Tuning fatigue

[Kenneth W. Burton]

	Ron and the PianoTech list,

	I agree with your sentiments concerning the apparently dishonest
post trying to promote Jesus Christ. But maybe we need to wait until we
find out what actually happened. What _seemed_ to happen, doesn't actually
seem possible.

	Regarding Tuning Fatigue:

	There are many, many ways to skin a cat (which is the theme of my
book DIFFERENT STRIKES--Hammer Techniques For Piano Technicians.)  I have
found that a shaped ball on the end of the hammer handle, has reduced arm
and hand strain significantly, especially on upright pianos. (The shape is
taken from the gear shift lever on my Toyoto Camry.)

	I'm sure that using both hands to tune is a benefit but I haven't
bothered to learn this approach. I do know from experience that changing
the hammer angle on the pin to 9 o'clock when the piano is in a tight
corner is a completely valid move. All it takes is a bit of learned
accomodation re: how high to pull the pitch and how far to push it back
counter-clockwise.

	Ken Burton, "Doctor Piano", Calgary, Alberta

On Thu, 1 Aug 1996, Ronald R Shiflet wrote:

> List,
> 	While attending Western Iowa Tech, Doug Neal advised us to learn
> tuning with both hands right from the start.  Since we didn't know what
> a tuning hammer should feel like, we learned using both hands.  Doug
> reasoned that some homes would have a piano stuck in a corner and it
> would be difficult to tune the extremes of one side of the piano.
> 	When I tune verticals (about 99% of my work) I tune the bass
> right handed and the rest left handed.  When I tune grands, it's all right handed except for the high treble.  It bothers me to move my chair
> around the corner and reach in around the lid prop to move the hammer.
> (it's all psychological, something about gravity if I bump the prop).
> 	I've tuned since 1989 and I have never tuned a piano in a corner that has bothered me.  This technique was frustrating to learn but
> looking back perhaps it was no more frustrating to learn than just
> learning to tune.  As for tuning fatigue, I've never experienced it
> since my arms both get a rest but I'm only 31 but that could always
> change with age.  (As for my back, after 3-4 pianos that's a different
> story...I'm pretty guilty of fatigue...my hobby is cooking and I'm a
> little front heavy)
> 	Anyone wanting to learn this will have to learn a whole new feel
> but it should go quicker assuming that your ears are already trained.  Over the years I've had several good tuners watch me in envy wishing they
> could tune with both hands.
> 	The only downside that I've had was when a customer wanted to
> watch and keep a small conversation going.  When I switch sides I have
> to turn my back to them and then I explain my technique so they don't
> think I'm being rude.  When I want them to be quiet, the technique is
> quite handy.
>
> Ron Shiflet, RPT
> Ron_and_Lorene@Juno.com
>