High Quality Tuning & Repairs Service
The piano is often described as the king of instruments, capable of producing powerful dynamics, delicate tones and rich musical expression. From soft and expressive playing to bold, dramatic passages, the piano offers an entire orchestra at your fingertips. However, all of this potential can only be fully enjoyed when your instrument is accurately tuned and properly maintained.
At Stoke Pianos, we provide professional piano tuning services to ensure your piano remains in tune, responsive and enjoyable to play. Regular piano tuning is essential for players of all ages and abilities. For children and beginners, a piano that is correctly tuned to concert pitch is vital for developing accurate pitch recognition and musical confidence. Practising on an out-of-tune piano can hinder progress, cause confusion during lessons and may even lead to a loss of motivation.
Piano tuning is equally important when playing with other musicians. Whether accompanying singers, instrumentalists or performing in ensembles, a piano that is out of tune can disrupt harmony and balance. Keeping your piano tuned ensures it blends correctly with other instruments and voices, allowing music to sound as it was intended.
Pianos are designed to operate under significant string tension to maintain concert pitch, but over time this tension naturally decreases. Changes in temperature and humidity cause the wood and metal components to expand and contract, leading to gradual detuning. Regular piano tuning and maintenance helps stabilise string tension, protect internal components and preserve the overall health of the instrument.
A piano that is tuned and serviced regularly is also far more valuable than one that has been neglected. With new pianos representing a significant financial investment, professional piano tuning helps protect both performance quality and long-term value. Treat your piano not only as a musical instrument, but as an investment—one that deserves expert care to ensure longevity, reliability and exceptional sound.
Pianos often require more than routine piano tuning, and professional piano repairs are essential to keep an instrument playing correctly. Every piano is unique in its construction, usage and environment, which is why repairs should only be carried out by experienced piano technicians using the correct materials and specialist methods.
Although a piano may appear simple to play, it is a highly complex instrument made up of over 12,000 individual components, around 10,000 of which are moving parts. When issues occur—such as broken glue joints, worn or swollen action felt, or centre pins becoming too tight or too loose—the result can be sticking, sluggish or unresponsive keys. These problems require careful diagnosis and precise repair by a skilled piano technician to restore proper touch and performance.
A standard piano contains approximately 230 strings, each under around 165 pounds of tension, creating a combined tension of more than 18 tons. In a concert grand piano, this tension can exceed 30 tons. Over time, strings may break due to wear or stress. Because every piano is designed with custom string scaling, replacement strings must be matched exactly. Using incorrect string gauges can lead to poor tuning stability, compromised tone quality and reduced piano value.
Piano key repairs are also common. Early pianos used ivory key tops—hence the phrase “tickle the ivories”—before manufacturers transitioned to plastic in the mid-20th century. Over time, the adhesive securing key tops can fail due to age, usage or environmental conditions, causing keys to loosen or detach. With the correct piano repair expertise and materials, this issue can be resolved efficiently and safely.
The most frequent cause of piano damage is unsuitable climate conditions, particularly extremes in temperature and humidity. These environmental factors affect how well piano components function together, influencing tuning stability, mechanical reliability and overall playability. Proper piano repairs and preventative maintenance help protect the instrument and ensure it remains enjoyable to play.
We specialise in expert piano repairs of all types, supplying and fitting the correct materials using proven techniques trusted by experienced piano technicians. Incorrect repairs or unsuitable materials can negatively affect both performance and long-term value. If your piano is experiencing any mechanical or structural issues, contact us today for professional advice and reliable piano repair solutions.