"I have a unique and very old piano that I truly love, but it began having problems that I feared might be irreparable.  Don got things working again in a short amount of time, then returned to more thoroughly address the issue with the hammers so that it would not have the problem for a while, and we have planned for him to redo the [damper] felts and reshape the hammers when it is convenient for me later this year.  All of this was at a very reasonable price, and Don was a pleasure to meet and watch work.  Thank you!" — L.P., Springfield, VT

“Thank you, Don, for your service on our piano. Not only were you diligent and professional, but I appreciated your follow up and advice regarding my interest in another piano.” — C. G. Rutland, VT.

“Smokeshire Piano tuning service was responsive, pleasant and professional. Excellent service!” — G.D., Chester, VT.

“The service was exceptional!! Don arrived right as scheduled and proceeded to evaluate what was needed to bring our heirloom piano back in tune. He also explained the need for some additional work that was needed for [the action] and keys. We plan to have that work done as soon as we return home. In addition he was able to provide some historical background  on our piano, that was very interesting. Highly recommend this technician.” — B.E., Weston, VT.

 “Don … completed the much needed repair of the Whiting Library’s piano. The library is extremely grateful for this generous service to the community.” — Whiting Library, Chester, VT.

“Don zeroed in on what was wrong with my piano and went on a search for a hard-to-find gadget that made the pedal work. My piano is now a joy.” — A.T., Keene, NH

“We highly recommend Smokeshire Piano Service.  Don worked on our secondhand piano and brought it back to sounding & playing like new!  We especially appreciate his attention to detail and willingness to work until the job is done.” — J.T. and C. T., Chester, VT

“I was in need of a piano tuner/technician and I am so happy to have found Don Dalton. He is professional, courteous, and painstaking in his work. I now have a piano tuner I can rely on.” — A.S., Alstead, NH

“I want to report that I've been playing my piano all morning and loving the changes. Wow. Just wow. Near tears...the old upright that I've always wanted: one with character AND yet beautifully playable . I've been blaming myself for never being able to learn certain fast passages well enough, but I actually think it's been the piano's rough action holding me back...to some degree at least. Ha! Thank you for your knowledge, skill, and patience. You've transformed my piano from a chore to play into a joy!” — J.A., Springfield, VT

“We acquired this piano 30 years ago and it played poorly and defied our efforts to find someone capable and willing to tune such an old piano. We read about Don and called him in to give it another try. Don took up the challenge. He worked diligently to overhaul the piano and brought it back to life. He was a pleasure to work with and we would recommend him without reservation for any piano tuning project. We are extremely pleased with the results.” — T.M. and A.M., Landgrove, VT [This was a circa 1875 square grand piano in which I installed new hammers and dampers, and then did a complete regulation and tuning.]

“Thank you for your excellent work on our 1927 Mason & Hamlin Model A grand piano. You regulated the action which was well overdue for some maintenance and got it working evenly and much more smoothly. The tone of the piano is now greatly improved from the rather shrill sound it had. It is now possible to play music with the full range of soft and loud. Then you cleaned it up and tuned the piano.

“We greatly appreciate your attention to detail and the professionalism of your work, all done at a reasonable cost and delivered according to your promised schedule.” — D.D., Amherst, MA

“Don Dalton, owner of Smokeshire Piano Service, provided exceptional piano service and gave new life to our piano. Our family has owned several pianos (upright and grand) over the past 30 years and we have had many people work on these instruments. Most of these people were technicians who came and went without any remarkable qualities. Don Dalton, however, is in another league. He is a talented technician who gave our piano a second life.

“We have a Samick grand piano that Don first tuned. He then came back and did a complete overhaul of the keyboard and [action]. I cannot stress enough what a difference this made. The piano is easier to play, and it has a rich smooth sound. Don is easy to work with, and very professional. He arranged the visits around our schedule and did all of the work in a timely manner. He is a good communicator, very honest and his prices are quite fair. If you love to play the piano and you care about the instrument you own, then contact Don Dalton.” — S. H., Londonderry, VT

“I finally found a piano technician who loves my piano as much as I do. I have a classic Steinway grand that was badly in need of regulation and voicing. Don brought that special mix of technical depth and artistry needed to bring my piano to its best. It’s an absolute joy to play now.” — N.B., Springfield, VT

Names of above references provided on request.