[pianotech] Hammer Technique: was Q & A Roundtable

[David Love]

You need to reread the article.  If you can go there in one large movement
and not overshoot then that's great.  Any single movement to the target will
save time.  But the point was that tuning up to the target in a couple of
quick small movements to prevent overshooting can be quicker and more stable
than overshooting and settling things back down.  Overshoot is not necessary
if you apply counter pressure to the pin to offset the tendency for the
twisting and bending motion to pull it sharp, but I'm not going to revisit
the entire thing here.  It's in the piece that I wrote and the application
of that type of counter pressure was the main point.    

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Nereson
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 11:12 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Technique: was Q & A Roundtable

<< Also, an approach that creeps
up to the target in a series of smaller movements will be more 
efficient
than trying to move there in one larger movement.  Overshooting 
your target
wastes time.  Having a tuning lever that transmits feel more 
efficiently is
extremely helpful.
>>

I have to disagree.  It seems to me that creeping up to the 
target in smaller movements wastes time, rather than one quick 
movement followed by a smaller refining movement or two. 
Besides, in my experience, on old pianos, high tension scales, 
or rusty strings, you're more likely to break strings if you 
pull up slowly, rather than using a quick slight loosening 
(flattening) movement followed by a quick pull up to or slightly 
above the target.

At least some overshoot seems necessary to me, to counteract the 
upward and sideways bending of the pin. If you just push or pull 
up to your target spot, then let go, it will go flat.

I just bought a carbon fiber lever.  Yes,  I notice more 
stiffness, not as much flex, but it's an extremely subtle 
difference, and barely noticeable.  I'm glad I spent only $200 
and not $400.

    --David Nereson, RPT