Whether you're just learning to tune pianos, or you're a pro with many years of experience, a properly designed impact tuning lever offers many benefits.

For aspiring piano technicians, impact tuning technique is faster and easier to learn. You'll be tuning pianos like a pro in a much shorter time than if you learned with a traditional tuning hammer. And you'll be learning a method that's far more ergonomic (easier on your body) than the standard tuning hammer method, reaping benefits for years to come.

Been tuning for decades? If you're like many busy tuners, after thousands (or even a few hundred) pianos you may start to have shoulder, neck or back problems. The impact tuning lever is for you!

How does an impact tuning lever work?

The traditional tuning hammer requires that the tuner maintain a strained arm and body position for many hours a day. This takes a toll over the years. Impact levers use wrist action instead of arm strength to tune. Traditional tuning hammer techniques require significant upper body strength for control and tuning pianos with tight tuning pins. The impact method places emphasis on technique, opening the field of piano tuning up to anyone with good wrist control. If you have neck, arm or shoulder problems, you will find impact tuning technique a true relief.

Standard impact tuning levers are used primarily on vertical pianos, they are not recommended for grand pianos. Professional users of impact tuning levers typically use a traditional (non-impact) tuning hammer for grand pianos.

There are several impact levers on the market, but all we have tested are far too heavily weighted to allow fine tuning. The force on the models we tested varied from 150% to as much as 200% of the optimum force needed for fine tuning! When the force applied is too much or off balance, fine control for small tuning adjustment is difficult to impossible. Many tuners have tried impact levers and given up because of the improper weighting. However a correctly engineered impact tuning lever with the proper weight and balance is fully capable of the finest pitch adjustment and the production of stable piano tunings.

Our CyberHammers come with your choice of a double padded golf type grip, or a beautiful wood handle. For further ease-of-use, our impact hammer includes a comfortably rounded, hand-fitting ergonomic shape.

The impact tuning method uses the wrist to throw a small weight which impacts the tuning pin and jerks the pin either sharp or flat. The tuner controls both the length of the throw and the force applied, counteracting the friction between the tuning pin and the wooden pinblock. This method is easier to learn for beginners since it almost completely avoids two very nasty effects:

1. Twisting the pin (the whole pin is moved in the pinblock at once in a singe jerk motion).

2. Bending the pin (aka "flagpoling").

As shown in the picture to the right (click to magnify), the proper way to hold the impact lever is between the small and ring finger. Hold the lever loosely and lightly fling the weight to the left or right. The lever has a built in swivel of about 45 degrees.

Since the impact method avoids these two tuning stability problems, new tuners are able to achieve stable results much quicker. We've seen many people learn to tune with amazing stability in just a few months.

Once new tuners have mastered impact tuning technique, learning traditional tuning technique for use on grand pianos is much easier.

One caution: Impact tuning technique seems easier to learn for beginners than pros. Experienced tuners find they need to pitch raise many pianos before they feel confident enough to fine tune with it. But sticking with learning impact tuning pays off big in the long run with less stress on your body!

The CyberHammer's features:

High quality tuning tip. We hand inspect to make sure the tip fits almost but not quite all the way down to the tuning wire coil. All models now include a Watanabe #2 tip.

Instructions on how to learn impact lever tuning technique. Written by Dean Reyburn, RPT.

Head, extension and weight are polished to a high polish finish to insure years of reliable service.

Your choice of rubber grip or beautiful wood grip.

The lightest weight impact hammers available anywhere. You're moving this tool from pin to pin many hours a day, a few ounces can make a difference!

The "head" which you hold in the palm of your hand is rounded and polished for a great feel!

Tuning tip is replaceable, standard tuning tip threads fits Schaff and Watanabe tips.

New! Includes a "polar fleece" storage bag.

The Titanium shank in model M300 reduces the weight and increase stiffness for a more positive feel since more of the force is transfered directly into turning the tuning pin.

The aircraft-grade Aluminum alloy shank in the new W200 & W300 combines with the wood handle to reduce the weight and keep the same stiffness as the M200/M300.

The new M300/W300 is even lighter with a Titanium alloy head. This model features a bronze thrust bearing and teflon lubrication. The chrome plated brass weight weight resists nicks, scratches and tarnish.

Rubber grip models:
Model M200: $249 - 471 grams, 17.6 ounces total weight, Rubber grip, USA/Japan tuning thread/tip (stainless steel shank, head and extension, brass weight).
Model M300: $349 - 428 grams, 14.8 ounces total weight, Rubber grip, USA/Japan tuning thread/tip (titanium alloy shank, head and extension, bronze bearing, chrome plated brass weight).

Wood grip models:
Model W300, $399 - same specs as M300 above but with hardwood handle and aluminum alloy shank.
Model W300E $419 - same specs as M300 above but with exotic wood handle and aluminum alloy shank. Picture of W300E with Honduras Rosewood Handle

Basic hardwood handles (model W300):
Cherry, Black Walnut, Teak, Zebrawood, Purpleheart, Padauk/Vermillion, Birdseye maple or Curly Maple.

Exotic wood handles (model W300E):
Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian Rosewood, Honduran Rosewood, Kingwood/Violetta, Tulipwood, Delignit Pinblock.

The Reyburn CyberHammer comes with a full 30 day money back guarantee and a one year guarantee on materials and workmanship.

Reyburn CyberHammer Impact Tuning hammer instructions

Download CyberHammer Instructions (English, 2 pages)
http://www.reyburn.com/pub/reyburn/rct_demo/CyberHammer instructions.pdf (about 400k)

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