Tuning mechanisms for stringed instruments: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:12, 28 September 2007

Revision as of 17:27, 28 September 2007

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Friction pegs are most often used on [[violin family]] instruments (not on the [[double bass]], which typically uses geared tuning machines), as well as being used on older instruments, such as the Bulgarian [[gadulka]] and the [[hurdy gurdy]], as well as on [[flamenco guitar]]s.

A properly working peg will turn easily and hold reliably, that is, it will neither stick nor slip. Modern pegs for [[violin family]] instruments have conical shafts, turned to a 30:1 taper, changing in diameter by 1 mm over a distance of 30 mm.

When tuning, the player adjusts the tension of the peg by slightly pressing in or pulling out along the peg's axis while turning the peg. [[Peg dope]], applied to the shaft, eases the tuning process.

A properly working peg will turn easily and hold reliably, that is, it will neither stick nor slip. Modern pegs for [[violin family]] instruments have conical shafts, turned to a 30:1 taper, changing in diameter by 1 mm over a distance of 30 mm. A peg may become worn so that it is no longer evenly conical, showing slight depressions on the bearing surface where it contacts the cheeks of the pegbox. This sort of wear makes tension adjustment difficult to impossible, and the peg may slip. When this happens, or when the pegs have sunk in too far, new pegs are in order, perhaps along with [[bushing]]s for their holes.

==Geared pegs==