Hey Jim...Can you tune anything? Can you Tuna Fish?

When people find out I tune pianos...and if they are over about 50 years old...they often ask if I can Tuna Fish? REO Speedwagon album back in the day. I owned that on vinyl along with about 100 other albums. But, alas I can't tuna fish and I can't always tune a piano.

Every once in awhile I arrive at a client's house and they are excited about the piano they just bought...or many times they got it for free! And I start working on it, clean it up and the moment of truth when I put my Cybertuner app on it to see where it is at. It's flat, which is almost always the case when I tune a piano. But, then I start at A0 and find out that the pins are very loose. In the worst case I have to tell the client that the piano is untunable. Sure, there are sometimes things we can do to tighten up the pins. It becomes the owners decision on how much money do they want to spend on a very old piano.

The piano is usually around a 100 years old and it is just worn out. Pianos are like people they wear out as they get older. It can be restored just like people when they get a new knee. But, it can cost $1000s of dollars to rehab an old piano. It might need a new pin block, new strings, maybe a soundboard, new keys and the action might need totally replaced. If it is a family heirloom and you have a lot of cash laying around, then by all means restore it. However, in most situations it just means you should get a newer piano.

Pianos do not get better with age. Even Steinways and Busendorfers wear out eventually and need restored. High end pianos can be worth spending the money to restore. Most older pianos need to be let go...or sometimes they make a great piece of furniture! A grand piano makes a statement even if it is unplayable.

If you need a newer piano, there are hundreds of pianos listed on Facebook Marketplace. But finding the jewel in the rough is not simple. Missouri Piano Tuning and Repair can help you find that jewel. We supply an Assessment service where we will work with you to find the best piano for your situation. We will go with you to look at a piano and check several things.

Is the Soundboard cracked? Are any of the ribs cracked or separated? Do all the keys work? Are any keys sticking? Do the pedals work correctly? Are the harp bolts tight? Have any of the strings been replaced? How old is the piano? Are the hammers and dampers aligned properly to the strings? Is there any rust on the strings, tuning pins or key pins? Has it been maintained? Is it full of dust, cobwebs, or in the worst case...mouse droppings? And how far out of tune is it?

And even if it is a "free piano"...well that is kind of like a free dog. There's no such thing. You will need to pay a few hundred to move it professionally and a couple hundred to tune it.

And, you will need to play it to see if you like the sound. We will give you our opinion on the piano...is it great? Needs some work? A lot of work? Or maybe it is not worth free. Be careful when Aunt Milly wants you to take her 1925 upright, it might not be tunable.

Contact Missouri Piano Tuning and Repair for all your piano questions and needs.