Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum How soon for a tune after a move?

Tried to do a search but nothing came up, although I suspect it's a topic that's been addressed here before, and probably a contentious one at that (or at least a disputed one).

In any case, I'll be getting a 1999 Kawai 48" upright tomorrow; it'll be a 40 min. ride. The piano itself is in great condition, not having been played regularly for about three years, according to the seller. It does need to be tuned.

In my haste, I scheduled a tuning for the day after I get it. But now I wonder whether it wouldn't be best to wait and let it acclimate to its new home. The most important factor, as far as I can tell, is the change in environmental conditions - it's coming from a place that had central air and coming to a place that doesn't; and the window unit is used sparingly. So its new home is going to be far more unstable in that regard.

So the question is: should I wait, and if so, for about how long?

Thanks in advance,
Alan

should wait about 4 weeks

You can get the piano tuned right after moving. Sometimes it will make a difference, other times, not so much. At worst, you may need to tune it again sooner. If you want to keep your piano in tune, just tune it more often.

Agreed. Call and reschedule NOW for 3 to 4 weeks later.

Great - thanks, folks.

If in the same city, it doesn't make much difference as a rule. If at a different altitude (even a few hundred feet) or at a place with a different relative humidity, I usually recommend 3 weeks. But here in our area (a huge valley), from one side of town to another, I tell folks, go ahead and have it done immediately if it is more convenient to you.

Yes all depends, a few days a few weeks, never ..;)

For the sake of the piano and tuning stability, a minimum couple weeks wait is the safest route to go if the piano severely changed climate/humidity environments. I often get calls about this and sometimes there is an urgency involved such as having the piano in tune for a needed practice session, party or recital coming up in a few days. In this case I take on the tuning as soon as I can and mention the possible instability issue. Unfortunately if I don't respond this way, the customers fingers do the walking in the phone book and they just get someone else to do it.

Tune early and tune often!


We had a nice chuckle with our tuner last week, since he's here 3-4 times a year.
"Are we picky?" I ask.
"Just got good ears." he replies. "A little out in the tenor. You'd go nuts without the Dampp-Chaser."

"She sometimes thinks she wants a grand." says my husband.
"Oh, you could count on having me out more often then." says our man.

I would expect the pitch to sharpen dramatically this time of year with a piano moved from air conditioning to non-air conditioning. If the piano hasn't been tuned in a while, and the pitch is currently flat, it may actually sound better in 3 or 4 weeks...or it may not.

If you have it tuned in 3 or 4 weeks, expect it to sound sour again once the heat comes on in the fall. The tuning will only be as stable as the humidity is consistent in your home.

You may want to consider a Piano Life Saver System from Dampp Chaser.