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My usual tech of 20 years is scaling back his work due to family illness, and I'm feeling kind of lost. How does one find a great tech? I'm looking for someone who can really take the time with my piano and get it sounding amazing, which I know it can, if only I can find a person who is interested in doing that. I checked the Piano Tech Guild and there aren't that many to choose from. The first one is my once-regular guy, the second one is a elderly gent who is almost retired, the third one is a great restorer, but I'm not that fond of the actual sound of his pianos. The fourth guy I called a while back to help me find the "buzz" on my new old piano and, quite frankly, he didn't even want the job and insulted my piano in the conversation. There's only two more on this list, and I don't know anything about either one of them.

Help?

Did you ask your present tech for a recommendation?

Where do you live? Once we know that there is a good chance that between all the techs, dealers, and piano owners here you will get a lot of recommendations.

Ebonykawai, you're in a tough position. It seems like many of really good piano technicians are retiring and there are not enough really good ones to take their place. And, all piano techs are not created equal... some tout the astronomical level of their skill/ability and in reality it ain't that good.

So, you may just have to do the "trial and error" approach until you find a tech you really like and can be satisfied with.

The guy that didn't want to give you the time of day, and insulted your piano, he's the kind of piano tech that gives all others a bad name. One rotten apple can indeed spoil the whole barrel.

So, keep trying until you find someone that really fits and you get that "satisfaction vibe".

They are out there, and they are not always members of the PTG.

Good luck!

Rick

Do you have university with a decent music department near you? You might email them for recommendations.

Obviously you might ask your present piano technician for a referral. And that "elderly gent who is almost retired" might be superb to work with, and might fall in love with your piano. Give him a try. Ditto for the other two names on your PTG list. For the small cost of a tuning you can learn a great deal about a piano technician.

Beyond this, I might talk to a couple of professional jazz or classical pianists in the Buffalo area who are over 50yo. They'll know. So would similarly aged piano teachers.

I had the elderly tech here and he actually replaced my key top and did a great job. He told that he doesn't really do much other than tuning these days, and kind of likes it that way. He only did my key top because my regular tech was busy and this guy lives around the corner from me, and happened to be down the road on the morning I called him. I do like him.

There is another tech that tunes all of the University of Buffalo's pianos and organs. He does concert prep, too, and I did a little research and I think I'll give him a call. I really only need some small tweaks in voicing, at this point, since the hammers were brushed and needled last month and the tone is now wonderfully even. I really don't think there's that much more to do to get it sounding awesome, as it's most of the way there.

I'm in zip code 14120, but 14228 is also really close by. Wheatfield, North Tonawanda, and Amherst NY. Thanks, everyone!

I did it!!! I found an absolutely fantastic tech/tuner! Found him through one of our local universities (UB, my alma mater; my daughter also goes there, she's in her third year), where he just started working in August. Was highly recommended by his predecessor and wow, he sure knows his stuff!

I found a good one on Angie's List.

We have ZERO on Angie's List for this area!! It's ridiculous! Anyway, his name (for those in WNY who are looking) is Devin Zimmer, he actually just moved here from Seattle. Can't say enough good about him, boy am I glad he moved here!

I found mine on Yelp. That's not normally where I go to find services. Unfortunately after dealing with some recommended technicians who weren't interested in working on old pianos I had to try some other things. My technician had good reviews and people specifically mentioned work he'd done on old pianos. He's been great. I tried to give him a good review and Yelp accused me of being a robot and deleted it. Danger danger Will Robinson! Unfortunately this won't help the OP in WNY.

No worries, I'm all good now, lol! Yelp can be super helpful. 😊