William, Actually, in my sometimes inept way, I was just trying to express a little bit of envy. I've frequently wished I was ambidextrous. Then I wouldn't have to "always" lift the lid on a grand to tune the high treble. It just seems like such a shame to remove that nice display of pictures, knick-knacks, whatever. :-) Avery At 08:24 PM 3/19/05, you wrote: >Avery, > >Um, I thought we were speaking about tuning, yes? How does my writing fit >in? > >I am actually left handed writer, but mostly a right handed tuner (still >working on my left handed tuning). > >Perhaps I should clarify, though I'm not sure if this is what you are >questioning. I guess I'm speaking a bit hypothetically here, suggesting >that if one were equally capable with either hand on the tuning lever, then >it would matter not which one they chose to tune either kind of piano. They >would be able to produce the same results with left or right hand on an >upright or grand, because they have the technique, not because it is better >to tune left handed on a vertical, etc. > > > >John, > >Even in the not so old days!! I was actually restricted from writing with >my left hand for some time - until my Mother (left-handed that she is) found >out and put an end to that!!! Thanks Mom. > >William R. Monroe > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Avery Todd" <avery1@houston.rr.com> >To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> >Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 4:30 PM >Subject: Re: Impact Tuning Lever > > > > 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 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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