REPAIR
Given that pianos contain roughly twelve thousand separate parts, it is unsurprising that repairs are needed from time to time. Although it is impossible to cover every conceivable repair here, some of the most common fixes are described below alongside a guide for their approximate cost.
Please Note: A minimum call-out fee of £50 applies for any appointment, so it may be more cost-effective to schedule smaller or non-urgent repairs alongside other work.
Click on the options below for more information
Broken Strings
£20 per string
Plain steel strings are generally straightforward to replace. Replacement wire of the correct gauge simply needs to be cut to length and made into a new string.
Allow half an hour per string change
£50 per string
Copper-wound strings come in two different types and should be replaced like-for-like to ensure the best final result.
Type 1: Standard Copper-Wound String
Traditional copper-wound strings are made to custom measurements for every different piano model. When one breaks, these measurements must be taken so that the string can be duplicated exactly by a string maker. Once the new string is delivered, a separate visit must be made for fitting.
Allow approximately two weeks for bespoke string delivery, plus fifteen minutes for fitting
Type 2: Hexacore String
In some more modern pianos, the bass section is strung using Hexacore strings. These strings can be trimmed to length just like plain strings, thanks to a hexagonal steel core which prevents the winding from slipping. I generally keep a full stock of all nineteen Hexacore gauges, and so in most cases I should be able to fit a replacement on the first visit.
Allow half an hour per string change
If a string has broken on your piano, please do not throw it away. To ensure the best possible replacement, the original string must be accurately measured. This is especially true for traditional copper-wound strings.
Additionally, please be aware that it can take several months for a new string to fully stretch and settle at the correct pitch. I generally recommend revisiting a newly changed string two or three times in the weeks after it is installed to pull it back into tune. I am happy to do this for a nominal fee of £5 per visit if I am nearby with other work. If not, I will do my best to arrange a cost-effective solution with you.
Broken Hammer-shanks
approximately £25 per shank
Hammer-shanks for upright pianos are cut to length from one of only a few common diameters. Although it is a fairly intricate job to remove the old shank and fit a new one accurately, the standard sizing of the part makes the process relatively simple.
Allow thirty minutes per shank replacement
approximately £50 per shank
Hammer-shanks for grand pianos come in a variety of different designs and so firstly, the correct replacement needs to be identified and sourced. Ideally, the replacement will be a good fit as it is, but some additional time may be required to alter it slightly to fit your piano. Added to this, the old hammer-head needs to be removed and the centre-pin will need replacing. All in all, this makes grand hammer-shank replacements more time-consuming and costly.
Allow a week for sourcing, plus forty-five minutes to an hour per shank replacement
Loose Tuning Pins
approximately £25 for whole piano
The least instrusive way to deal with loose tuning pins is simply to tap them slightly deeper into the pin block. This process is called pin setting and takes approximately half an hour to complete across the entire piano.
Please Note: This process can knock a piano fairly significantly out of tune, and so retuning will usually be required afterwards.
approximately £100 to £150 to treat the whole pin block
Where pin setting has not proven successful, treating the pin block chemically can be effective as a last resort. The process involves dropping Cyanoacrylate (an exceptionally thin liquid-adhesive) into each pin block hole; this then spreads into any cracks or loose areas, hopefully restoring tuning pin torque and stability.
Please Note: Cyanoacrylate and its fumes are known irritants, and so the working space should be well-ventilated during and after the process, and the piano should be left alone until curing is complete.
Other Issues
approximately £10 (a few odd parts) to £250+ (full set)
Replacing broken action parts is generally a very simple procedure, and when only one or two need changing it is fairly quick work. However, if more than half a dozen or so of the same part have started to break, then it is often worth replacing the full set. This generally requires at least a full day of work.
free with other work, £5 if I am nearby, potentially a call-out fee if not
Although dropped objects will rarely cause any harm inside a piano, it is not advisable to play the instrument until you can be sure. Even if the object has no noticeable effect on the sound or action of the instrument, there is a chance that it could be placing undue strain on internal parts, thereby causing damage once these parts are in motion.
If I am already visiting for a tuning or other work then there is no charge to remove lost objects. Similarly, if I am passing nearby then a nominal fee of £5 will suffice. Otherwise, although I am more than happy to help, a full call-out fee may be required for any urgent retrievals.
A variety of irritating symptoms may sometimes present themselves as a piano is played. Such issues include:
- Sticking or jamming keys
- Notes not sounding
- Notes not damping
- Notes not repeating
- Hammers double-striking strings
- Hammers blocking against strings
- Rattling, squeaking, buzzing or knocking noises
For the most part, these issues are very simple to fix. Unfortunately, they are very difficult to diagnose without seeing the piano as there are such a variety of potential causes. It could simply be that a small felt part has come unglued, or that some other part of the action is worn or misaligned. However, before I can be sure that the cause is not something more significant, I am hesitant to give any indication of what these problems might cost to fix. What I can say is that it is almost always most cost-effective for me to assess such issues while already visiting for a tuning or other larger job.
