<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">I understand the concept of buying a "good" one to begin with. There's also the issue of my husband trying to keep us out of debt while I pursue this new endeavor. =)<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I haven't heard anyone mention the Watanabe lever. Is there a reason for this besides the fact that it's in the same category/price range as the Schaff?</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Michelle Smith</DIV><DIV>Student Tuner</DIV><DIV>Bastrop, Texas</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Apr 4, 2006, at 11:14 AM, Joseph Garrett wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: AGaramond Bold; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><O:SMARTTAGTYPE name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></O:SMARTTAGTYPE><O:SMARTTAGTYPE name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></O:SMARTTAGTYPE><DIV><DIV>I think that one will do a better job, if you aren't fighting the tool! My experience with Schaff hammers is that they are too, (for lack of a better word), "clunky", as in cumbersome and out of balance. Tis' better to pop for the expensive one FIRST, IMO. That way you won't be buying buckets of the dang things, trying tofind the "perfect" one.</DIV><DIV>I had the great experience of using a titanium hammer, the other day, (my mentored Associate has one), and I found it to be excellent. As in better than any that I own, at present. (I have at least 12 of various configurations.<G> Never counted, but that sounds about the right number.<G>) It had a nice balance and it didn't seem to fatigue me like others do.</DIV><DIV>Of course, there are reasons to have more than one: some pianos require a lighter hammer to compensate for loose pins, etc. Some pianos require a "brute force" tuning hammer, because of extremely tight pins. Some pianos are so out of tune that you need an impact to help insure that strings won't break while you are "cranking" that puppy. Some have tuning pins so damned close to each other that you need to have a balanced hammer and thin wall tip to manuever from pin to pin. I could go on forever, but won't, as I suspect you get the idea. Having lots of different toys...er tools is a good thing, IMO.</DIV><DIV>Regards,</DIV><DIV><DIV>Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)</DIV><DIV>Captain, Tool Police</DIV><DIV>Squares R I</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV><DIV> </DIV><BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"><DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">----- Original Message -----</SPAN></DIV><DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN><A title="jodel@kairos.net" href="mailto:jodel@kairos.net"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">John Delmore</SPAN></A><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></SPAN></DIV><DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">To: </SPAN></B><A title="joegarrett@earthlink.net" href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">joegarrett@earthlink.net</SPAN></A><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">;</SPAN><A title="pianotech@ptg.org" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Pianotech List</SPAN></A></DIV><DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> 4/4/06 8:25:15 AM</SPAN></DIV><DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> RE: Tuning Lever</SPAN></DIV><DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; "></SPAN><DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Do tell, Captain!!!</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">I just got my first “real” lever yesterday, haven’t had much time to play with it, but it already “feels’’ better. </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Did I waste all that money on the </SPAN><SPAN class="SpellE"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Schaff</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> extension? </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">(I tried to get a vintage Hale about a month ago, but Mr.</SPAN><SPAN class="SpellE"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Greely</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> outbid me!!)</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Like many here, I seem to have a “tool fetish”, and I realize that it will lead to a multitude of pin-turning appliances, and I think a “ball-grip” will be next. </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="GramE"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Or a </SPAN><SPAN class="SpellE"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Fujan</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">.</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="GramE"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Or an impact….</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">But, what is your suggestion?</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Am I a </SPAN><SPAN class="SpellE"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Luddite</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> for going for the “old style” first?</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; ">John Delmore</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="Arial" color="navy" size="2"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-size: 13.3333px; "><O:P style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><DIV class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; " align="center"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; "></SPAN><HR tabindex="-1" align="center" width="100%" size="2"></SPAN></FONT></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><B style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><FONT face="Tahoma" size="2"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">From:</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face="Tahoma" size="2"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A>] </SPAN><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">On Behalf Of </SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Joseph Garrett</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Sent:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> Tuesday, April 04, 2006 9:55 AM</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">To:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> pianotech</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Subject:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> Re: Tuning Lever</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">Michelle asked: "Can someone please explain the difference between the two</SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">(besides size!) and which would be better for general use?"</SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; "> </SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">Michelle,</SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">Neither one!</SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; "> </SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; "> </SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (</SPAN><ST1:STATE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">Oregon</SPAN></ST1:PLACE></ST1:STATE><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">)</SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">Captain, Tool Police</SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">Squares R I</SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; "> </SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV><DIV style="font-size: 10px; "><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="AGaramond Bold" size="4"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'AGaramond Bold'; font-size: 18px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; "> </SPAN><O:P style="font-size: 18px; "></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>