Lorimer

$950 (Spinet)

This is a "full maintenance” service! For your piano, I will come to your home, remove the action and bring it back to my work shop. Here, I will fully lubricate and tighten all the moving parts of each key whippen (the “action” of each note). If there are any broken parts that can be easily repaired or replaced this will be done as part of the service, unless it is something more substantial (which I don’t anticipate as my notes indicate no noticeable broken parts). If I come across something I will contact you immediately to discuss it and get approval. The action on your particular piano indicates that this would be extremely beneficial as it would eliminate a lot of the “loose” feel to the action, and prevent many issues down the road resulting in the prevention of loose screws, tight pins, etc.

The biggest factor in why a piano sounds “old” is the condition of the hammers. The hammers are the part of the piano that comes into contact with the string and actually strikes it making sound. Over years and decades of playing, that felt gets compacted and tough, most noticeable by the grooves that appear where the strings touch the felt. This process involves going through each hammer, removing the visible grooving so that the surface of the felt is smooth again. Then, as determined by the felt after smoothing, a couple of different processes are applied to revitalize the felt, making it less compact at the surface. As long as there is still felt on the hammer, this usually makes a big difference in the tone of the piano, making it sound much more like it did when it was new!

Upon the return of the action, each key will be removed, and the area underneath vacuumed (there are always surprises under the keys!) and each key cleaned and returned to it’s original location. The serviced action is then reinstalled and each note is tested and any final adjustments needed are made. The function of each note is guaranteed for as long as I am tuning your piano and any notes that starts misbehaving will be readjusted for no cost at the next tuning (or for a nominal fee if an emergency!). The only exception would be if a part were to actually break. This process usually takes about 3-5 days to complete (but maybe longer to coodinate the travel distance) . I would need probably 2-4 hours in the home when the action is returned to do the key cleaning/lubrication as well as make any final adjustments.

$650

This only involves the action regulation as described above. No cleaning, no hammer or felt (besides felts that are a part of the primary action).

$750 (Spinet)

Action work will be done as described above, but will also include having the keys all removed and cleaned.

$500

This would be for ONLY working the voicing of the hammers as described in the Full Service tab.

This is such a unique instrument. It’s construction is something I have never seen quite like this. The process is the same, but the unusual manner in which this piano is built is fascinating! I’d love to work on it and you’d get my most careful work.

I actually have time in the next couple of weeks to do this, if you’d like to arrange to have it done! Let me know!