Caring for the New Piano
Whether you are shopping for a new piano or you've recently purchased one, it is important to understand and prepare for your new instrument. Below is some information regarding new acoustic pianos that may be helpful in this process.
General Overview
From a technical perspective, the first 1-2 years are some of the most important years of a piano’s life. A brand-new piano is a work in progress, like a puppy or a kitten. A new piano takes some time, patience, and regular technical service to hit its “sweet spot.” The following are just a few of many things that go on “under the hood” of a new piano during the first few years of its life:
The piano acclimates to a new climate (that of both its new home and country, if it is an imported instrument). Temperature and humidity fluctuations are the primary reasons pianos go out of tune.
The piano’s new strings continue stretching. Strings eventually stabilize with time, but will most likely stretch and fall out of tune more quickly during the first year or two.
The piano’s action parts settle as they are played. The felt, leather, and cloth parts begin to compress, affecting the piano’s regulation and responsiveness.
The wood seasons. The soundboard and pinblock acclimate to a new climate and settle, directly affecting the tuning stability of the piano.
Tuning and Maintenance of a New Piano
Frequent tuning during the first year of the piano’s life is critical to how the strings stabilize, and the stability of future tunings. If you've ever attempted to unbend a paper clip, you've observed how wire has memory and is difficult to retrain. Piano strings function similarly and tend to want to go back to where they are used to “living.” For this reason, frequent tuning will help the piano strings learn that “home” is at pitch and in tune, rather than flat and out of tune. Most manufacturers recommend a minimum of four tunings in the first year, and then switching to a 6 or 12 month tuning interval thereafter. Regular tunings also lessen the chance that the piano’s pitch falls so flat to where a pitch raise is required before a standard piano tuning can be performed. As the instrument is played and parts settle with time, additional adjustments beyond tuning (regulation) may also be recommended to ensure that the piano continues to perform as designed.
The Importance of 1st Year Maintenance
What is "New Piano Prep?"
It may seem strange that a brand-new piano requires adjustment to function properly. Because pianos are made primarily of natural materials, they are uniquely sensitive to changes in climate. Most pianos have taken a lengthy, sometimes overseas, journey to their new home, a disruption that can affect the instrument significantly. For this reason, most manufacturers require that a technician perform a process called "new piano prep" upon local delivery, prior to the piano being placed in a store's showroom for purchase.
New piano prep requires that a technician remove factory packing materials placed inside the piano for long-distance shipment, examine the piano for any potential damage caused during shipment, and make final adjustments to ensure that the piano’s components are performing according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Each new piano is different, even those of the same year, make, and model, so the time required for proper prep varies. On average, upright piano prep takes 1-3 hours, and grand piano prep takes 2-5 hours, not including tuning.
Despite manufacturers' checklists, protocols, and suggestions, some piano dealers skimp on how much new piano prep is performed. It is important to consult with your piano technician and have them inspect the piano before purchase, so you are aware of whether the piano has been prepped properly (or at all), and if it might benefit from any further adjustments prior to your purchase.
Piano Placement
To prevent possible finish damage and yield the most stable piano tunings, place a piano away from direct sunlight, windows, outside walls, or any source of heat or cold air such as a heating/AC vent or a fireplace. It is not advised to place a piano in a space without climate control. Pianos should always be moved by an insured professional piano mover, even if moving a short distance within the home. Please contact Brad Fant Piano Service if you’d like a piano mover recommendation.