Kevin: I bought a Fujan a couple of years ago and have never looked back. Mine is old enough that it's the aluminum tube so it's a little heavier than the new carbon ones, but it works very well for me. The stiffness. Once you've used a lever that stiff, nothing else feels right. dp David M. Porritt, RPT dporritt at smu.edu -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Fortenberry, Kevin Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 3:34 PM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Tuning hammer technique and latest tuning hammers (Kevin Fortenberry) List, I am really enjoying the discussion on hammer technique, and after reading and thinking about the last post from Fred, I was tuning a Hamilton in the bass and switched to my right hand (which I started doing about 10 years ago after running into tremendous wrist, elbow and shoulder pain) and noticed that I do hold my hammer at 2 to 3 o'clock on many occasions. I also have evolved over the years into a very similar technique to what you guys are describing. I will continue to observe and try to improve further. Thanks for this! By the way, after a few months of using both hands to tune, all my pain is gone (except for "tuner's neck" of course). My question is: I really need to invest in a new hammer, and I thought maybe some of you could share with the list what hammer/s you like the best and why. I am interested in the Jahn extendable from Pianotek; the Charles faulk hammers seem really nice; and then there are the new carbon fiber shank ones like Fuyan, etc. I know this could be a can of worms because everyone has to choose what works for them, but I would really like to know what some of you all have selected for use in a real world. I have been using one of 2 hammers, my old Apsco ext with a ball added on, and a Schaff rosewood ext.-also added a ball a few years ago. Thanks to all. Kevin Fortenberry ________________________________________________________________ Message: 1 Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:34:41 -0400 From: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com> Yes, that is correct, and it seems to be important in making the hammer very rigid. es Subject: Re: [CAUT] Bechstein model B tuning stability If memory serves, no. Part of Dan's approach is to have all joints welded together for extra rigidity. Can someone else verify this? Alan Eder -----Original Message----- From: David Ilvedson <ilvey at sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Bechstein model B tuning stability I remember Dan's article and the photo of the hammer. Seems rather large...does it break down for transport? David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 Subject: Re: [CAUT] Bechstein model B tuning stability On Oct 18, 2009, at 11:07 AM, Ed Sutton wrote: >> Fred- >> >> The point of Dan Levitan's over-the-stretcher lever is not to >> "eliminate flagpoling." The point is to eliminate unintentional >> flagpoling. You are free to control flagpoling in all directions, >> with or witout rotational forces. >> >> In a standard tuning lever, whenever you apply rotational force, you >> are also applying a certain amount of tilting force, proportional to >> the "rise" of the handle from the pin in the block, in the direction >> you are pushing the handle to rotate the pin. >> >> In Dan's over-the-stretcher lever, there is no rise, so if you >> rotate, you only rotate. But you are also free to tilt the pin in >> any direction, intentionally, not accidentally. It's not at odds >> with your approach, it's a more controllable version of your approach. >> >> Ed > OK, fair enough. I "eliminate" the undesired tilt from the equation >by using a 12 o'clock position (11 to 1, to be precise), meaning the >tilt is at very close to 90 degrees from the string, and has minimal >effect on the string. That works well for me. Dan's design is >intriguing, but would require a major re-learning of technique. Which >is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes starting again from scratch >is a good way to leave bad habits behind. Dan's design also >essentially requires the hammer be in line with the string, for >geometrical reasons (though 6 o'clock instead of 12 for a grand). So >the technique would be the same - lean the pin towards or away from >the string for the given purpose. >Regards, >Fred Sturm >University of New Mexico >fssturm at unm.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20091018/6313d3a4/attachment-0001.htm> ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ CAUT mailing list CAUT at ptg.org http://ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/caut End of CAUT Digest, Vol 12, Issue 52 ************************************
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