Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Finding the best tech

I know the ptg website for locating a tech, but just because they are listed and registered doesn't mean they are good, right?

How do you find out who is the best tech in any given area? I'm in Indianapolis, and would like to know who the best are around here as I'm looking at used pianos that may (uhh, WILL) need more work.

I also need one for Dayton OH, for Cincinnati OH, and for Chicago. Are we allowed to mention names on this forum? Or maybe someone could PM me?

Here is one of several used pianos I'm checking out. I think it's a 5'3", serial #89008. Any opinions from the pros?

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/msg/485192499.html


And another that makes me nervous because it's so cheap, but it could have to do with that incredibly hideous color that no one in their right mind would want:

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/490297739.html

The worst technician I ever had was a RPT and CTE, if you can believe that. When he left, my piano was as out of tune as it was before he started. To be fair, I believe he was in a hurry, but that shows you that, just like everybody else, some techs have no pride in their work. On the other hand, the best tech I ever had was also an RPT, so good luck finding one that's right for you.

There's no magic to "RPT". It is meant to be a 'minimum certification', nothing more. If you stop learning when you pass the RPT exams, well, you ain't doin' it right. And "CTE" is expressly NOT to be used or advertised as a "super-RPT" designation. RPT's, like anyone else, can have a bad day, get burned out, get to where they just don't care. Sad, but true. Check with people who should know who's good: churches with strong music programs, maybe recording studios in the larger places, maybe there's an annual piano competition?

inlovewithit, "To be fair" is being too fair. If he didn't have time to do a decent job, he should have rescheduled.

Your experience is exactly what I'm concerned about. Do we have to find a decent tech via trial and error? And if I hire a tech to check out a piano in another state, how do I know I've got someone who knows what they're doing?

In short, yes. It is trial and error. The RPT qualification is the only thing you have to go by, and as I've shown, it's certainly not foolproof.

I assume, however, that most RPTs would be well-qualified to do an inspection. Their level of skill may vary, but the tests they take at least guarantee that they know a good amount about pianos.

Find who does the symphony or college piano work in town. Ask for references.

Listen, the list of RPT's is a darn good place to start. These people have worked hard and gained a lot of knowledge. It will be a few years yet before I feel confident enough to attempt the exams. (That is not to say that someone without that designation might nonetheless have more than enough knowledge and experience to fix up an old piano.)

Good place to start, yes, but I'd rather get there in one step. I don't need the best in the city, but I'm not sure I know enough about the mechanics of pianos to know whether I've got a good tech or not. Some of the issues (most, actually) that I had fixed last time have crept back up again. So is that the tech, my piano, or normal working out of the kinks? (My upright languished in a shop or warehouse for a few years before I bought it).

Dinin,

Why do you need all these techs from different areas? Just curious.

The pianos being considered here may not be a true proving ground for a tech's abilities. You can't make a diamond out of a piece of coal without a huge expense....I hope you're looking for a tech to evaluate them BEFORE you buy them.

Being an RPT means you can perform certain piano related tasks--tuning, repair, and regulation--at a competent level under duress. They aren't easy tests, but they aren't rocket science either. IMHO, testing the techs' ethics might not be a bad idea, either...

Dinin,
this question gets raised regularly here. Have you checked the FAQ Tuner Technicians Forum? There is a compilation of good ideas under "How to find a good tech".