Faulk Tuning Hammers

I figure I’ve tuned over 25,000 pianos in my life, and I’ve definitely become sensitized to the process. The stability of my tuning depends on setting the pin properly, and to do that I’ve spent 35 years developing pin sensitivity in my body. Finally, finally, Charles Faulk has made a tuning lever that frees me to use all of that experience. The Faulk carbon fiber/aluminum lever allows a level of pin perception and “micro” movement that is truly extraordinary, leading to more fun and less work, more “in-the-zone” moments and far less frustration. It’s the best tuning lever I’ve ever used by two or three orders of magnitude.”

~David Andersen

CF-TR Tuning Hammers

I’m introducing the new line of CF-TR tuning hammers. These tuning levers feature a threaded head/shaft connection that will allow you to change heads easily in the field. If you are a frequent tip changer, this design will be especially helpful. All you will need to do is to keep an extra head/tip assemblies in your tool kit. You’ll be back to work in seconds! This design features a tuning shaft that has an outer tube of titanium with an inner tube of carbon fiber for added strength and stiffness. You will have a choice of 5, 10, or 15 degree tuning heads.

Announcement: At the age of 72, I’ve felt for a long time that I needed to pass this joyful business, this stroke of luck, to a younger person. But let me say at the outset of this paragraph, I’m not retiring! Well, not yet. I thought I’d wait until I got old! Anyway, this ‘younger person’ is my friend and colleague, Jacob Erwin. Jacob has all the enthusiasm and all the skill to take these tuning hammers to another level. I think most of you will know Jacob as part of the best piano rebuilding team in the country, Erwin’s Piano Restoration. So I’m happy to introduce some of Jacob’s work on this page.

Important news: I’m happy to tell you that I’m introducing a new enhancement to my tuning hammers … Itoshin tips! Itoshin in a premium tuning tip from Japan that provides incredible tip-to-pin fit. From this point on, all my tuning hammers will be equipped with Itoshin tips.

Red Narra CF-3

Wood specie: Asian red narra
Length: 13 1/2″
Weight: 12.1 oz
Price: $355.00
Description: Red narra is from the same tree that produces amboyna burl. This is a two part glue-up made from a longer slab. The halves are ‘bookmatched’ to look like mirror images.

Gold Narra CF-3

Wood specie: Gold narra
Length: 12 1/2″
Weight: 10.8 oz
Price: $325.00
Description: Gold narra comes from SE Asia. The wood is rather coarse grained; but, with multiple coats of polyurethane, the wood is smooth to the touch.

Padauk CF-3

Wood specie: African padauk
Length: 13″
Weight: 10.6 oz
Price: SOLD
Description: Padauk (pronounced pah-dawk) is a light red wood that darkens with age. Being rather open grained, it took about 20 coats of finish to give the surface a smooth matte feel.

Black Walnut CF-AR

Wood specie: Black walnut
Length: 12 1/2″
Weight: 11.2 oz
Price: $335.00
Description: A black walnut handle from Oregon, this tuning hammer features a 7075 aluminum tube shaft reinforced both inside and outside with carbon fiber. A good mix of lightness and strength.

Canarywood CF-3

Wood specie: Canarywood
Length: 13 3/8″
Weight: 12.1 oz
Price: $335.00
Description: Canarywood is a fairly plentiful wood in Central America. The photo doesn’t really show the mixture of yellow, red, and brown coloring as well as it should. Note the length of this lever.

Sapele CF-3

Wood species: Sapele
Length: 13 1/2″
Weight: 10.3 ounces
Price: $335.00
Description: Sapele (pronounced sah-pee-lee) is also known as African mahogany. It has a curly grain, and it’s rot resistant.

Bocote CF-3

Wood species: Bocote
Length: 13″
Weight: 12.8 ounces
Price: SOLD
Description: Bocote is a fairly common wood found in South America. A beautiful contrast of gold heartwood and black figuring. Again this is another John Dinello inspired handle shape.

Padauk CF-TR by Jacob Erwin

Wood species: African padauk
Length: 12 1/4″
Weight: 11.7 ounces
Price:SOLD
Description: A rich red-orange padauk handle with a shiny epoxy finish. Jacob lends his own original interpretation to the shape with smooth transitions from end to end.

Walnut CF-TR

Wood species: Walnut
Length: 12″
Weight: 10.9 oz
Price: SOLD
Description: The handle is a ‘glue-up’ made with walnut sap wood and two different brown varieties.

Western Long Leaf Maple CF-TR

Wood species: NorthWest maple
Length: 12 1/4″
Weight: 10.6 oz
Price: SOLD
Description: Another colorful western maple. Wood provided by the good folks at Gobi Walnut.