I've been thinking about what last purchases I want to make before the end of the tax year (piano tech tools, office software, printer, etc.), and thought I'd toss out my "best pick" of the year. I bought a tuning lever from Charles Faulk several months ago, and am very satisfied with the results. My last expensive tuning lever purchase was a Renner/Keith Bowman one, but my notion of what constituted an ideal lever differed with how my arm and shoulder felt about it. At that time I went for the longer one with a dense hardwood handle. I seldom use it, or my Itoshin lever, now. The lever Charles recommended was one with a walnut handle -- lighter than the other exotic woods he uses -- and in combination with the titanium shaft it is really light, but quite rigid. I've had really nasty tendonitis (or is it bursitis --who knows?) problems with my tuning arm's shoulder, and this light but solid hammer has really helped me get through the XMas mad rush with much less discomfort. Kinda like tennis rackets. I used heavy wooden rackets back in my youth, but the titanium ones allow me to still enjoy playing occasionally. I did dig the wooden one out one weekend and surprised my pals with the power of the service I got out of it, but my arm and shoulder were burning for a couple days after. Best wishes, Patrick Draine
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC