<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4522.1800" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>I bought a Mehaffey from Pianotek as I was concerned about = occasional pain in the arm. I had gone to a class in Arlington (or was it North = Carolina?) given by Mitch Keil (last name is a guess) of the CyberTuner world on impact = tuning hammers. He uses one on all verticals and likes it. I remember he said = he had really bad pain and use of the impact hammer has saved his tuning = career. The class covered significant modifications of the Mehaffey impact hammer (objective: comfort and better weight amount/position) and use of it. = </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I was really impressed with what he presented. I have not made the recommended modifications to my hammer. I can see that the = comfort modifications would need to be made. I have used my hammer occasionally. = I like to move around to the side of the piano to do the hi-treble - when the = side of the piano is up against the wall or some such, I get my impact out and = use it (because you more-or-less sit in front of the pin you are tuning). I = still have not gotten used to it. It is a different puppy. But I suspect that if = you are having lots of pain, you would go with the impact full time and make the = transition in a short period of time. If I recall correctly, Mitch said = when he started with the impact it took about 10 or 20 pianos before he felt = comfortable with it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Perhaps he will do the class again. Or you can call/email him = directly at the CyberTuner factory. If I could find my class handouts I would be = happy to scan and email them.</DIV> <DIV> <SPAN id=__#Ath#SignaturePos__></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV>Good luck. Pain hurts.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=pdtek@home.com href="mailto:pdtek@home.com">Dave = Bunch</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, June 24, 2001 = 11:26 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Impact Lever</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I was thinking of trying an impact tuning lever. I = have chronic pain in my neck, shoulder, elbow, numbness in my fingers, = etc., etc. I've heard that these things can be helpful.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I see two in my catalogs. One is from Schaff with = the adjustable weight and the other is a Mehaffey from Pianotek. = Does anyone have any opinons on which is the best, or neither of the above? = Any input is appreciated.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Dave Bunch</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>