Ryan W. Sowers, RPT
Certified Tuning Examiner (CTE)
Steinway, Yamaha & Kawai Factory-Trained | Oberlin Conservatory
Expert Piano Tuning, Repair & Rebuilding – South Puget Sound
Established 1994
(360) 480-5693 pianovapianoservice@gmail.com
Maintenance Tip
Scheduling your piano service around the same time each year allows us to do a more thorough and efficient job. When we see your piano on a consistent annual cycle, the tuning portion usually goes faster and more smoothly — leaving extra time for touch, tone, and maintenance work.
Pianos tend to drift the most out of tune at the opposite season from their last service due to natural humidity changes. This is exactly why we strongly recommend a humidity control system (Piano Life Saver) — it helps your piano stay more stable year-round and hold its tuning longer.
Basic Piano Service
$275
Budget-Friendly Option
If you want solid results without the full premium service, this is an excellent choice.
This 90-minute appointment focuses on getting your piano sounding noticeably better at a more accessible price. It includes:
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A full tuning to A-440 concert pitch
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Pitch raise included (no extra charge — unlike many other technicians)
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Minor adjustments for better touch and tone when time allows
Perfect for regularly played pianos that just need a reliable refresh on a budget. You’ll hear and feel a clear improvement without the higher cost of a full regulation or deep cleaning.
Extended Piano Service Tuning & Maintenance
$450
Take your piano's performance to the next level
2.5 Hours
This in-depth service goes well beyond a basic tuning. In addition to a precise fine tuning to A-440, we include significant touch and tone improvements. Typical work includes:
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Thorough lubrication of all mechanical parts
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Basic hammer resurfacing and shaping
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Hammer-to-string mating (voicing) for better tone balance
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Regulation adjustments for improved touch and response
The result is a clear, noticeable improvement in both sound and feel — helping your piano resist the effects of age, use, and humidity changes. Ideal for instruments that haven’t had detailed maintenance in the last few years.
Minimum Service Call
Tuning & Maintenance
$185
For minor repairs, tuning touch-up, and expert advice.
45 - 60 Minutes
This covers in-home visits for smaller issues such as:
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Sticky or sluggish keys
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Pedal squeaks or adjustments
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In-person consultation or estimate
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Pre-purchase inspection
Note: If the repair is quick, we’ll use the remaining time to touch up your tuning or add other useful service at no extra charge — ensuring you always get strong value from the visit.
Humidity Control:
The key to long lasting tunings at
less than the cost of two tunings
Basic Upright System: $445
We highly recommend Piano Life Saver humidity control systems to help preserve the tuning.
Without humidity control, tuning can go out more quickly than you might think! Pianos with humidity control often allow for more time to address touch and tone issues without charging additional fees. These systems easily pay for themselves within a few years.
Basic Grand System:
$495 - $605
(depending on size)
Note: The basic systems consist of a dehumidifier rod and a humidity controlled switch, the humidistat. They do not include a humidifer componant. In the Pacific NW we generally don't need to add humidity unless you have dryness issues in the winter with an excessively dry heating system such as a wood burning stove.
The basic system requires no maintenance other than keeping it plugged in. The wattage of the rods are fairly low (25 - 50 watts) and they turn on and off depending on the humidity near the soundboard of the piano.
This system helps protect your piano from damaging humidity swings — one of the biggest threats to tuning stability and long-term health.
What’s included:
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Dehumidifier rod(s) that gently remove excess moisture
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Smart humidistat (humidity-controlled switch) that automatically turns the system on and off as needed
How the basic system works: It warms the air near the piano’s soundboard. This allows the air to hold more moisture, effectively making the environment drier around the piano without actually removing water from the room.
Important notes:
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This is a dehumidification-only system (no humidifier component included).
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In the Pacific Northwest, this basic setup is usually sufficient. Adding a humidifier component (for extreme winter dryness from wood stoves or very dry heating) costs approximately $300–$400 extra. Note: The humidifier requires annual maintenance (cleaning the tank and changing pads) and regular watering via a convenient tube and watering can system.
The basic system is virtually maintenance-free — just keep it plugged in. The rods use very little electricity (typically 25–50 watts) and only run when needed.
