Tuning fixes the pitch of the notes, but on its own it isn’t enough to keep a piano running smoothly: hammers, felts, keys and pedals wear and settle with use, regardless of whether the strings are correctly in tune. Regulation is the complete check of the instrument’s mechanical side — the part that tuning alone doesn’t cover.
During a regulation visit we check the adjustment of the action (key dip, hammer alignment, the response of the “double escapement” that allows the same note to be repeated quickly), the condition of felts and dampers, pedal function and, for grand pianos, keyboard alignment. Minor adjustments are corrected at this stage, often before they become an obvious problem for the player.
How often it’s needed depends on use: for a piano played regularly, we recommend a regulation every 2-3 years, in addition to periodic tuning; for a newly purchased instrument, new or after a move, an initial check within the first few months helps the piano settle into its new conditions. We carry out regulation at home, alongside the tuning service, for private clients, schools, institutes and theatres throughout the region.