Impact Tuning Lever

William R. Monroe pianotech@a440piano.net
Sun, 20 Mar 2005 14:34:02 -0600


Avery,

Got it!  Sorry.  I often have trouble taking postings too literally
sometimes.

All's well that tunes well.

William R. Monroe




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Avery Todd" <avery1@houston.rr.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 5:28 AM
Subject: Re: Impact Tuning Lever


> 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>
>



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