More on hearing protection

[John M. Formsma]

Geoff,

 

I just learned a new thing to allow one to tune a piano at pianissimo
levels. *(Courtesy of Leonard Gustafson, RPT, of the Memphis PTG chapter,
who picked it up from a Steinway tech doing a technical at one of our
chapter meetings.)

 

Anyway, you use a vertical hammer shank (or something similar) to slightly
deflect the string after it's tuned. The idea is that a hard test blow will
show any string movement (from deflection by the hammer). A deflection by a
hammer shank will also do this, but at a greater level than the severest
test blow ever could. I used this yesterday on the four pianos I tuned (2
verts & 2 grands), and it worked very well, although it's slow at first b/c
it's a new skill. I gave one string ten whacks as hard as I could, and
nothing moved in the slightest. I also did a few hard blows in various
sections to ensure that it works everywhere. I'm very glad to know of this
as my playing/test blow elbow has been sore lately.

 

The only downside I can see is that it might take a bit longer at first.
(Leonard tunes in 45min to 1 hour, so it hasn't slowed him down.) The
positives are that we won't have hearing loss from hard test blows, and body
damage is also greatly reduced. I'll gladly trade test blows for a few more
years of hearing and less pain.

 

John Formsma

 

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Geoff Sykes
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 2:00 AM
To: Pianotech at Ptg. Org
Subject: More on hearing protection

 

With the "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, Part 2" article in the Q&A section of
The Journal, I'd like to hear from some fellow tech's who have tried the Zem
earplugs, by Sensgard. They're ugly, but the technology is such a different
approach than just a simple "plug" that perhaps they could be very useful. I
have been using 32db foam Hearos, but I find that while the foam is
comfortable I get a lot of attenuation variation from one set to the next,
and they're not that flat in response. I also have a pair of Etymotic High
Fidelity Earplugs, (identical to the Hearos High Fidelity Ear Filters),
which work great. My only complaints are that they're not that long term
comfortable and that since the frequency response is much flatter, the
attenuation, (rated at 20db), is perhaps a little too much. Zem claims 32db
reduction. 

 

-- Geoff Sykes

-- Assoc. Los Angeles

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