Category Archives: Piano Tuning in Leeds

Weekend Piano Tuning now available

Diary, Piano Tuner Bradford, Piano Tuner Leeds, Piano Tuner's Availability, Piano Tuning in Leeds

Every piano tuner wants to be firing on all cylinders right now and fitting too many jobs in a single day can occasionally hinder this! For that reason I am now trying to spread my working hours across the week by adding a few weekend jobs to the list. If you’re looking for a piano tuner in the Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield areas, may I suggest a weekend booking? Depending on your schedule, it might be a quicker way to book my piano tuning services at short notice. Booking something a few weeks in advance can be helpful for me, but the customer is always right.

I will try to update my Leeds and Bradford piano tuning availability page as often as I can, but – on a personal note – I’m very rarely home at the moment. Outside of my long working hours, I’m usually visiting family or going for solitary walks in the countryside.

Roadmap out of lockdown and piano tuning (a topical posting)

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It would seem the lifting of the lockdown has not increased the number of enquiries just yet. I have clients who are waiting until after the lockdown before looking for a Leeds piano tuning. If you get in touch this week you can rest assured that you won’t be on a waiting list and you’ll have plenty of choice for the day of your piano tuning. Some piano tuners are slightly better with advertising and have probably fared better over the last thirteen months (I had time off work also). I eagerly await your enquiries!

More Leeds piano tuning reminders

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I dislike doing admin but it’s necessary. I was out of work for much of last year. This has thrown my books off course. I’m sending out belated reminders for all my previous piano tuning customers in Leeds and Bradford. If you haven’t received a reminder yet, I apologise – I’m getting there!

  • Richard, Leeds Piano Tuner.

Piano Tuning Dip

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It seems like next week will be very slow. It’s a good time to get in touch with me about a piano tuning in Leeds, Bradford or Wakefield (I work in all West Yorkshire). I’m piano tuning in Sheffield on March the 8th all day (regular customers), but other days I’ll be ready and willing.

My current rate is £50 for a piano tuning. If the piano is flat of concert pitch (more than 7 cents on average) an optional piano raising service is offered for another £20. It’s entirely dependent on what the pianist needs from the piano and the piano tuning. Concert pitch (A440) is the pitch standard at which modern music is played to, but there are lower, historical pitch standards that work better for pre-1930s pianos (A432, A435). I’m open and transparent about the options before each piano tuning is carried out.

Minor repairs and regulation can be performed on the day for no extra charge. More extensive repairs/restoration depends on the price of the parts and the amount of labour it entails. I didn’t become a piano tuner to make the maximum profit, I like to give people an excellent deal and to help people.

At present I do not have the workspace for restoration jobs involving the cabinet, such as polishing/refinishing and have not performed such tasks since my training (2011 – 2014). My forte is in the piano tuning and in repairing and regulating the mechanism and the keys, much more than the aesthetics (although I do have a complete piano cleaning kit). If you’re looking for a refinishing service, many of my customers have an stellar experiences with this company.

 

Still working safely in Leeds and Bradford under lockdown

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If you’re worried about the legality of booking a piano tuner during lockdown, don’t be. Tradespeople of all types are allowed to continue their work under the new rules. Please see the yorkshire post for more details. This link covers the health and safety guidelines that me and other piano tuners have been asked to follow throughout the pandemic. Common sense isn’t always so common! Sometimes it’s helpful to remind yourself of the best way to stay safe (I need the reminder myself from time to time).

Many happy returns from Piano Tuner Leeds

Piano advice, Piano maintenance, Piano regulation and repairs, Piano Tuner Bradford, Piano Tuner Leeds, Piano Tuning in Leeds

A happy new year to my cherished and valued customers (that’s all of you). A sincerest thank you to everyone who was kind enough to book my piano tuning services during the turbulent and rather frightening 2020. While I received some financial assistance via the self-employed grant, I only managed to keep above water due to people occasionally needing my piano tuning skills in Leeds and Bradford. One would think with people having more “leisure time”, pianos would be popular again, but that hasn’t been the case from what I’ve seen. Many children begin on digital pianos, which is no substitute for the real thing as far as I’m concerned. Call me old-fashioned, but if you are serious musician, nothing can compare to the touch of a well-regulated and finely tuned Schimmel or a Kawa acoustic piano. Digital pianos and keyboards have their uses (headphone practice and live performance), but an acoustic piano should be the mainstay of your piano playing.

Now I’m just sounding old and cranky. Enough of that. Let’s keep positive and hope 2021 is a much better year for all of us.

Updated Leeds Piano Tuner’s Availability Page. See you in 2021

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Keep your eyes on the Piano Tuner’s Availability page for my early 2021 piano tuning services. I’ve listed some hours for the first week in the hopes they’ll be snapped up quickly. If a later week is better suited than please get in touch. You’ll most enjoy the sound of your piano once it’s tuned.

Piano with remove the front cover in the process of adjustment

Thank you for your enquiries

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A big thank you to anyone who has enquired about a piano tuning during these turbulent times. We all need to support local businesses right now.

My workload has been cut in half since March of this year. Mercifully, I have earned enough money this week to order new stock (various oils, powders, glues, assorted piano parts) so I’m looking forward to using these next week.

Let’s all keep supporting local businesses and local tradespeople.

  • – Richard, Piano Tuner Leeds.

Pianos for sale?

Piano advertisement, Piano advice, Piano Tuner Bradford, Piano Tuning in Leeds

In a desperate attempt to garner traffic to this moribund page (an overhaul is imminent), I’ve decided to start posting advertisements herein. If you have a piano for sale in Yorkshire and can prove it’s an overstrung or under-damped piano (pictures of the mechanism and the strings would be sufficient), in reasonable condition and built after 1950* I would consider making a post for you. Sending me an email at richard@pianotunersheffield.co.uk is your best bet.

If you’d like me to evaluate your piano, I charge £25. Evaluation involves me looking over the case, the mechanism, the strings, the soundboard and the bridges to assess their condition. I also check the relative pitch of the piano to see what sort of future piano tuning would be required, and whether it is capable of a pitch raise. Finally, I give you a price that is both reasonable and competitive.

 

* Pianos made before that may be considered, although it would have to be a reputable brand (Steinway, Bechstein, Bluthner), in good condition and being offered at a sensible price. My inclination is to dissuade clients from purchasing older pianos even if they’re a high-end model, as the tone and feel is not worth paying £500+ for. Some piano tuners disagree with me, and if you have a Bechstein from 1880 that plays well and you enjoy, more power to you.

– Richard, Piano Tuner Leeds.

Covid-19 Precautions

Piano Tuner Bradford, Piano Tuner Leeds, Piano Tuning in Leeds, Update

The Leeds piano tuner is still taking on clients. Although it is difficult to maintain a steady workflow during the pandemic, he will still be working one or two days a week. Staying safe is a top priority right now and at the first sign of symptoms he will cancel all bookings and self-isolate. If you are booking a piano tuning,  he kindly asks the following from you:

 

  • Please maintain social distancing during the booking
  • Please allow the Leeds piano tuner to wash his hands before and after the tuning.
  • Wiping the keys with a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth would also be appreciated

Please be aware you may have to wait at least 6 – 7 days for your piano tuning booking as he tends to only work on Thursdays and Fridays at present (until his workflow returns to normal). He looks forward to hearing from you.

 

– Piano Tuner Leeds