Snd Retune Season

From March 1st to September 1st of each year is the Snd retune season.

During this season, you can get retune service at the cost below.
Also we are accepting retune for other maker’s handpan only during this period.

We hope to bring you better instrument maintenance experience through the season.

• Snd Handpan
  – Note (F#3~E5): KRW 20,000
  – Ding size note(C3~F3): KRW 30,000
  ex) Whole retune
  9 notes: KRW 190,000, 10 notes: KRW 210,000

• Other maker’s Handpan
  – Note: KRW 50,000
  – Ding size note: KRW 60,0000
  ex) Whole retune
  9 notes: KRW 460,000, 10notes: 510,000원

• The exact amount of retune cost and time will be noticed after checking up the instrument by the tuner in person. Please reserve the checkup session below link, then visit us with your instrument.

• If it is difficult to visit in person due to living abroad, please send the sound demo vide of your instrument first to handpansnd@gmail.com. Then we will reach to you soon.

How it works, the Harmonics tuning

The identity of the special tone of handpan is the ‘Harmonics‘ vibration phenomenon. How precisely and reliably these harmonics are implemented determines the quality of the instrument’s sound.

In addition to the root tone (Tonic), the individual pitches of the elliptical handpan tone-field include two overtones (Octave, Compound 5th) with an exact integer ratio, and all three frequencies (TOF) resonate as one tone at the exact location. This is called harmonics.

Therefore, in the case of handpans, tuning is said to be correct when the TOFs are all stable in the ± 0.9 hertz range, and new instruments are tuned and sold in this state.

ex) C#4 Harmonics Tuning = Tonic C#4: 277.18Hz, Octave C#5: 554.37Hz, 5th G#5: 830.61Hz

Why retune?

Even a new instrument that is well-tuned will gradually become out of tune due to long-term playing, the influence of temperature/humidity, or external shocks. Due to the nature of the handpan, even if only one pitch is out of tune, it sounds as if a certain harmony is broken, making it uncomfortable for playing and listening.

Therefore, depending on the frequency of use, it is important to have regular retune at least once a 6th month or a year to manage the tuning condition, and professional musicians sometimes receive retunes before important recordings or performances.

In addition, the process of purchasing a new instrument, playing it, and receiving a retune is repeated, then the sound of handpan becomes softer and deeper, which is described as ‘the sound ripens‘. Depending on how ripe the sound is, it becomes the basis for setting the price of a used instrument high, and accumulated retune records prove the value of an instrument.

Therefore, building up a good retune record of your instrument will be a way to increase the value of your instrument.