CLAVIERS BAROQUES -- Service, tuning, repairs, maintenance. -- updated March 28, 2004

• Not only do we service what we sell, we'll work on nearly any keyboard instrument ever made (except modern pianos, they require different equipment than what we have).
• And we travel! Consult our travel schedule or check your local newspaper to see when we will be in your area.
• Want to keep your instrument in top-notch shape? We have maintenance packages available.

• We really like fixing instruments. Since we started Claviers Baroques in 1995 we have worked on hundreds of harpsichords and other early -- and not so early -- keyboard instruments. Our 'patients' have included virginals, clavichords, celestes, harmoniums, pedal harpsichords, practice keyboards, fortepianos and square grand pianos as well as harpsichords of every conceivable size, shape and condition. Because of the variety of these instruments and the degrees of neglect they can sometimes fall into, we can't quote exact prices for our work, but this should give you some idea of what you might expect to pay. Oh, we have to charge GST on all work done in Canada, and Ontario Retail Sales Tax on repairs done in Ontario.

House calls -- $150 minimum, plus travel expenses if out of the Greater Toronto (Ontario, Canada) Area*. This is our basic service call, it takes about an hour and a half. It is usually sufficient to get the average single-manual harpsichord tuned and playing nicely, including any necessary regulation and minor repairs such as a string or two replaced, dampers reset/replaced or plectra replaced/revoiced. We usually dust the soundboard, too. This would also be the usual charge for an appraisal. We normally tune and repair an instrument when we appraise anyway, in order to see exactly what condition it is in, as well as provide a written evaluation. Double-manual harpsichords or instruments that have been neglected or damaged it will take longer and, of course, cost more.
* Note: Don't live in the GTA? If you can wait until we are in your area, or if we can get other work while we are there, we can reduce the travel expenses. Here is our schedule. Your area not on it? Call us anyway, we can probably set something up, especially if you can find us another harpsichord or two to work on when we are out your way -- or feed us.

House calls -- after the first 90 minutes, $75 per hour or part.

Work done in our shop -- $60/hour. Sometimes the job is too big, requires special tools or is something that has to be done over time. If we have to bring your instrument into the shop we'll give you an estimate first. We'll do this for things like complete restringing, revoicing, rebuilding/restoring, and refinishing/repainting.

Square piano restoration -- for pianos 150 or more years old. There has been a renewal of interest in these beautiful instruments and it's about time. Too many of them have been turned into desks and more have been ruined by brutal "restorations" done by persons unversed in historical instruments. If you ask us to restore your 150-year-old square piano we will *not* 'rebuild' it using modern parts, we will restore it using historical methods and materials. If replacement parts are needed we make exact replacements ourselves using the same materials as the original. We source historic woods, metals, leathers, cloths, glues and finishes to match as closely as possible the originals. We use wire made from historically correct alloys and if required wind the bass wires ourselves. This is not inexpensive but the end result is a museum-quality restoration which significantly increases the value of your heirloom instrument. Expect to pay from $10,000 CAD to $20,000 CAD for a full restoration, and plan on it taking one to two years. Not every piano is a suitable candidate for restoration, but contact us, we'll be happy to have a look at yours and give you an assessment and a quote. If your instrument is of historical significance we may write it up for a scholarly journal, too.

"If you think a good harpsichord tech is expensive, try a bad one."

• Our travel schedule:

This is more or less where we plan to be and when, although things often change as we try to work around everyone's schedules, concert rentals and harpsichord emergencies. We'll try to keep it current. Check your local newspaper, too, we put a notice in the classified section if we know far enough in advance. If you would like to book a time for us to visit your instrument when we are in your area or to 'test drive' one of our instruments, contact us and we will see what we can set up for you.

• April 18-22, 2004 -- We will be heading to New York City and New Jersey, passing through Vermont/New Hampshire, Kingston and Ottawa (Ontario), Montreal (Quebec) and on the way back. Does your harpsichord need attention? Contact us!
• spring 2004 -- We will be heading to Bangor ME, passing through Kingston and Ottawa (Ontario) and Montreal (Quebec) on the way there and/or back. We may visit New York City and New Jersey on that trip, too.
• date TBA -- New York City (again), New Jersey, Pennsylvania
• date TBA -- North and South Carolina June 2005 -- We missed the 2003 biannual Boston Early Music Festival and Exhibition (due to the SARS epidemic in Toronto) but by golly we'll be at the 2005 one with a truckload of instruments. We usually go and return via St. Catherines (ON), Niagara Falls (ON and NY) , Albany (NY) etc. but other routes are possible.

• A well-maintained instrument is a joy to play. Regular service visits will keep your instrument well maintained.

  Once we have met your instrument we can recommend a quarterly, semi-annual or annual maintenance package to keep it in top-notch playing condition all the time. Packages start as low as $150 per year. We will visit your instrument on a regular basis to tune and regulate it and to take care of any broken strings, weak plectra, leaky dampers or other problems that may have arisen since our last visit. Not only is a well-maintained instrument a joy to play, it keeps its resale value better.

  "If you think a good harpsichord tech is expensive, try a bad one."

Excuse our dust! Some places we've been recently:

• March 14 - 15, 2004 -- Ottawa (ON) and Montreal (QU).
• February 14 - 21 , 2004 -- Kingston (ON), Montreal (QU), New York (NY)
• November 4-5, 2003 -- Kingston (ON), Ottawa (ON) and Montreal (QU).

© 2004-2011 Claviers Baroques