How Much Does it Cost to Restring a Piano?
Pianos are beautiful classical instruments used extensively in all types of music. Many people enjoy having pianos in their homes for recreational purposes and to practice for their personal and professional needs. So, how much does it cost to restring a piano? The cost ranges anywhere from $1000-$10,000 and $50 and up for a single string.
Cost Considerations of Restringing a Piano
There are instances where your piano may only need a single string to replace it rather than all of them. While not all services offer individual string replacement, it can certainly be worth the time and effort if you can find one that will. There is a significant price difference where this is concerned.
The thing to remember when it comes to cost is that the amount of materials is far less valuable than the labor to complete the task. Individuals who restring pianos are highly trained and must focus and use their skills to ensure the job is done correctly. However, some materials might be tuning pins and piano wire.
An individual string usually runs around $50 or less. However, a complete set of strings can cost over $400, depending on the brand and type. In most instances, the tuning pegs necessary to complete the task and tune the piano properly cost just under $20.
Factors That Determine Pricing
Perhaps the most significant factor for determining the price of the service call is the technician’s expertise. Those with the most experience and who deliver the highest quality results make the most. Another critical factor in calculating cost is your area or city.
People who live in large cities usually pay more because there is a significant need for piano restringing and tuning services. Of course, as mentioned, the number of strings and type of string contribute greatly to the final cost. However, the kind of piano you have will also play an essential part in the cost of the restringing.
Very high quality, antique, or collector pieces will cost much more because they require precision, expertise, and a keen ear to ensure they aren’t damaged and play precisely as intended.
How The Technician Restrings a Piano
There is a lot that goes into the process of restringing a piano. The technician must complete extensive prep work, including preparing the space and the piano and preparing tools and materials to begin the process. In order to get started, the expert will expose the piano string by lifting the back portion.
Once this step is accomplished, the piano is disassembled. The face, the keys, panels, action, and other components are taken apart from the main body. It’s much more expensive to complete these projects on very old antique pieces or top-of-the-line investment pieces played by top professionals. Great care must be taken to avoid any scratches or damage, which could drastically alter the piano’s value and affect its quality.
Loosening Slowly
The next part of the process involves loosening slowly over several turns. Considering the amount of tension on the strings, it’s a precarious and slow-moving process in most cases. The string mustn’t break or be cut when it’s tightened because it can create a dangerous situation for the technician and potentially damage the piano.
Once the pressure is released from the piano’s strings, they are cut. The technician then moves to the portion where they remove the old tuning pegs and install the new ones. The new pegs are usually larger than the previous set because the old ones are likely to wear out and have wider holes, which won’t allow the piano to create enough tension to get the right sound.
Add new strings
Once the pegs are installed, it’s time to add the new stings to the piano. This is the most complex and, oftentimes, a frustrating portion of the job. Keep in mind that piano wire or strings are made of steel and have a mind of their own. Moreover, they can be dangerous if great care isn’t taken during restringing.
These strings are also very thick, adding to the challenge. They require patience and strength to bend into place and can break when not handled with the greatest care. It takes years of practice, strength, and coordination to get them in place to finish up the process. Once the strings are in place, the technician must tighten the strings, put the piano back together, and then carefully tune the piano, so it sounds perfect.
How do You Know When to Call the Piano Technician?
Before you call the technician, try to determine what needs to be done to the piano to save on costs and ensure you get the most for your money. Sometimes the piano needs tuning or rejoicing. It may even need a form of regulating rather than a new string or new set of strings.
It’s also worth noting that a very worn piano may not be worth the cost of restringing and servicing. It’s up to you to carefully determine if you should do service to the instrument. You may be able to consult a music expert or professional in the industry to decide what it will cost before you have the services done.
In Closing
If you invest in a high-quality piano and want to keep it sounding great for a long time, you’ll want to find a top professional in your area who can accurately perform the services you need. Make sure to find someone with plenty of expertise and experience completing these jobs.
This is especially true if you have an investment piece, antique, or high-quality concert piano made by a leading company. It’s also essential to know which services you need and when, and they can likely tell you after the first service call. If you take care of your piano and use a quality technician, you can preserve it for decades to come and keep its value steady.
Take some time to determine who provides these services in your area and consider asking other piano owners who they choose to restring their instruments.
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