on the metal frame as well as the hole instrument.
Piano tuning is a skill that is obtained after years of experience. The tuner, in order to maintain a high standard level, will need to carry out a good number of piano tunings per week. Tuners will always require a highly dedicated training.
How often should I tune my piano?
The majority of pianos require tuning every six months. A piano may occassionally need tuning three times a year. This isn't because pianos suddenly go out of tune. It is because they gradually do so. It's after about six months that it can be said the piano needs tuning.
Pitch Raising
When a piano varies from A-440; a tone correction is required to bring it back to standard.
If a piano has not been attended for an extended period by the tuner, its tone may have dropped far below A-440. This indicates that each of its 220 strings (approx.) need to be tightened considerably, exerting a great tension to the structure. The extra load on each string causes the tone of previously adjusted strings to change.
It is impossible to make a substantial change in pitch and end up with a fine accurate tuning in a step. Instead, a process called "pitch rising" must first be applied, in which all strings are raised to their correct average tension levels. Likewise, when the tone is higher than standard, a lowering procedure must be performed in order to reduce string tensions to approximate correct levels. Only then can it be accurately tuned by the tuner.
Voicing
After the tuner finished tuning, the piano can then be voiced.
Every piano has its own unique tone. A piano might be described as bright, other as mellow; or might have a full singing sound, and another might resonate thin. Although the original design establishes the basic character of the tone, it can be modified and improved to suit your taste or restore its original character.
The process of modifying the tone is called voicing
The piano will benefit from voicing (toning) when:
- The piano sounds different than when you purchased it.
- You are not pleased with its sound even after it's been tuned.
- The piano has lost its ability to sound softly.
- Tone varies radically from note to note.
- You can't achieve a range from mellow to bright when playing at different volumes. (lost dynamic rage)
- When it is excessibly bright.
Humidity Control
Moisture control will reduce the radical pitch changes significantly.
Also, a stable setting helps preserve the piano over the years. Wooden parts, glue joints and metal parts will all last longer in dry rooms or places. The correct setting should be between 45% - 60% of relative humidity. The temperature should be between 18 - 23 °C.
An effective solution to humidity problems is moisture control systems. These systems consist of three parts. A humidifier for moisturizing the air, a dehumidifier for eliminating excess moisture, and a humidistat or control unit which senses the relative humidity of the air within the piano and activates the system to humidify or dry out the air as needed.
These systems are designed to maintain the relative humidity of the air within it at the ideal level. These systems are installed inside or near upright or grand pianos.
