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Topics seem kind of slow here in the Tuner-Technician forum. So I will ask a stupid question that I have been curious about since I joined this forum a month or so ago.
What tuning hammer, or as some prefer, tuning level do you prefer.
I use a Hale rosewood handle extension hammer that I bought from a tuner about 20 years ago. He was one of the most competent tuners around this area (so I was told) but was dying of cancer. He did pass away a few months after I purchased it from him. It has always been kind of special to me, and I cannot imagine using any other. As a back up I have a Hale non-extension but seldom pull it out of it's bag. When I do it is only to check for rust.
Since American was bought by Schaff, I am not aware of anyone that carries Hale hammers or tips. I have a couple of extra #2 tips, so hopefully I am good for the rest of my career. Anyone know if any of the Schaff tips will fit the Hale?
Regards, Ron
----------------- Ron Alexander Piano Tuner-Technician
My Keyboards: Estonia L-190, Roland RD88, Yamaha P-80, Bilhorn Telescope Organ c 1880, Antique Pump Organ, 1850 concertina, 3 other digital pianos ------------------------- My original piece on BandCamp: https://frankbaxtermrpianoworld.bandcamp.com/releases
Me banging out some tunes in the Estonia piano booth at the NAMM show...
My Keyboards: Estonia L-190, Roland RD88, Yamaha P-80, Bilhorn Telescope Organ c 1880, Antique Pump Organ, 1850 concertina, 3 other digital pianos ------------------------- My original piece on BandCamp: https://frankbaxtermrpianoworld.bandcamp.com/releases
Me banging out some tunes in the Estonia piano booth at the NAMM show...
I have one very short but extendable lever . I think it came from Schaff. The shortest they had I believe. I use this at the shortest setting for any piano with a nice tuning pin feel. It has the greatest precision.
If the feel isn't so nice I may extend it to be more like a standard length lever. If it's really a super tight pin, I get out "Iron Mike" which is a long heavy one-piece lever, non extendable, made of all steel including the handle. Then I beat the cr*p out of the piano with it until it's lying in splinters on the floor.
Originally posted by Rick Clark: If it's really a super tight pin, I get out "Iron Mike" which is a long heavy one-piece lever, non extendable, made of all steel including the handle. Then I beat the cr*p out of the piano with it until it's lying in splinters on the floor.
Sounds more durable than my Schaff sledge hammer with combination handle.
I have both a Hale extendable and a one piece generic. The generic is much better as far as pin fitment. Hale had a problem with their heads for a while, i was told, and I definitely got a bad one. I now have a Schaff tip and it also wobbles. It makes me wonder if there ever was a standard as to the taper of the tuning heads. I have various no. 2's all having their own feel.
I have been using a Jahn lever for the past year. It is the most stable lever I have found. One nice thing about it is that the tip is not screwed on the end of the shaft like a traditional hammer but instead the end of the shaft has a heavy right angle piece attached that accepts the tip. You would think from looking at it, that the tip would unscrew when you are pushing the pin flat but it in fact very secure. The nice thing about this design is that the tip won't wear and start rocking on the threads or unscrew while you are tuning. Also the angle is much less than most traditional hammers which gives it a very direct feel with less flagpoling. I love mine. My father who used an old hale lever for 25 years switched to the Jahn not long before I did and he will never go back.
John Ruggero Ruggero Piano Raleigh, NC A technician based, distributer of fine pianos including Boesendorfer,Fazioli, Mason and Hamlin, Schimmel, Charles R. Walter, Estonia, and Falcone www.ruggeropiano.com
