Unstrung Steinway 'A'

Bösendorfer pre voicing

Verdigris found in many older Steinways -
often the cause of sluggish actions

"The Stanwood Method"


Checking the front weight of the keys

Measuring the strike weight of the shanks

Hammer Leading

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERVICES

Tuning

"Christopher Ris has an extraordinarily precise ear, tunes
impeccably, and is fully expert at everything from minor regulation
to full-scale rebuilding."

~ Denny Zeitlin  http://dennyzeitlin.com 

Voicing

Where the true artistry of a piano technician lies.

Action Service

All pianos need periodic attention to the more than 10 adjustments per note. A precise regulation brings a piano to it’s highest potential and gives the pianist the fullest range of expression. 

“I am especially pleased with your work on the actions. Both pianos now 'float' under the fingers in a way that is extremely unusual and very special indeed. For the greatly increased expressive possibilities, I am very grateful. Those who play the Baldwin in concert are consistent in their praise of the instrument." 

With gratitude,
Jim Bisbing
Director, St John’s Episcopal Church Concert Series

Ivory repair and restoration

 

Restoration 

Fine old pianos can be made ‘like new’ or even ‘better than new’ with a complete restoration.  Today’s selection of quality parts coupled with a sophisticated knowledge of action geometry can match and even improve on a piano’s original touch and tone. Actions are evaluated and balanced according to the Stanwood Method: a new system that describes how each action part contributes to the feel of the action in terms of weight, leverage, and friction.
http://www.stanwoodpiano.com/first.htm 

“So many times piano technicians do not understand what to do to make the touch correct and ruin pianos when they work on them.  The actions (on Christopher’s pianos) were even from note to note and had exactly the right amount of resistance.  It was very easy to bring out nuances and interpretation in the music. . .

In my fifty plus years of teaching piano and performing experience, it is very rare to find someone as committed to excellence in piano rebuilding as Christopher and I would recommend that you try his pianos and see for yourself."

~Barbara Wilkens, performer and teacher http://home.earthlink.net/~barbwilkens

Humidity control

Installer of Piano Lifesaver Systems
(http://www.pianolifesaver.com/english/home.php)

Changes of temperature and humidity are the main cause of tuning instability. This system stabilizes the climate inside the piano and dramatically extends the longevity of the tuning. Ideal for sensitive pianos and unstable environments.

"Ris Piano delivers high wire performance in the most nonchalant manner. Christopher Ris, a musician himself, not only tunes pianos, but services, restores, and rebuilds them too. My Mason Hamlin Model A grand was needing tuning every 3 months. It was annoying. Chris fixed that pronto by putting in a DampChaser system. Once a year was all it needed after that. An ample demonstration of him putting customers before his own profit." ~ Jason Schwager

Conservation of historical instruments

When parts are no longer available for historic pianos, actions can be restored using the original parts through a process of refelting the originals. Period specific wire is available to match the metals of the original strings.

Appraisals

For insurance, estate evaluations and sales.

 
Sales and consignment sales

A selection of hand-picked vintage pianos from around the world. Specializing in vintage “West Coast” pianos that have been spared the intense temperature and humidity changes of the Midwest and East Coast that prematurely age pianos.

" . . . I took one look around the place (Ris Piano) and concluded that this was a man who loves and knows his pianos on a level that is reached by few human beings. I played the Steinway M for sale for about thirty seconds before deciding to buy it. . . . The piano . . . had been restored to near perfection, and Chris, much to his credit, was quick to point out its remaining imperfections. I had my own technician look at the piano and she quickly agreed: the restoration work was phenomenal. I didn't bother haggling over the money because the asking price was very reasonable and it was clear Chris had put a ridiculous number of hours into restoring the 1927 Steinway M to its original glory. I'd hire him as a technician in a heartbeat. I'd recommend him as a tech in a heartbeat. And I'd buy a piano from him in a heartbeat." ~ Dylan Schaeffer, Oakland, CA