Hi Alan,
Well, you just found an old lefty tuner! As I see it, there is a mechanical advantage for right-handed tuners when tuning grands and lefty's have an advantage when tuning uprights. This is due to the string coil orientation around the pin and direction of the push and pull needed to set the pin. Like Debbie, I switch hit when tuning grands. It is not a problem for me to switch to the right when tuning the bass. For some reason I have not been able to switch when tuning uprights but generally I have no reason to do so. Switching when tuning grands means you do not have to go to the side of the instrument to tune the bass or high treble. That is an advantage if space is tight and, if you have a bad back! :-)
Due to the mechanical advantage, it took me longer to feel comfortable tuning grands. For a lefty, I believe it takes a bit longer to learn how to set and not flagpole the pin. My lever is usually set anywhere from 9-11:30 for grands. For an upright, anywhere from 11-1 works well which I believe is pretty much the same for right-handed tuners. If I am remembering correctly, the Perkins School used to teach right-handed students to tune uprights left-handed due to the mechanical advantage.
As you know, having a good tuning lever means everything when learning how to tune. There were not a whole lot of different options way back in the day when I started. Consequently, I went through many levers over the years trying to find the best for me. I certainly learned how to feel the pin over time. When Steve Fujan introduced his lever I tried it and immediately felt I finally found the lever that gives the best feel of the pin. To each his own!
Best,
Don
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[Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
[Piano Technician]
[
dmckech@ithaca.edu]
[Home 607.277.7112]
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-24-2020 20:39
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Lever positions used by left-handed tuners
Greetings Lists,
A tuning student who is a south-paw has come my way for the first time. If I have ever seen anyone tune a grand piano left-handed, I failed to note the position of their tuning lever. Using the same positions as a righty (12 to 1:30, or around 3:00) doesn't seem to make sense ergonomically for a lefty. Do lefties use similar positions, only on the other side of the "clock face" (10:30 to 12, or around 9)?
Input from left-handed tuners would be of premium value! The observations of someone who has witnessed a good left-handed tuner in action (tuning, of course) would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Alan
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Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
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