MrTuner Logotype Top
BOOK CALL

Piano Services in San Diego County

Piano Tuning
Piano Repair
Action Regulation
Evaluation/Assessment
Dust & Humidity Control
Silent Systems
Does Your Piano Sound a Little Off?
A properly tuned piano is easier to play and can enhance your overall experience. It allows you to practice and perform with confidence.
Schedule Tuning
Sticky Keys? Strange Noises?
Your piano is a complex instrument with as many as 10,000 moving parts! Regular maintenance and tuning can help prevent major issues, but periodic repairs may still be necessary as the piano ages.
Schedule Repair
Is Your Piano Feeling Sluggish?
The action is the complex mechanism that connects the keys to the hammers. Proper regulation ensures that the piano is responsive, easy to play, and produces a consistent, high-quality sound.
Schedule Regulation
Time For An Expert?
An evaluation is an assessment that helps to identify any issues with your piano, assess its sound quality, and evaluate its mechanical and structural integrity. This is especially helpful when making purchasing decisions.
Schedule Evaluation
Are the Elements Getting to Your Piano?
Managing dust and humidity is essential for maintaining the condition of your piano. Ensuring that your piano is in the right environment can help preserve its tone, tuning stability, and mechanical functionality over time.
Learn More
Need Some Quiet Time to Practice?
When you don't have the house to yourself, finding the right time to enjoy your piano can be challenging. Having a Silent System installed on your piano can help.
Learn More
ALL SERVICES

Art & Technology in Harmony

Piano Tuner/Technician
Jeff Lehman
MrTuner owner Jeff Lehman has been providing North County piano owners with exceptional service since 1975. Thousands of musicians, schools and churches have benefitted from his full-time commitment to restore and maintain ALL clients' pianos to their maximum potential.

Reviews

Lauren T
Poway, CA
Mr. Tuner was very pleasant and did a great job tuning my piano. I hadn't tuned my piano for 15 years. He explained that it would need another tuning again to get it where it needs to be and then it will need regular tuning visits. He did a very nice job tuning my grand piano. I really liked how professional he was and he knew how to tune by ear!!!
Scott C
San Diego, CA
I was introduced to MrTuner, Jeff Lehman, through the piano store where I bought my new Yamaha Enspire . The Enspire is the latest in Yamaha's Disklaviere series, an internet enabled player-piano, so besides being a grand piano, there are some high tech electronic and even some mechanical features that I shy away from attempting to fix, and frankly didn't know if a piano tuner necessarily would have the skills to help me with some issues I found with how the piano sounded when it was playing itself. Oh, how wrong I was! Jeff figured out the issue in no time. It was impressive before, but he really took it to a different level that I wasn't expecting. My piano sounds so amazing now! Thank you MrTuner! Excellent job!
David P
Vista, CA
Mr. Tuner was amazing. Taught me a lot about my piano from being made in the 50's. work that was done prior by previous owner and why it was done. Found out had a better made piano due to the use of walnut. Showed me the inside workings and what all need to be done to get it in working order. What he did worked. The piano was tuned and will only get better with consistent tuning. I would highly recommend him for your piano tuning. He loves his job and loves you piano Just as much as you do.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my piano needs tuning?
Here are some signs your piano may be out of tune:

Is the piano sounding "off" or out of tune?

Do you notice that some notes sound higher or lower than expected?

Are there certain areas of the piano (like the middle or bass sections) that sound noticeably out of tune?

Has it been a long time since the last tuning?

Have you recently moved the piano?

If you hear dissonance when playing multiple notes at once (especially in the middle and upper octaves), the piano might be out of tune.

Schedule Tuning
Why do pianos go out of tune?
Some factors that cause your piano to go out of tune are:
  • Changes in Humidity (Wood Expansion and Contraction)
  • Temperature Fluctuations (Thermal Expansion and Contraction)
  • Usage and Playing
  • String Settling (New and Old)
  • Mechanical Factors and Wear
  • Piano Movement/Relocation
  • Environmental Factors
  • Age/Aging of the Piano
Schedule Tuning
How often does my piano need to be tuned?
General Recommendations

Every 6 months:  For most pianos, it is recommended to have them tuned at least twice a year—every 6 months. This is typically the standard for pianos in stable environments with moderate use.

Every 3-4 months:  If your piano is in a more active environment (e.g., a performance venue, music school, or if it’s used heavily), it may require tuning more frequently—every 3-4 months. This is especially true for pianos that experience frequent playing, especially in demanding conditions.

Once a year:  If the piano is rarely played or is in a relatively stable, controlled environment (e.g., in a home that isn't affected by significant temperature or humidity fluctuations), tuning once a year might be sufficient.

Schedule Tuning
Does my piano need tuning every time it's moved?
Yes, it’s generally a good idea to have your piano tuned after it’s been moved and here's why:
  • Changes in Pressure on Strings:  During transportation, the piano may be tilted, jostled, or exposed to different physical pressures. These can affect the tension of the piano strings, which are under significant force. Even small shifts in string tension can cause the piano to go out of tune.
  • Environmental Changes: A move often involves a change in the temperature and humidity of the room or location. For example, moving your piano from one building or climate zone to another can cause the wood and metal components to react to new environmental conditions. Temperature and humidity fluctuations can cause the piano’s soundboard, strings, and tuning pins to shift, which will affect the tuning.
  • Mechanical Adjustments: In addition to the strings being affected by physical changes, the action (the mechanical components that strike the strings) might also be disturbed during transport. This could result in minor misalignments or mechanical shifts that affect the piano's overall sound.
Schedule Tuning
Can my piano be adjusted for a "Lighter Touch?"
Yes, your piano can be adjusted for a lighter touch!

If you find the piano's action too heavy or difficult to play, MrTuner can make adjustments to lighten the feel of the keys. These adjustments are typically part of piano action regulation, which involves fine-tuning the mechanical components that control how the keys respond to your touch.

Schedule Regulation
Should I allow my children to pound on the piano?
Pounding on the keys is generally not a good practice. Why you should avoid allowing children to pound on a piano:

Potential Damage to the Piano:

  • Strain on the Action: Pounding on the piano keys can put unnecessary stress on the action (the parts that control the hammers that strike the strings). Repeated hard pressing can cause wear or misalignment of the action, leading to mechanical issues or tuning instability.
  • Damage to the Hammers: The hammers that strike the strings could also be damaged by excessive force. Over time, this could affect the quality of the sound and the overall performance of the piano.


Unhealthy Playing Habits:

  • Bad Technique: Encouraging children to pound on the piano can lead to poor playing technique. Good piano playing involves using proper finger placement, hand posture, and control over touch. Pounding can develop bad habits and cause strain or injury to the hands, wrists, and fingers over time.
  • Lack of Control: Playing the piano requires a level of control to produce different dynamics (soft and loud sounds) and express musical ideas. Pounding on the keys removes this subtlety, potentially stifling the development of musical expression.


Damage to the Soundboard and Strings:

  • While pianos are designed to withstand a lot of force, pounding can eventually affect the soundboard, strings, and other sensitive parts. Over time, this can lead to decreased sound quality and even permanent damage in extreme cases.


Noise and Disturbance:

  • Pounding on a piano can create a lot of unpleasant noise, and in a household, it could be disruptive to others. It may also deter children from exploring the piano further if the environment becomes too chaotic or frustrating.

Contact Us
How do I protect my piano if I live near the beach?
Here are several steps you can take to protect your piano and ensure it stays in good condition:
Control Humidity Levels
  • Use a Dehumidifier: Coastal areas tend to have high humidity, which can affect your piano by causing the wood to swell, warp, or crack. Using a dehumidifier in the room where your piano is located can help keep the humidity at a stable level (ideally between 40% and 60%).
  • Piano Humidifier System: Consider installing a piano humidification system like the Dampp-Chaser system. These systems are designed specifically for pianos and regulate the humidity levels inside the instrument by keeping the wood stable and preventing warping or cracking.

Temperature Control
  • Avoid Extreme Temperature Fluctuations: Salt air is often accompanied by temperature fluctuations, which can cause the wood and metal parts of your piano to expand and contract. Avoid placing your piano near windows, air conditioning units, radiators, or heaters, as these can cause rapid temperature changes.

Protect from Salt Air
  • Seal the Room: Salt air can corrode the metal components inside your piano (such as the strings, tuning pins, and action parts). To help protect your piano from this, you can use weatherstripping or other methods to seal the room and minimize the amount of salt air getting inside.

Regular Maintenance and Tuning
  • Frequent Tuning: Pianos near the beach tend to go out of tune more quickly due to changes in humidity and temperature. Schedule regular tuning sessions (at least every 6 months, or more often if needed) with MrTuner.
  • Piano Maintenance: Have MrTuner perform periodic action regulation and voicing adjustments to ensure the piano remains in good playing condition. MrTuner may also inspect the piano for any signs of corrosion or damage due to salt air and humidity.

 
Learn More

Contact Us