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.

Andira CF-TR

Wood specie: Brazilian andira
Length: 12″
Weight: 12 oz
Price: $325.00
Description: Andira, sometimes called partridge wood, grows in many parts of Central and South America … in this case, Brazil. It’s rather dense and heavy, but the red color and wild grain is positively striking.

SpectraPly “Rising Tide” CF-TR

Wood specie: SpectraPly “Rising Tide”
Length: 12 1/4″
Weight: 11.0 oz
Price: $325.00
Description: SpectraPly is a composite made up of dyed birch veneers. Rising Tide is a pretty apt name with sea blue, white froth, and dark sand.

Red Narra CF-3

Wood specie: Red narra
Length: 12 1/2″
Weight: 12.5 oz
Price: $365.00
Description: A gorgeous wood! Red narra is same tree that produces the famous amboyna burls. The deep red and swirling figure makes this a rare beauty. The handle is also based on a design by artist/piano tech, John Dinello.

Coolibah Burl CF-TR

Wood specie: Coolibah burl
Length: 12 5″
Weight: 13.9 oz
Price: $345.00
Description: Coolibah is an Australian specie. This piece was cut from a large burl cap about 10 years ago. I almost threw it away because of all the deep checks in the wood. Finally I tried infusing the entire piece with water thin epoxy, twice. So the black stripes are actually epoxy filler. It was well worth the time and effort. By the way, if you haven’t noticed, this tuning hammer is heavy.

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.

Mesquite CF-TR

Wood species: Mesquite
Length: 12″
Weight: 11.5 ounces
Price: $325.00
Description: Beautiful figured mesquite. It comes from Texas and parts of the Southwest.

Bocote CF-3

Wood species: Bocote
Length: 13″
Weight: 12.8 ounces
Price: $335.00
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:$325.00
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.

Spalted Western Maple CF-AR

Length: 13″
Weight: 9.9 oz.
Price:$250.00
Description: This spalted maple tuning lever is another “used” one that I kept in my kit and only rarely used. The shaft is made with 7075 aluminum tubing reinforced both inside and outside with carbon fiber.

Walnut CF-TR

Wood species: Walnut
Length: 12″
Weight: 10.9 oz
Price: $325.00
Description: The handle is a ‘glue-up’ made with walnut sap wood and two different brown varieties.

Curly Maple CF-AR #2

Wood species: NorthWest curly maple
Length: 12 1/4″
Weight: 9.8 oz
Price: SOLD
Description: The tuning shaft is 7075 aluminum alloy reinforced with carbon fiber tubing both on the inside and outside. Outstanding curl on the wood and a very light weight handle.

Mulberry CF-TR by Jacob Erwin

Wood Specie: American mulberry
Length: 12 1/4″
Weight: 11.0 oz
Price: SOLD
Description: This mulberry handle comes from eastern Kansas. It’s around 18 years old.