No, because of, a) outrageous cost,
David
I bought a hammer from Charles 5 years ago. His booth was next to Randy's, where I was selling my book. On the last day of the convention, he had 5 or 6 left, and there was one I really liked. I got it for $235. At the time I had some problems with my elbow and my back. Several people had told me that the ball on the end would solve those problems, but like you, I thought the price was outrageous. But I bit the bullet, and took it home.
As far as tools are concerned, it was probably the best investment I ever made. The new lever did two things for me. Because of the way you can hold on to the lever, within three weeks, the pain in my shoulder and elbow were gone. This was when I was still at Alabama, and during August I tuned all 75 pianos during the three weeks before school started. I tell you, I couldn't believe how little discomfort there was doing all those tuning.
The second thing this new lever did for me was allow me to set the pins much better, because it is so well balanced. This gave me much more solid tunings.
I would highly recommend you buy one of Charles' levers. It is no bigger than the standard tuning lever from the supply houses, and it's designed to allow you to change tips if you need to do that. It will give you more stable tunings, save your shoulder and elbow, and help you speed up your tunings. Which, if you can go from 2 hours down to an hour and a half, you should be able to get in one more tuning ever day. That alone will pay for the lever in just a couple of days.
Wim
-----Original Message-----
From: David Nereson <da88ve at gmail.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wed, Nov 3, 2010 8:24 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] shorter final tuning time with pitch raises; forearm smash
No, because of, a) outrageous cost, b) too long to fit in my
ool case, c) from what I've heard, not as versatile when
hanging heads/tips is required, which for me is quite often.
ut Dan Levitan's lever sounds interesting and is more
easonably priced. But doesn't he have the tip welded to the
ever itself?
--David Nereson, RPT
----- Original Message -----
rom: "Marcel Carey" <mcpianos at hotmail.com>
o: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
ent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 6:19 AM
ubject: Re: [pianotech] shorter final tuning time with pitch
aises; forearm smash
Hi David,
'm just wondering here if you have tried the new tuning levers
hat are on the market these days. I'm thinking "Fujan" or
Charles Faulk".You might be surprised of their efficiency in
eeling the pins and producing a sometimes more stable tuning in
shorter period of time.These tools were introduced to help us
ork smarter.Are you using one of these?
arcel Carey
Wim
Well, to open myself to a possible barrage of criticism,
I've been tuning for 30 years and have never been able to tune
faster than 1 1/4 hrs., unless it's a piano that's already
very
close to being in tune and needs only touch-up, then that
takes
45 min., as on pianos that get tuned twice a year or more, or
just happen to hold a tuning exceptionally well. Most tunings
take me 1 1/2 hrs., more finicky tunings for clients with
critical ears or on nicer grands, usually 2 hours. If the
former need a pitch raise, 2 1/2 hrs. Decades ago, I would
spend 3 hrs. on a concert tuning.
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