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REGULATION


Regulation is the adjustment of the 9,000+ parts inside your piano that make up the “action”. After years of use and keys being played thousands of times, the small pieces of felt and leather keeping the wooden parts quiet and working smoothly begin to compress and wear, springs loosen, friction increases and humidity changes make action parts begin to become inconsistent and malfunction. For the pianist, this all means a piano no longer plays like new and is not as sensitive and easy to control as when new. When regulating, hammers are also usually reshaped, parts are aligned and 37 adjustments are made on all 88 keys including friction reduction to make the piano play like new again. Many times, because some original factory regulations are not very refined, we have been able to make instruments play much better than when they were new! The pianist needs an instrument with a full range of color, dynamics and sensitivity, allowing them to play very, very softly, loud or fast. The piano becomes, in effect, an extension of the artist and the only limit is within the player, not the piano.


With many years of concert experience, working for some of the greatest pianists in the world in concert settings, we have a great deal of experience with every kind of request imaginable! Just as a concert artist never wants a piano to limit what they are able to do, parents and young students also should never let an instrument in poor regulation limit their progress. Dozens of times, we have been called by customers who no longer liked their pianos, some even seeking advice on selling, and after a thorough regulation, the owner is reintroduced to the piano that they originally fell in love with.

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PIANO SERVICE AND TUNING


Providing the instrument is structurally sound and in proper working order, every piano we tune is tuned to International Pitch (A=440). A typical tuning call includes minor repair, adjustments, and voicing at no additional charge. We want you to come away with more quality and service than you bargained for. All of our technicians are certified Registered Piano Technicians with the Piano Technicians Guild, and have Yamaha factory training and additional training by Mr. Lafargue, who also has Steinway training. This insures that your technician has a proven ear and is trained and able to do a wide array of adjustments and repairs, voice, and advise you in the best care for your particular instrument and situation. All work is guaranteed. Our piano tuner will begin by educating you both on piano service but more importantly on your piano in New Orleans. Helping you to get the most from your investment and ensuring that the player has optimal control and performance is our goal. We will both service the instrument completely on a tuning call and inform you of any improvements or preventive maintenance that can be made. Pianos should last a lifetime and more if maintained!

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REPAIRS


From a squeaking pedal to a complete restoration, we can handle it professionally, always striving for factory quality work. Our reputation has been built on our craftsmanship and training. Caring enough to strive to be the best has always been who we are and it has nourished a healthy word-of-mouth clientele in southeast Louisiana and beyond for over 30 years. Contact us for Repair Service.

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VOICING


When a piano hammer strikes the strings, sound is produced. The condition and quality of the hammers and their hardness or softness determines the tone of the piano. A hard hammer produces a louder, brighter, harsher tone, while a soft hammer produces a softer, warmer, darker and more muffled tone color. In voicing a piano, hammers are either hardened by using chemicals or removing outer felt or softened by inserting needles into the felt to soften and make more resilient. Voicing is a very complex art that takes a great deal of experience and skill, both in how to manipulate a particular hammer and the ability to hear nuances at different volumes. Voicing is perhaps the most powerful tool in making a mediocre piano great!

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REBUILDING


Mr. Lafargue has been restoring pianos since the early years of his career. In effect, a piano with new parts can become like new again, providing the work is done at least as well as original factory work was done. Whether an instrument needs partial or complete restoration, we use only the best action parts, strings, felt, etc to achieve the best finished product. Our goal is to restore the piano to the like-new condition in every way, including cabinet refinishing. We often times improve an older instrument, employing computer programs and analysis to rescale and redesign certain aspects of strings and action parts. We have restored pianos for musicians and institutions across the south and would be happy to do an appraisal and help you to make wise decisions and a wise investment. Feel free to take a moment and visit our Photo Gallery to view photos on restorations completed.

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