Every piano has its own individual potential depending on the age, make and model, condition, and quality of parts. To better see that potential, a piano must be regulated and tuned. Regualtion is a 36 step process of bringing the piano to the correct specifications. This hugely increases responsiveness, balance, and playability. Every piano, even at their highest potential, will differ from another, even if they are of the same model. Some will be heavier, lighter, brighter, darker, shallow feeling, etc. Some will hold tune better. Some will be more temperamental.
Pianos tend to fall out of regulation and tune as the wood is settling (if it is young), as it’s adjusting to a new environment, as the seasons change and the humidity levels go up and down, when the piano gets moved, and as the piano experiences play and parts get worn.
Some of the regulation steps include; bedding the action into the frame of the piano so it is sitting evenly; adjusting the hammer to string distance; aligning the hammer to the strings; regulating the pedals; the height and dip of the key; let off; check; and drop. These are just a few key factors in which result in better playing, where all notes can be touched so slightly yet still strike the strings in just the right spot, and providing the perfect amount of aftertouch.
Voicing in conjunction with regulation and tuning is also very helpful though not every piano will need it. Every hammer has a different shape and thickness of felt, and as it hits the string in a certain position, parts of the hammer get more impacted and form grooves. When the hammers experience this change in consistency, whether they are new or worn, some notes can piano sound out of tone with other notes; as in brighter, darker, bolder, or lacking body. The bass may sound tubby and loud, while the middle is muffled, or vice versa. Many times the treble gets tinny. A few hours of voicing can improve and repair this issue so that the tone is even.
A regulated piano feels balanced. A tuned and voiced piano sounds balanced. These variables come together to increase maximum performance and beautiful delivery.
Repairs come up often on a piano. Sticky keys, pivot points that are either too tight or too loose, loose screws, double striking hammers, humidity or dryness that either swells or shrinks the wooden parts, or unattached/broken parts, are some examples. If these are not extensive, and given a piano is in good condition, it can be improved within a reasonable amount of time. Older pianos can be more of a struggle but still respond well to these adjustments. I only recommend work that the piano needs and nothing more. If the piano simply has a low potential due to age, neglect, and a lack or diminishment of quality, then I will not recommend investing more than is absolutely necessary. It is possible to buy a quality used piano for under 10K, and some pianos are money pits. Unless it's a Steinway or Mason and Hamlin, you don’t want to invest in a total rebuild. Some clients do this when the piano has sentimental value. The great things about the brands mentioned above is that they hold value.
A Steinway never loses its value and is as good as gold. Keep them in mint condition and take care of the case. They will always have a high resale value when they are as mint as possible.
Tuning is absolutely necessary. It keeps the strings at the 20K pounds of tension (A440) that they need to be accustomed to. When the strings slack and the piano goes flat, bringing up the strings and having them hold pitch becomes quite a task. It requires multiple tunings until they start to feel stable and stop slipping back to their previous position. The more the piano is tuned, the better it holds tune, and the easier my job becomes. The pins have a metal memory of sorts, so when they are put in the proper place enough (tuned every 4 to 6 months), they start to move back to that place every time it is tuned. I even hear a ghost of my last tuning on many pianos, where I begin tuning and everything starts to move to the tuning I did last. Having said that, every piano has a different potential for holding tune. Even some great pianos don’t hold tune as well as others. There is no guarantee. It's the way the wood, which is mysterious, unpredictable, and unique on every piano.
The best you can do is be regular about tunings, 2 to 3 times a year for a home piano. No piano, ever, holds perfect tune for 6 months. Sometimes people don’t hear when the piano goes out of tune, but that isn’t a reason to skip tunings. The piano will start to slip in the first few weeks but it is only audible to a tuner if it is slight. If it is played daily, it will start to slip within days of tuning. It is so small, but it will hold better and better the more regularly it is maintained. Studios and venues will need their pianos tuned weekly, monthly, and before each show. That could be daily for some stages. New pianos need tuning 3 to 4 tunings a year, as it takes a few years for the strings and piano to become strong and hold a tuning longer. Five years is a good time for a quality piano to become settled. It seems like a long time and a lot of work, but good pianos can last up to a century. If you are committed to the upkeep you will have an instrument that can hold through the generations.
The best way to care for your piano in the northeast;
The climate in this part of the country goes between extremes. While the seasons are beautiful, they can be hard on your instrument. Wood is reactive to these variables, and the soundboard, bridges, and pin block are constantly flexing and moving with these changes. As soon as the indoor heat goes on, your piano will fall flat. Sometimes drastically. The wood is shrinking and the slightest changes can cause it to go out of tune. This can also cause problems in the action parts as well. I like to do a floating tuning on a home piano. This means that I keep the pitch where it is at and tune it where it is, according to season, letting the piano move naturally. To do this the piano must be tuned every 4-6 months. The standard pitch is anywhere from A440 to A443, and this is acceptable for most shows unless requested otherwise, and unless other musicians have a hard time tuning their instruments to the piano.
The best you can do is buy a hygrometer to measure the indoor humidity. Try to keep it at a stable place between 40% and 70% year round. If the best you can keep it is at is 25% in the winter, make sure it stays at that spot 24-7 so that it is not going up and down. You will need a humidifier in the room at least 10 feet away from piano, keep the piano away from windows and heating or cooling systems if possible. Look into a damp chaser if you want extra protection without having to monitor a humidifier or air conditioner, etc.
Best to keep the piano at least 10 feet or more away from heating or air systems to avoid any direct temperatures. Also, if your piano is a wood finish, try not to keep it in direct sunlight as it will bleach the wood over time.