Our Pricing Structure
Tuning £100.
Pitch raise + tuning £130.
Toning/Voicing extra £60.
(combined with tuning)
Our Service area
Wembley Willesden Camden Town Islington Dalston Hackney Stratford Barking Ilford East Ham Forrest Gate Plaistow Canary Wharf Greenwich Rotherhithe Bermondsey Whitechapel Paddington Westminster Notting Hill Kensington Shepherd’s Bush Chelsea Earls Court Fulham Battersea Acton Ealing Putney Wandsworth Brixton Wimbledon Clapham – Kingston upon Thames Surbiton Esher Twickenham Teddington
Toning / Voicing
Adapt Your Piano’s Sound To The Room’s Acoustic Character
It can happen that over the years your piano’s tone will change, the felt of the hammers that hits the strings can have some wear and tear, the round shape can be flattened or the indent of the strings can get too deep. The sound can become too aggressive, harsh or tinny.
In that case the hammerheads will need some attention.
By loosening up the felt with needles or reshaping the hammers with sandpaper or using steam-ironing (who still does that? Well I do), the tone of your piano can be significantly improved.
Another reason to have your piano toned is to adapt it to the room’s acoustic character. Tiles and wooden floors reflect way more high frequencies than carpet floors, and windows with or without curtains will make your piano sound different. All pianos are toned/voiced in the factory, but sometimes a brand new piano can still sound a little too bright and can benefit from toning to get a nice, more mellow sounding voice in any room.
During my visit I will have a quick initial assessment of the piano, followed by a short conversation about the options with a recommendation including the cost.
Benefits of Voicing:
- Restoring the original voice of an old piano
- A more even, balanced sound across all 88 keys
- Ability to customize the piano’s personality to the pianist’s taste
- Reduction of harshness or muddiness
- Adapt the piano’s sound to the room’s acoustic character
Frequently Asked Questions
Piano voicing (also called toning) is the process of adjusting the hardness, shape, and alignment of the hammers to refine the tone quality of the piano. While tuning adjusts pitch, voicing shapes the colour of the sound—making it brighter, softer, warmer, or more consistent.
Your piano may benefit from voicing if you notice: Uneven tone from note to note, A sound that is too bright, harsh, dull, or lifeless, Changes in tone after years of playing, Or simply when you want a different sound
Depending on the piano, between 30 and 90 minutes
Voicing is where a piano’s character is truly crafted. Small adjustments can transform your instrument from ordinary to exceptional.