SOUTH BAY CHAPTER

Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Time: 7:00 pm - Meeting
7:30 pm - Program
Location: Kawai America
2055 E. University, Dominguez Hills 90220

In April, the South Bay Chapter met at Kawai to closely examine what is perhaps our most important tool next to our ears, the tuning lever. Everyone brought their assortment of hammers and tips. We examined and compared the different lengths and weights of levers, the different sizes and types of tips, as well as the differing angle degrees of the neck. Hammers of note were the Reyburn rigid, the Charles Faulk hammer, the Fujan carbon fiber handle hammer, and the Reyburn impact hammer. Several of us were introduced to the impact hammer, a moment of discovery for sure- but not as mind blowing as the first time trying a Levitan C, the innovative large hammer that curves up and over the front face of the grand piano, which was but one of the many hammers Lisa Weller brought to try. Others brought different weighted hammers, and hammers with the round ball grip. Kenny Walden showed his Jahn hammer that has a head you can take off and switch to have an extended neck, useful to get over those pesky high struts. Don Mannino measured with a micrometer the different tips' inside diameters (with digital calipers) at the beginning and at the bottom of the tips, revealing some informative results. The taper was present but inconsistent, and yes- in general - sizes were somewhat inconsistent. We deduced that the higher quality tips are the BKB from Germany and Taffijn, with the notable difference in quality derived from being machined, as opposed to the old way where they are 'stamped' out of hot steel. There was also great disparity found after the tips were used for many years and had become 'worn in.'

It's time to register for the 2019 PTG National Convention, “Notes from the Past - Keys to the Future,” which will be held July 10-13 in Tucson, Arizona. The venue will be the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass which is a sprawling resort with a multi-level pool and evening tequila toasts! Register by June 5 to save. New PTG members and first time PTG National Convention attendees qualify for $200-300 towards registration! All of the info can be found at:

https://my.ptg.org/2019convention/home

For May we will have a presentation by Michael Cahn entitled, "Upright Hammer Shank Replacement: A How-To Guide." Most of us have experienced the scenario where the hammer head is busted off and the break is at a daunting spot where glue alone will not cut the mustard. Solution- cut the mustard with a brand new shank! We will go through step by step how to address this bit of restoration so you can confidently add this skill to your arsenal. We will meet at Kawai America and there will be pie!

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