Tuning, Servicing and Rebuilding Pianos since 1979

call 715-682-9362 for an appointment today!

Tom Draughon, Tuner / Technician
regularly tunes and services pianos for:
Northland College
Ashland High, Middle, Elementary and Primary Schools
Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
Numerous area Churches
Ironwood Schools
Hurley Schools
Ashland Chamber Music Society
Ashland Historical Society
and many area residents
In the 1980's Tom worked in Asheville, NC, where he tuned for several recording studios including Steven Heller's Upstream Productions, Mars Hill College, Brevard Music Center and UNC Asheville. Working with Robert D. Bunn Antiques and UNCA Professor Frank Edwin, Tom has restored 18th and 19th century keyboard instruments by Christofer Ganer, John Broadwood, Ignaz Pleyel and others.
Tom is beginning restoration work on the Chickering square piano once owned by Laura Beaser, now at Ashland Historical Museum. This piano dates from the early - mid 1840s and is very different from a modern piano. Click Here or on the photo to see more about this interesting historical restoration project

Fees - 30 mile redius of Ashland, WI:
(mileage fees may apply if further away)
Standard Tuning - $75
Pitch Raising / Lowering - $30 per quarter tone
Period Temperments - Call for estimate
Regulating - Hourly at $45 per hour
Voicing - Hourly at $45 per hour
Hammer re-surfacing - Hourly at $45 per hour
Key Recovering - 52 white keys and 36 sharps $250
Re-Stringing - ball park $1500 - call for estimate
Re-Hammering - ball park $600 - call for estimate
Rebuilding - call for estimate

Description of Services:
Standard Tuning - all strings tuned in perfect "equal temperment" with A4 (the A above middle C) at 440 Hz
Pitch Raising / Lowering - when pianos sit without being tuned the strings lose tension. Fluctuations in humidity exaccerbate this. It is not uncommon for a neglected pianoto be an entire half step to a whole step low. Raising all notes to standard tension can take hours. In extreme cases it should be done in two or more sessions.
Period Temperments - over the centuries there have been many methods for tuning keyboard instruments. For 17th and 18th century music "meantone" temperment and "just intonation" are more appropriate for some music than modern "equal temperment".
Regulating - adjusting a key mechanism. More accurately, adjusting all keys to work alike and work properly.
Voicing - changing the consistency of the hammer felt to alter the tone if it is too "bright".
Hammer re-surfacing - removing the worn striking surface of hammers while maintaining their correct shape.
Key Recovering - replacing old ivory or plastic keytops with new molded plastic keytops.
Re-Stringing - a major job - replacing all of the wire stringing and all tuning pins in the piano. Includes fixing soundboard splits and re-gilding the metal plate.
Re-Hammering - replacing an entire section of hammers or all hammers
Rebuilding - rehammering and restringing are examples of rebuilding jobs. Old pianos are like antique automobiles - when restored they are beautiful, functional, and provide enjoyment for the owner. A full size upright piano often has bass strings as long as a 6 foot grand. When properly re-strung and re-hammered these pianos can have glorious tone quality and wonderful "action".
   

 

Page Updated 6/21/2012