Frequently asked
questions.

The standard recommendation is twice a year — typically spring and fall, when South Carolina's seasonal humidity shifts put the most stress on tuning stability. This applies to most home pianos.

• New pianos — three to four tunings in the first year as strings stretch and settle
• Teaching studios — three to four per year minimum, sometimes more
• Church pianos — at least twice a year; more if used heavily
• Rarely played pianos — still need tuning twice a year; wood still moves with humidity

A pitch raise is a preliminary tuning pass performed when a piano has drifted significantly below A440 — the standard concert pitch. When a piano is that far out of tune, a single fine tuning can't hold because raising individual strings changes the tension across the whole instrument, throwing other strings off as you go.

A pitch raise brings the entire piano up to the correct pitch range first, then a standard fine tuning is performed. If your piano hasn't been tuned in two or more years, there's a good chance one is needed. Pitch raise: $125 add-on. Combined with a standard tuning: $325 total.

Yes — but not immediately. Moving a piano disrupts its tuning, but the instrument needs time to settle into its new environment before a tuning will hold well. A good rule of thumb is to wait two to four weeks after a move before scheduling a tuning, so the wood can adjust to the new humidity and temperature.

The most common cause is humidity fluctuation. South Carolina's climate swings between high summer humidity and dry winter air, and the piano's soundboard and bridges swell and contract with these changes — directly affecting string tension and pitch. This is why pianos in SC need tuning at least twice a year, and why a Dampp-Chaser humidity control system makes such a significant difference.

Other causes include loose tuning pins (especially in older pianos), new strings that haven't fully stretched, or a piano that needed time to stabilize after a pitch raise. If your piano goes noticeably out of tune within weeks of a tuning, contact us — that's worth investigating.

A standard tuning typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. If a pitch raise is needed, add another 30 to 45 minutes. Davis also does a brief inspection of the instrument during every visit, so plan for up to two hours if it's been a while since the piano was last serviced.

Almost certainly not. Even pianos that have gone ten or twenty years without tuning can usually be brought back to playable condition, though it may take more than one visit — a pitch raise (or two, in severe cases) followed by a standard fine tuning.

The risk with long-neglected pianos is that structural damage — loose pins, cracked bridges, or soundboard issues — may also be present. Davis will inspect and give you an honest assessment of what the piano needs and whether the investment makes sense.

Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical action — the system of levers, hammers, springs, and dampers that connect the keys to the strings. These are set to precise specs at the factory, but drift over years of use and humidity cycling.

• Keys feel uneven — some heavier or lighter than others
• Notes don't repeat quickly when you play fast passages
• Difficulty playing softly or controlling dynamics
• Keys that stick or return slowly
• The piano just "doesn't feel right" even after a fresh tuning

Most pianos benefit from at least basic regulation every five to ten years. Basic in-home regulation starts at $300–$600; a full shop regulation is $900–$2,200.

Voicing adjusts the tone of the piano by treating the hammer felt. Hammers that have been played heavily develop deep grooves where they strike the strings, making them denser and harder at the contact point — producing a harsh, bright, or "tinny" tone.

Voicing can soften an overly bright tone by needling the hammer felt to restore resilience, or harden a dull tone with a hardening compound. It's one of the most cost-effective improvements for a piano that sounds harsh despite being in tune. Voicing starts at $120–$200.

A deep cleaning covers the interior of the piano — removing accumulated dust, debris, and buildup from the strings, soundboard, action components, and case interior. It also includes cleaning the keys (tops and sides) and polishing the cabinet if requested.

This is different from the light cleaning included with every standard tuning visit. It's particularly valuable for pianos that have gone years without service, inherited instruments, or homes with pets or significant dust exposure. Deep cleaning is $125.

A comprehensive first-service bundle for anyone who's recently acquired a piano — new, used, or inherited. It includes tuning, pitch raise (if needed), basic regulation assessment and adjustments, deep cleaning, humidity evaluation, and a written summary of the instrument's condition and recommended next steps.

Starting at $1,000, it bundles services that would cost up to $500 more if scheduled separately. It's the recommended starting point for any piano that hasn't had professional service in the past year.

Yes. Common repairs Davis handles include sticky or broken keys, broken or worn hammer heads, damper and pedal repairs, broken strings, loose or worn key bushings, squeaking pedal mechanisms, and minor cabinet and fallboard repairs.

Major repairs requiring shop equipment — complete action rebuilds, pin block replacement, soundboard repair — are assessed on-site and quoted before any work is arranged.

Yes. A piano appraisal is $125 and provides a written assessment of the instrument's condition, estimated fair market value, and recommended service priorities. The $125 fee is credited toward any service work booked within two weeks of the appraisal.

Appraisals are useful for selling or buying a used piano, insurance purposes, estate settlements, and deciding whether a piano is worth restoring.

Davis comes to you for all standard services — tuning, pitch raise, regulation, voicing, cleaning, damper work, pedal repairs, and Dampp-Chaser installation. There's no need to move your piano.

Certain major repairs requiring specialized shop equipment may need to be done off-site. Davis will clearly advise you if that's the case and arrange logistics before any piano is moved.

South Carolina's climate creates some of the most challenging conditions for piano wood in the country. Summer relative humidity regularly exceeds 80% in many Upstate homes; winter heating can drop that below 25% — a swing of 55 points or more, every year.

Piano wood expands and contracts with every humidity change. Over years this leads to tuning instability, loose tuning pins, cracked soundboards, sticky action components, and a shortened instrument lifespan. A Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver system eliminates this problem by maintaining stable humidity inside the piano year-round.

The Piano Life Saver system is installed inside the piano itself — not the room. It uses a humidistat, a humidifier, and a dehumidifier working together to maintain approximately 45% relative humidity at the instrument, regardless of what the room's humidity is doing.

Because it works at the instrument level rather than the room level, it's far more effective than a whole-room humidifier alone. Davis is a Certified Piano Life Saver Installer. Installation: $700 for uprights, $1,200–$1,500 for grands. Maintenance supplies are available in our shop.

A whole-room humidifier helps and is better than nothing, but it has real limitations: room humidity fluctuates constantly as doors open and weather changes, it does nothing for dehumidification in summer, and maintenance is often inconsistent.

The Piano Life Saver system targets the piano's internal environment directly and runs automatically. For pianos in South Carolina, there's no better investment in the instrument's long-term health.

The Piano Technicians Guild and Dampp-Chaser both recommend 45–70% relative humidity, with 45–50% being ideal. At this level, piano wood is stable, tuning holds well, and mechanical components function correctly. A basic digital hygrometer ($15–$25 at any hardware store) will show you the current humidity in your piano room.

The main ongoing maintenance is adding distilled water to the humidifier tank — typically every one to two weeks during dry months, less during humid months. Davis shows you exactly how to do this during installation.

Humidifier pads should be replaced periodically (usually annually), and pad treatment solution keeps the system clean and functioning well. All supplies are available in our shop. Davis also checks and services the system during regular tuning visits.

Yes — without exception. Used pianos can look and even sound acceptable while hiding expensive problems invisible to an untrained eye. A pre-purchase inspection ($125) evaluates pin block condition, soundboard integrity, string condition, action condition, frame and case damage, and tuning stability.

The cost of a $125 inspection is trivial compared to discovering significant problems after you've already moved a piano into your home. Download our Piano Buyer's Checklist ($1.99) for a field-ready guide to what to look for.

• Worth buying and restoring: Steinway, Baldwin, Yamaha, Kawai, Mason & Hamlin, Sohmer, Knabe (pre-1960s), Young Chang (1990s–2000s Japanese-built)
• Solid value if well-maintained: Chickering, Story & Clark, Wurlitzer (upright), Samick
• Buy with caution: unknown off-brand imports, unbranded "student" models from big-box stores
• Almost never worth restoring: spinet pianos (any brand) — their drop-action design limits what can be done mechanically

Age matters as much as brand. A well-maintained 40-year-old Yamaha is a better buy than a neglected 10-year-old premium instrument. A pre-purchase inspection tells you which situation you're in.

Moore Piano Services offers a consignment program where we handle the entire selling process on your behalf — listing, marketing, buyer coordination, and payment. Your piano stays at your location until sold. Commission ranges from 20–35% depending on the sale price.

If your piano is at the end of its useful life and not worth selling, the Retired Piano Program accepts instruments at no cost to you — we come to you, assess the instrument, and handle pickup and receipt.

The standard heuristic is the 50% rule: if the cost of needed repairs exceeds 50% of the piano's current fair market value in good condition, replacement is usually the more rational choice. Brand plays a major role — a $3,000 repair on a Steinway worth $15,000 is a clear investment; the same repair on an instrument worth $1,500 doesn't make sense.

A piano appraisal ($125) gives you the honest number to make this decision. Read more: Should I Repair or Replace My Piano?

Moore Piano Services serves a 60-mile radius from Greenwood, SC — covering all of Upstate South Carolina, including Greenwood, Abbeville, McCormick, Saluda, Edgefield, and Newberry counties; Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Laurens, and Union counties; and Aiken County.

Not sure if you're in the service area? Ask us — if you're within a reasonable distance, we'll come to you.

Three ways: online through our contact page, by phone or text at (864) 340-5916, or by email at info@moorepianoservices.com. Davis will confirm availability, provide an estimated arrival window, and confirm the appointment 24 hours in advance. Appointments are available Monday through Friday.

For most of the service area, travel is included in the service price. Locations at the outer edge of the service radius — particularly the far reaches of Spartanburg and Aiken counties — may incur a small travel supplement, which will always be communicated clearly when you book.

• Make sure the piano is accessible — nothing blocking the keyboard and top panel
• Keep the room at its normal temperature (don't heat or cool it unusually for the visit)
• Note any specific concerns — sticky keys, buzzing notes, pedal issues — so Davis can address them
• Pets don't need to be put away, but a quiet room helps during the fine tuning

We ask for at least 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling whenever possible. Last-minute cancellations (same day, less than 2 hours notice) may be subject to a $50 cancellation fee for travel already in progress. We understand that life happens — just communicate as early as you can.

Cash, check, and all major credit cards are accepted. Payment is due at the time of service. For institutional clients on annual contracts, invoicing with net-30 terms is available.

Yes. Moore Piano Services offers annual institutional service agreements for churches, schools, colleges, and organizations with four or more pianos. The contract rate is $360 per instrument per year (billed annually), including two scheduled tuning visits and priority scheduling throughout the year.

Organizations with additional instruments beyond the four-piano minimum receive a 10% discount on all additional services. Contact us to discuss your institution's needs and receive a custom quote.

At minimum, twice a year — once in spring and once in fall. Churches with pianos used weekly for services, rehearsals, and events benefit from three or four tunings annually. Many churches also benefit from a Dampp-Chaser installation, since sanctuary environments (high ceilings, inconsistent HVAC, seasonal use patterns) are particularly hard on piano stability.

Yes. Davis serves college and university music departments throughout the Upstate on institutional contracts. Campus instruments require more frequent service than home pianos due to heavy use by multiple students, and priority scheduling ensures instruments are serviced before major performances, auditions, and recitals.

• Certified Piano Technician (CPT) — Piano Technician Academy, 2024
• Certified Piano Life Saver Installer — Dampp-Chaser Corporation, 2026
• Active Member — Piano Technicians Guild (PTG)
• Fully insured — general liability coverage up to $1,000,000 per occurrence
• Organ training, including work on the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia — the largest fully functional pipe organ in the world
• Music Director Assistant, Greenwood ARP Church
• Performing background: Carolina Youth Symphony, the Peace Center (Greenville), Carnegie Hall (New York)

Yes. Moore Piano Services carries general liability insurance with coverage up to $1,000,000 per occurrence — meaning in the unlikely event of accidental damage or injury during a service visit, you're protected. Proof of insurance is available on request for institutional clients, churches, schools, or property managers who require it.

Yes. Davis is an active member of the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG), the leading professional organization for piano technicians in the United States. His CPT certification was earned through the Piano Technician Academy — a separate credentialing program — rather than PTG's own certification process. Both credentials are legitimate and recognized in the industry.

Davis earned his Certified Piano Technician designation in 2024 and founded Moore Piano Services (operating as Petra Moore LLC) shortly thereafter. His background as a lifelong musician — performing since age 8 with the Carolina Youth Symphony — gives him a performer's understanding of how a piano should feel and sound, not just the technical knowledge of how it works.

Moore Piano Services stands behind every visit with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you're not satisfied with the quality of service performed, contact us within 48 hours and we'll return to address any concerns at no additional charge. If the issue can't be resolved, a full refund will be provided.

Call or text Davis directly at (864) 340-5916, email info@moorepianoservices.com, or use the contact form. Questions about a specific piano, a specific situation, or anything not covered above are always welcome — and usually answered the same day.