Whilst in Genoa recently I had to be using my cheapo Chinese tuning hammer which I keep in France which normally I deprecate but with which I made friends recently, Papps wedges for Bechstein grands and mentioned these in passing doing a quick video about the TLA CTS-5 tuning device which I use.
Piano tuning tools - cheap Chinese lever, papps wedges, TLA CTS-5 tuner and inharmonics
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| Piano tuning tools - cheap Chinese lever, papps wedges, TLA CTS-5 tuner and inharmonics |
| Musing upon a cheap Chinese tuning lever, the usefulness of Papps Wedges for Bechsteins and the brilliance of the TLA CTS-5 electronic tuner for fast tuning. |
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The CTS-5 is a precision analogue stroboscopic device which is for me very well behaved and the display of which shows subtleties of phase and inharmonicities which give visual meaning to what one's hearing.
If strings are close enough together to hold a Papps Wedge upright, or where a bar such as on Bechsteins holds them in position, I find they enable fast positioning between strings. In other situations felt and rubber mutes have their place.
Lastly, I often see discussion about fancy carbon fibre and other expensive levers. Having used basic tuning levers for nearly 40 years recommendations I've seen recently for tuning students to buy expensive fancy bits of kit in this arena are a mystery to me. For me it's about balance in the hand. The cheap lever here is unbalanced with a weighty metal end but in use last week I found that it forces one to hold the heavy bit when placing the lever upon the pin, requiring much less positioning accuracy upon changing from pin to pin than holding a better balanced lever from further along the shaft. This resulted in a comfortable rhythm of working.
Best wishes
David P
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David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
+44 1342 850594
"High Definition" Tuning
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