Well, I must admit to carrying 3(!) tuning levers in my primary kit. And yes, everyone of them is modified from stock. I've gone from long to short, from heavy back to light. My most used lever is a shortened student lever. Just pulled out of the handle, cut off and pushed back in. The handle is covered with a very thin wetsuit-like tube that I used to have on my bike handlebars. It gives just the right amount of cushion without the loss of "feel". Next, I have a Mahaffey impact lever, shortened (I had a bunch of different size threaded rods made) with the portion between the weight and the head covered with clear vinyl tubing (7/8"?) for grip comfort. Last, I have a mini-extension lever fitted with a long tip for the treble in grands, with a thin-wall tip in reserve. This lever is also covered with the thin handlebar material. I had hoped to make this one the primary lever, but the hex shaft doesn't fit the extension collar tight enough, introducing some wobble. As to technique, "whatever works" is my motto! Learn as many different styles as possible, because the pianos you see will be unpredictable. From super-tight to barely holding, from smooth moving strings to popping through the agraffes, try to be ready for them all..... it's part of the fun! Ron Koval Chicagoland _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
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