By Appointment Wed-Sat / Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 884-3130
(310) 477-7195
By Appointment Only!
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Garron R. Larcombe's
The Piano Warehouse
A Division of GL Pianos - The Leading Source for Fine Pianos in Los Angeles
GL Pianos
Garron R. Larcombe
Certified Piano Technician & Aural Tuner
Ystrad Mynach College, City & Guilds diplomas in Piano Tuning/Rebuilding
Studied at; The Cardiff College of Music, The Royal Schools of Music; Wales, Great Britain
Tuning a Shigeru Kawai SK7 Semi-Concert Grand for a performance. Shigeru Kawai’s are one of the world’s best instruments. They are handmade and this particular 7’ 6” model retails for $124,295
GL Pianos / The Piano Warehouse
was founded and established by certified piano technician and keyboardist Garron R. Larcombe.
In Los Angeles, what began as a 6 day a week tuning & repair service over 3 decades ago has grown into a successful piano business
offering New Kawai (acoustic & digital), pre-owned acoustic Yamaha and Kawai, restored Steinways, and play piano systems.
One of the most unique and expensive pianos I have worked on was for the world-renowned recording artist Prince
I worked on several pianos for him including his Schimmel / Colani K208 “Pegasus” Grand
Notice; Prince removed the Pegasus symbol from the lid and replaced it with his “Love Symbol”
There were only 14 Pegasus grands made and they retailed for approx. $200,000 each
On stage at the Hollywood Bowl tuning for Thom Yorke, Flea, etc. Their band 'Atoms for Peace' was playing
that night and I stayed for the concert which was great!
For 5 years I tuned the piano for the exclusive Vanity Fair Oscar Party. It was interesting being part of the crew
and twice I made the Vanity Fair 'Setting the Stage' videos
Voicing a few hammers on a Hamburg
Steinway A Grand - May 2011
Vanity Fair 'Setting the Stage'
Background & Qualifications
Originally from South Wales, Great Britain, I began playing piano at the age of 8. A few years later I received a certificate in Grade V (Higher), in ‘Theory of Music’ from the Royal Schools of Music, and studied percussion at the Cardiff College of Music (I played percussion in a youth orchestra). By coincidence, years later I tuned & prepped pianos for the Royal Schools of Music for other students to take their exams.
​
My interest in music then progressed into the technical aspects of pianos and in 1979 (I was 17), was accepted into Ystrad Mynach College (music dept.) in Wales. I studied at the college in their 2-year, full-time program specializing in tuning, repairing, and reconditioning pianos, alongside guitar, harp, and violin makers.
​
​
​
​
​
​
To see my Qualifications
Click on the Welsh Dragon
Upon graduating I received several certificates from the City and Guilds of London Institute. I also became a member of the
Institute of Musical Instrument Technology which is equivalent to being a RPT in the Piano Technicians Guild in the U.S.
Shortly thereafter I started and operated my own piano service & rebuilding shop in Wales (GL Pianos).
The local newspaper did a story about me when I was
19 years old (Wales, GB). This was one of the pictures they took.
​
Notice the bass strings go straight down on the piano because it's
a Birdcage/Overdamper; over 120-year-old European piano.
Since moving to Los Angeles in 1985, I have tuned & serviced over 25,000 pianos (without exaggerating). Through my skill, hard work and dedication I became one of the most requested technicians working throughout Los Angeles County.
Never turning any job down, I also covered approx. a 300-mile perimeter throughout SoCal including: Orange, San Bernardino,
Riverside, and Ventura counties; tuning and servicing 4 or 5 pianos a day - 6 days a week.
Antique & Unusual Pianos
Over the years, I specialized in many antique pianos including Birdcage/Overdamper, Square Grands, Viennese, and any strange and unusual pianos which came my way. I always found it interesting to investigate these instruments, many times having to improvise repairs as parts were not available.
I had approx. 25 clients with Square Grands including John Schneider ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ & Wes Borland ‘Limp Bizkit’
To read more about Square Grands and Birdcage/Overdamper pianos;
January 2000, my clients were very pleased with my work - they could not find a local technician
who wanted to tackle all the repairs & tune their very old and unique piano.
Their Chickering Square Grand dates back to approx. 1870. They sent me this note with the photo.
I have worked on all types of Player Pianos, Mini Pianos, Nickelodeons (with or without a keyboard), Electric Pianos (Fender Rhodes, Yamaha CP-70, Kawai EP-608, etc.), Hohner Duo (Clavinet/Pianet), Autoharps, etc.
The oldest pianos I have tuned & worked on were 2 different John Broadwood & Sons Semi Grands, one of which was serial #10433 and was made in London in 1826 (I was told it was on the Queen Mary ocean liner).
I was also the main technician for Owen Piano Company for their stores in Los Angeles and Canoga Park for approx. 9 years
(1986 to 1995), and worked for other well-known piano stores in L.A., Hollywood, and the surrounding areas.
To read a referral letter from Owen Piano Company;
I don’t usually sell Steinway Duo-Art reproducing pianos however as the player system worked very well, I decided to partially restore this piano with new refinishing, strings, damper felts, and hammers (and have an associate of mine service the player)
I find these instruments fascinating with a lot of character and soul
I also included 48 rolls of music
Steinway OR Duo-Art Reproducing Grand (1929)
I shot this video on the day of delivery at my client's home