Maintenance

Tuning, maintenance, repairs and appraisals

I offer the following services:

TUNING for concert performances, recordings or as part of the regular upkeep of instruments in domestic or institutional settings. I tune whatever temperament is desired, and can accommodate instruments with either historical (tapered) or modern (square, zither) tuning pins. I also tune fortepianos, clavichords and small chamber organs.

MAINTENANCE for harpsichords includes replacing individual plectra or broken strings, touching up the voicing of a register, replacing all plectra in a register and revoicing the new quills, complete restringing with new wire, regulating register on/off positions, adjusting jack heights and staggering, adjusting or replacing dampers, adjusting depth of touch, replacing worn padding and fixing other minor matters that need to be remedied to keep a harpsichord in top playing shape. Sometimes, basic maintenance issues such as a broken string or plectrum can be addressed during a tuning visit at no extra charge, as long as they can be quickly remedied. Work can be done on-site at the client's address, unless the scale of the job or problems with scheduling visits suggest it would be best to bring the instrument to my workshop. Basic maintenance services are offered for clavichords (string replacement, listing cloth reweaving, tangent adjustments) and fortepianos as well (string replacement, hammer letoff regulation).

REPAIRS of more serious problems not covered under routine maintenance. Past projects have included removing and regluing loose pinblocks (first unstringing the instrument, then restringing afterwards), repairing damage to casework, replacing split or unglued hitchpin rails, fixing seized registers, shimming cracked or split soundboards and making complete replacement keyboards.

KIT COMPLETION of unfinished instruments in kit form, such as those sold by Zuckermann or Hubbard Harpsichords. One such project involved finishing a partly-built King of Sweden clavichord kit, for which a matching stand in solid cherry was custom-made.

APPRAISALS to value an instrument for insurance coverage or for possible sale.

Harpsichord parts/supplies sales

I do not sell common supplies for harpsichords such as plectra and replacement strings. I purchase supplies for my own maintenance work and am happy to share my sources for such items with clients. There is no advantage in either cost or speed in asking me to purchase these items on your behalf when you can order for yourself from the same suppliers.

Rates and surcharges

The basic rate for maintenance and repairs is $120 per hour + 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax). There is a one-hour minimum charge for each visit, with the total time above one hour rounded up to the nearest half-hour.

A single tuning costs $120 + 13% HST. However, harpsichords that require repeated tuning (because they won't stay at pitch) are billed hourly as regular maintenance jobs, and not at the per-tuning rate. Minor maintenance issues that are detected during a tuning and can be quickly remedied will be absorbed into the cost of a single tuning.

Depending on the client's location, surcharges to cover travel expenses may be levied and included in the final invoice.

Additional charges for supplies may be necessary if a large quantity is used up during the course of the work or specialized materials need to be ordered. I try not to use clients' personal supplies unless their instrument has proprietary parts that cannot be purchased or replicated.

Some jobs are billed by the hour (client visits are often billed this way if an instrument just needs going over and basic regulation), while others may be charged a flat rate based on an estimate I give upon evaluating the condition of the instrument.

My appraisal fee is $200 plus 13% HST, with an added travel surcharge if the instrument is not nearby.

Payment is due either at the end of an in-person visit, or upon completion of the work and receipt of my invoice. Payment can be made by cash, cheque, Interac e-transfer, or online by credit card as described in greater detail on my invoice.

Estimates

Any rate or estimate communicated to a prospective client, if agreed to by the client, is considered firm even if it contradicts the figures posted on this page.

Bonding

I am bonded and carry business insurance, so your instrument is covered by my insurance both when I work on-location at your address and at my workshop.