Hi everyone,

My first post on PianoWorld. I'm interested in purchasing one of these impact levers for tuning verticals and am wondering if anyone here has experience with these particular series. The 200 series hammers retail for about $249. to $275., while the 400 series range from $399. to $469.

Has anyone used either (or preferably both) of these series of levers? Any thoughts on their value, quality, and/or price differential?

Thanks in advance...
James

Welcome to the forum!

I've just purchased a 400 series, and love it. Dean Reyburn reengineered the concept of an impact lever into something comfortable and efficient to use. The impact weight is less than half of the old impact levers, and the moving joint is comfortable to hold.

Apparently the key difference between the 400 and 200 series is the sealed bearing in the 400, which doesn't need lubrication. I've also used a 200 model, and it's just as comfortable to hold and use.

It's easier for new technicians to learn the technique than those of us who are used to traditional levers, but it didn't take me long. The concept is like hammering a nail: a succession of impacts gets the job done much easier than squeezing it into the wood. You use only your wrist, and you can stand straight rather than angled and hunched over, so it's easier on my back. If you have your ETD on a Spurlock stand to the right of your hammer, be sure to move it as you go up the treble! :-)

The quality is excellent. They've been out at least five years now. I expect mine to last a lifetime. They come with my favorite Watanabe tip. And you can order a free instructional DVD from their website.

--Cy--

Thanks Cy - I appreciate the insight. I did try a Reyburn once on a few pins at a guild meeting, and I loved the fact that I didn't have to stand! How many tunings did you have to do before you felt comfortable using the impact technique?

Not only has my back at times been negatively affected by tuning verticals w/ a traditional lever, but also my striking (left) hand, arm, and shoulder. Normally I can tune several grands a day with no problems. But with verticals, especially consoles, its just a terrible posture to be in for 90 minutes, so I'm definitely going to get one.

I was comfortable with my first tuning. I still sometimes switch to my regular lever for my final tweaking of unisons, where I bracket the final position back and forth slightly.

Reyburn suggests starting out with just pitch raises, and eventually you'll stop reaching for your other hammer...

The one weird ergonomic difference is that when you're at an angle to the piano with a non-impact lever, your elbows are far apart (imagine a view from overhead; my tuning arm's elbow is resting on the top of the piano). With the Cyberhammer, the elbow of your tuning arm is pretty much under the lever, and your other hand playing the note is directly below that. If I face the piano squarely, this puts tension across my shoulder blades, so I stand at an angle one side or the other to "open up my stance" a bit.

It's a piece of cake, by the way, to tune the bass left-handed and the treble with the right. It's especially handy for those pianos where the treble side is right up against a wall (e.g. practice rooms).

Just be very sure which pin you're on, because you're completely disconnected from the feel of the pin and string!

--Cy--

Thanks again for sharing your experience...

Interesting, Cy.

If you have no retrofit from the tuning pin isn't it difficult to tune loose tuning pins? Those which are at the limit of holding the pitch.

Yes, Rafael. In those cases, you can use it as a normal lever for the last adjustment.

--Cy--

How about noise? For an aural tuner, do you think the noise would cause fatigue?

I assume all your comments about ergonomics assume right hand use of a conventional tuning lever?

Interesting. I want to try one sometime. I like the driving nails comparison. Having done a lot of nail driving myself I can understand the concept.

I would love to hear more from tuners here who use these Cyberhammers. What are your experiences, etc?

Both of these hammers look nice. I like the 400 series. Maybe someday!

Dan, there's just a click as the weight hits the stop. It's a lot quieter than the piano!



Yes, I usually tune with my right, although I often switch for the top octave. But you can be 45 degrees towards the piano either way with a normal lever, while with the impact lever your wrist and elbow pretty much have to be 90 degrees (viewed from above).

The motion is like twisting the pin with your fingers: not easy to do from the side.

--Cy--

Interesting comment about standing vs sitting when tuning consoles. I started sitting when tuning consoles sometime after I switched to a Hale speed hammer. I usually use a jerking style because of tight pinblocks and do not need to anchor my elbow on consoles (usually…)

Just got my 200 series right before Labor Day and have been using it. My only regret is that I didn't get one years ago!

Loren DiGiorgi
DiGiorgi Piano Service

How is the learning curve?

Very quick, I thought. By the time I was done setting a single-string temperament, I felt pretty comfortable with it. After the first tuning (my piano), I felt comfortable enough to use it on customers. It's a dream, really. No more aching arm, shoulder or back.

I'm seriously considering the grand model. I know, I know....

I did order the weight riser today. Ran into a newer Yamaha with pretty tight pins and could have used a little more oomph.