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Our Service


Ralph Joseph Onesti Piano Restorations
1317 MacDade Boulevard, Woodlyn, PA 19094
Phone or Fax 610.833.1657    email: service@onestipiano.com

Professional and courteous service is a priority at Ralph Joseph Onesti Piano Restorations. We have enjoyed a fine reputation both on and off the concert stage, institutionally and in the home, for nearly four decades. Our office maintains permanent records for every piano serviced and attempts regular phone contact with each client on a quarterly or individually chosen basis. We service privately owned pianos, institutions, churches and commercial venues. Our Delaware Valley servicing area includes: Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester Counties, Wilmington, New Castle and parts of Southern New Jersey.

Our restorations can be found all across the nation.

Click to view RPT certification (center graphic), use browser back arrow to return here.

Piano services provided: click on item below for details

Tuning Procedure:

Time: 1 Hour (approximate)
The technician, while completing a tuning procedure, will also inform the client as to the current condition of their instrument, noting observations and suggestions for further service on the service order. A permanent, detailed record is kept of each appointment.

Pitch Correction:

Time: 1 Hour (approximate) per required procedure
The piano may first require one or more pitch correction procedures before it can be tuned. This is necessary when the pitch of the piano in question has ‘moved’ more than 7% above or below A440. This condition varies with individual pianos and may be expected if the piano has not been serviced for a long period of time or has been exposed to extremes in temperature and humidity. The process is the same as that performed in tuning, however, it may need to be repeated in order to obtain the proper pitch and stability.

A Word About Contracts

This is an issue of great importance and worth mentioning.
In our history we have never felt it necessary to approach our clients with a service contract. We have serviced several school districts, churches, many commercial clients, and numerous professionals, as well as privately owned pianos for many years. We have developed a mutually beneficial and comfortable relationship, with superior service, on an as-needed basis.
Contracts leave little control in the hands of the client as to who will be servicing their piano and less if they become dissatisfied or uncomfortable with the service entity. They are bound until the contract expires. Regular servicing by the same individual, backed by diligent record keeping, allows for consistency and familiarity with the instrument, thereby insuring stability.
Conversely, the piano owner who changes or chooses a technician based on price alone is doing themselves and their piano a great disservice.

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In-Home Repairs

Time and materials, charged by the quarter hour when provided at a scheduled Tuning Appointment. When provided as a separate Service Call; one hour minimum, charged by the quarter hour thereafter.

Upon approval from the client, the technician is prepared to complete any necessary repairs including but not limited to: action adjustments, string replacement, tuning pin replacement, lubrication of action parts, easing keys, minor regulating and voicing (please see information below regarding regulation and voicing procedures).

Minor Shop Repairs

Time and materials, unless otherwise arranged. On occasion it may become necessary to bring a part back to the shop facility for repair, i.e. lyre reconditioning, broken keys etc. If the technician indicates a minor repair is required in our facility, the part or parts are brought back to the shop; the repair is effected in a timely manner, and the part or parts returned to the piano. An estimate must be approved by the client and a deposit provided, prior to removal of any parts to the shop.

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Regulation and Voicing

Time and materials.
Regulating the action is an involved, inter-related process. It is the key, when pressed, which brings the hammer into contact with the string. Between the key and the string, when one adjustment is made, another may be necessary to compensate for the first and so on until the proper efficiency is achieved for each individual key. The process can take several hours to an entire day.
The end result of voicing is to achieve a uniform sound as the hammers strike each note throughout the piano. Given the intended use of the piano and the personal style of the pianist, this area is subjective. Consideration must be given to the individual instrument as well as the construction of the action parts. Where a thorough voicing of the entire instrument is warranted, extending the life of the action and enhancing the playing, the owner can expect the procedure to take an entire day.

In some cases, the tranportation of the action to the shop may be necessary.

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Concert Preparation

Time and materials. The process may require several hours. An hourly fee applies.
Provide the technical service necessary to render the piano ‘in tune’ to the best of its ability. Leave the piano, within the time permitted and according to the piano's condition, as playable as possible. Voicing will be accomplished according to the subjective taste of the artist. If the artist's input is not available, the technician will use their own discretion.

Recording Studio Preparation

Time and materials. The process may require several hours. An hourly fee applies.
Refer to Concert Preparation above. The piano's reliability and use of recording will always be the objective.

In case you'd like to hear some of our work; the homepage and it's link to the site information page both have cuts from a recording session in which Ralph Onesti prepared the instrument.

Evaluation for Restoration

Time: 1 Hour on-site(approximate)
The piano will be closely examined. The action is pulled for visual inspection; torque readings are taken to determine the pin block's ability to maintain a normal tuning procedure; the ribs, soundboard, bridges and strings are observed and condition noted, as well as the condition of the finish and case parts.

As a result, a fully detailed report is compiled. This report will advise the owner of the approximate original purchase price and current worth, and what it's enhanced value would be with restoration. There will be no question whether the instrument is, or is not, worth the financial investment. Detailed information is also included regarding the rebuilding process, choosing a rebuilder, and background on our facility. This evaluation will also prove useful for purposes of insurance and resale.

The package includes a contract detailing all work to be effected and the final cost of the restoration. Contact us by phone or email at appraise@onestipiano.com to arrange an appointment.
For more insight into our restorations, click here. For a virtual visit to the shop click here. Have fun!

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Appraisals for Insurance or Resale

Time: 1 Hour (approximate)
The piano will be inspected and observations noted, similar to the evaluation process above. The resulting report is suitable for obtaining the proper insurance coverage for the piano or for substantiating the piano's current value for resale. Provided free of charge to established service and rebuilding clients. Contact us by phone or email at appraise@onestipiano.com to arrange an appointment.

Occasionally we are called upon to observe an instrument that has sustained damage due to water, fire, moving, etc. We will provide your insurance company with the necessary factual details in order to process your claim.

Ralph Onesti is registered nationally as an Expert Witness with the Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys, TASA.

Purchasing Assistance

Handled through the office, as a scheduled appointment, we will be happy to observe any piano, private sale or retail, being considered for purchase. The value of an unbiased opinion goes without question. We are not a retailer, so this service does not benefit us other than the service fee that is charged. Provided free of charge to established service and rebuilding clients. Contact us by phone or email at appraise@onestipiano.com to arrange an appointment.

Preventive Maintenance Packages: Dampp-Chaser Climate Control and Custom Grand Piano String Covers

Today, over 340,000 pianos worldwide are protected from humidity fluctuations by Dampp-Chaser Piano Climate Control Systems. Endorsed by major piano manufacturers, the System is installed virtually out-of-sight inside the piano to lengthen the instrument's useful life. With a Dampp-chaser System, shrinking and swelling of wooden parts is minimized, the pitch stabilizes, tonal quality and touch improves noticeably, and the piano's investment value is safe-guarded year after year. Systems must be installed by professional piano technicians or manufacturers warranties will be voided. Ralph Joseph Onesti Piano Restorations is a certified Field Expert, an approved installer, of Dampp-Chaser Climate Control Systems.

If you have invested in the purchase of a piano, does it not make sense to protect your investment? All of our clients are made aware of how humidity or the lack of, combined with variations in temperature, affects the performance and stability of a piano. Did you realize that the most expensive home air conditioning system will do nothing for the piano? We encourage and educate our clients on the use of Dampp-Chaser Humidity Control Systems for their pianos. To visit Dampp-Chaser's informative and illustrative website click here! But please use Back in your browser to come back and learn more.

For grand pianos, we also strongly suggest the use of a Custom Grand Piano String Cover. This lightweight cover, made of the highest quality woven wool, will protect the strings and board from dust, animal hair or other debris (the accidentally spilled beverage). Its use will not dampen the sound and built in batons keep the cover off of the strings entirely. Each attractive cover is custom fit with serged edges and decorative stitching. It is available in several colors with coordinating trim stitching colors to match your piano and decor. When used in combination with a properly installed humidity control system, you have the ultimate in protection for your piano, far beyond what any home environmental system could provide. As an incentive, we will discount both when purchased at the same time.

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PianoDisc Installations

Imagine PianoDisc. Imagine what it would be like to entertain your guests while your piano reproduces the performances of Rachmaninoff, Horowitz and Rubinstein. Imagine listening to Broadway show tunes, jazz improvisations or Latin favorites - every genre of music - played on your piano. Dance to your favorite melodies, sing accompanied in your favorite key, or perhaps you'd like the solitude of a private performance. The PianoDisc music library runs the gamut from pop to classical, jazz, country, blues, ragtime and much more. Selections can be ordered direct from our facility at a discount by phone or via this website.

PianoDisc manufactures retrofit systems for acoustic pianos. The PianoDisc player system converts virtually any piano, grand or upright, into a reproducing piano - a modern player piano that utilizes sophisticated digital technology. The PianoDigital with QuietTime system converts an acoustic piano into a digital instrument with MIDI capabilities that can also be muted 100%. PianoDisc systems are currently in use in the home, by music schools, recording studios and many commercial establishments. The properly installed PianoDisc system of your choice, fitted carefully to your instrument, will allow you to play music to suit your mood, whatever or whenever that may be.

Ralph Joseph Onesti Piano Restorations has the ability to transform your instrument, grand or vertical, into one that is able to offer a whole new source of enjoyment and entertainment value for the entire family. In addition, the installation of a PianoDisc further enhances the current value of your piano. Our staff is trained and PianoDisc Certified to install their systems. To visit the PianoDisc website for more detailed information on there systems (choose Products) or to view the vast selections available from the music library click here, then please use Back in your browser to return to us.

Please go to the Maintenance Tips, and Piano Talk pages for care guidelines and terminology to assist you in communicating with your technician.

If you require further information regarding our service or wish to set an appointment, please feel free to contact the office by phone or email your request to service@onestipiano.com.

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