Impact Tuning Lever

[Avery Todd]

Well, William,

I guess that means that you can write as well with your left hand as you can
with your right. Assuming that you're right handed, of course. I'm so glad you
can. I can't!

Avery

At 03:32 PM 3/19/05, you wrote:
>Alan,
>
>I do think ambidextrous tuning is a good practice, for many reasons.  That
>said, however, I must respectfully say that I think all any technician needs
>is properly developed technique.  Tuning right or left handed should make no
>difference so long as the technician compensates for the physics of the
>hammer position, movement, etc.
>
>Sometimes, this is a conscious process; e.g. while tuning right handed on a
>vertical, we understand that pulling the pin down a bit will result in a
>(relatively) higher pitch when released - all other things being equal - so
>we compensate by not pulling above pitch as much prior to setting.  This is
>a bit oversimplified, but I think you get the idea.  I would expect that
>mostly it is subconscious.  Whichever hand anyone uses to tune is
>irrelevant.  It is my position that knowing how the piano responds to your
>particular tuning technique IS relevant and is what makes for a good tuning.
>An ambidextrous technician should be equally capable of tuning grands or
>uprights with either hand, in my opinion.
>
>William R. Monroe
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Alan Forsyth" <alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk>
>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 1:35 PM
>Subject: Re: Impact Tuning Lever
>
>
>" I also like your idea of using pitch raises to get used to left-handed
>work. I don't really have the time to try and fine-tune with my left just
>yet.
>Good news!
>-holly" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
>
>Don't know about you guys but we were taught to be ambidextrous from day
>one. Left handed for uprights and right handed for grands. The main idea is
>that it automatically compensates for tuning pin setting. When using your
>left arm to tune an upright, the pin would tend to move upwards (because you
>would be pushing up from underneath) and then settle back down. If you used
>your right arm, you would tend to pull down on the pin. Visa versa with
>grands.
>
>AF
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: ilex cameron ross
>   To: Pianotech
>   Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:44 PM
>   Subject: RE: Impact Tuning Lever
>
>
>   Thanks for sharing, Terry - this is really good to hear. I'm only in my
>early 30s and due to a combination of tuning and a really really stupid fall
>a couple of years ago, I have pretty consistent problems with my tuning
>wrist. Not to mention the weekly chiro visits for just general back and
>shoulder crap. Anymore I absolutely have to wear a wrist brace when tuning,
>and I have been pondering the investment of an impact lever. I also like
>your idea of using pitch raises to get used to left-handed work. I don't
>really have the time to try and fine-tune with my left just yet.
>   Good news!
>   -holly
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
>Behalf Of Terry
>     Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 5:54 AM
>     To: pianotech@ptg.org
>     Subject: Impact Tuning Lever
>
>
>     A while ago I posted questions regarding purchase of an impact tuning
>lever. I've been using it for a few months now and just thought I would
>report in.
>
>     For a couple years now I have been rastling with some kind of
>torn/strained muscle/tendon in my shoulder (thanks to a Boston studio & a
>1098 on the same day) and tendonitis in the elbow - both in my tuning arm.
>It had gotten to the point where I had walked away from several service
>appointments because I knew tuning that piano would put me out of work for
>some weeks.
>
>     I've been using the impact lever for pitch raises on all vertical pianos
>unless they have very low-torque tuning pins. I use my trusty Renner/Bowman
>lever for tuning verticals and everything on grands. I pitch-raised Kimball
>and Baldwin consoles yesterday - both were raised more than 100 cents - they
>both got two pitch-raise passes and then a tuning pass. Both these pianos
>had excessively tight tuning pins - easily around 200+ in-lbs. I used the
>impact lever for these four pitch-raise passes and I have no arm pain today
>at all. The impact lever seems to have saved me!
>
>     I impact the bass with my left hand and the rest of the scale with my
>right - I'm trying to train myself to become ambidextrous with the impact
>lever - again, in case I wreck an arm at some point I could keep tuning. I
>can see that it will take quite a bit of practice to become good at fine
>tuning with the impact lever, but I think using it for all vertical pitch
>raises will eventually get me to the point where I can start attempting
>using the impact lever for fine tuning - I would like to get to the point
>where I can use it for all vertical tuning.
>
>     Bottom line: the impact lever has saved my arm, avoided interruptions in
>income, and will likely extend my tuning career (unless soundboard
>manufacturing can save me from the spinet devils!). I am very happy I have
>started using this great tool!
>
>     Terry Farrell
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives