Steve offers a range of tuning services, from basic touch-ups through instrument overhauls to complete rehabilitation and reconstruction of instruments.

Before any work is done on any instrument sent for tuning, Steve will perform a thorough examination of the pan and give you a complete estimate of the work to be done.

Basic Tuning

Any well maintained instrument will only require a basic touch-up, which makes the tuning easier to perform. It is strongly recommended that all steeldrums be tuned once a year in order to keep them in tip-top condition. A basic touch-up will cost $ 100.00 per instrument; prices quoted here are "per instrument"; so for example, tuning a pair of Double Seconds will cost $ 100.00 (not $ 100.00 x 2).

Overhauls

More intense overhauls of badly out-of-tune instruments can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours or more. This type of work is billed at $ 50.00 per half-hour. This covers instruments that have not been tuned for several years or which have been played with excessive force.

Rebuilds

Complete instrument rebuilds are sometimes required on instruments that have been poorly constructed. The need for this can be identified immediately upon seeing the instrument. Rates for this are quoted on a per-instrument basis, as the work may require removal of rust and old paint, reshaping of the instrument, tightening of note panels, and repainting, and frequently can take upwards of 10 hours.

General Information

Tunings can be done either at Steve's home in Akron, Ohio, or at your premises. In either case, the costs involved in sending the instrument(s) to Steve or transporting him to the instrument(s) are not included in the tuning costs. Any accomodation costs incurred will also need to be covered by you.

Here are some tips that will make the tuning experience more enjoyable and more productive.

Work Area Requirements

The tuning work will be need to be performed in a well-lit room, away from any noise-sensitive areas. Access to a power outlet is required. For example, a typical band room is a good place, since it is usually fairly well soundproofed, and located in a place where noise is not a major factor.

Additionally, the tuning area itself needs to be free from noises that might interfere with the stroboscopic tuner. So for example, areas such as a machine shop, a busy corridor, or a room adjacent to a band rehearsal in progress are not suitable.

It is also generally a good idea to have the tuning area close to the instruments. Having to move instruments one at a time from a storage area to a tuning area simply slows down the task of tuning the pans, and adds to the physical strain involved in performing an already physical task. So for example, having instruments in storage a room adjacent to the room where the tuning will happen is acceptable, but having them located 2 corridors away in another room is not.

Please Clean Your Pans!

Having the instruments all out of their cases, hanging on stands, and CLEAN can really be a big help. Some of the tools used in retuning pans have been very carefully polished and shaped; dirty and rusted pans can damage the hammer faces. As a general rule, Steve does not work on rusted instruments without first cleaning them. Additional charges may be incurred for this service.