Death and Taxes

Two things are certain in this line of work. One, I’ll eventually come across a piano I can’t bring back. It’s simply too far gone. Time, neglect, or damage has taken its toll, and there’s no safe or meaningful way to tune it anymore.

Those are never easy conversations. Many of these pianos carry stories with them. Sometimes it’s an instrument someone grew up with, or one that’s been passed down through generations. In rare cases, people choose to restore them anyway, even when the cost far exceeds the piano’s market value. And honestly, I understand that. Not everything valuable can be measured in dollars.

But there’s another side to these visits that people don’t always see.

When I arrive expecting to tune a piano and instead have to deliver that kind of news, it’s a loss on my end as well. That appointment time can’t be filled, and the visit still carries business costs, including taxes and operating expenses. And that's the second thing that's certain. Taxes. That’s why I charge a $50 inspection fee in these situations. It helps offset a portion of what goes into showing up and doing the work, even when that work ends up being an evaluation instead of a tuning.

And to be clear, I don’t make that call lightly.

If I’m telling you your piano can’t be tuned, it’s because there are real risks involved. In many cases, attempting to tune it could cause further damage, including broken strings or structural issues. My goal is always to leave your instrument better than I found it, not worse.

So if you ever find yourself on the receiving end of that kind of news, just know it wasn’t an easy conclusion to reach. It’s simply the reality of working with instruments that have lived long, complicated lives.

As always, stay tuned.