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Diane in Chicago - Posted - 06/25/2010: 11:32:41
I've seen these on upright basses, but not on a violin until one recently one posted here:
fiddlehangout.com/myhangout/ph...albumid=0
Is there a source anyone knows of for new ones like these, or for old stock? I've googled and googled, but nothing.
I am familiar with Perfection Pegs, or Pegheds, but they are not what I am looking for.
Diane in Chicago
transplant - Posted - 06/25/2010: 11:43:30
internationalviolin.com/item_d...Code=7601
I'm not sure why you would want to put these on a fiddle unless it already had them, and they were beyond fixing. Owaitaminnit, is that a cigar box fiddle I see? Never mind my silly questions...
Learner - Posted - 06/25/2010: 12:23:19
They are called "violin machine heads". "Machine heads" is the term used for mechanical tuning pegs on stringed instruments.
I did a quick search, and found a link to eBay:
cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...02_263622
Enjoy!
DougD - Posted - 06/25/2010: 12:54:21
Well that's a useful ebay link - only 10% more than International Violin. I agree with transplant though - I don't see why you'd put these on a fiddle unless you were trying to replace a broken one (or maybe on a cigar box fiddle).
transplant - Posted - 06/25/2010: 13:37:34
By the time you figure shipping, there's only a dollar difference. I think I recall seeing good things said about that seller.
fiddleplayer2 - Posted - 06/25/2010: 16:57:03
Way Cool! I think I'll get me a pair. Machine tuners that is. 
(I )===='----<::)
Edited by - fiddleplayer2 on 06/26/2010 15:00:45
fairportfiddler - Posted - 06/25/2010: 17:24:14
The ones on eBay look better then the ones on my fiddle that Diane posted the picture of. I say that because the gears have screws in them so you can remove them if they wear out or jam. If you look at mine the are riveted and the one on the D string is wearing out. The machine heads also ad extra weight to the peg head, which I like, but is something you have to get used to. Tommy Jarrell had them on his fiddle so I guess they cant be too bad.
Learner - Posted - 06/25/2010: 19:30:28
quote:
Originally posted by August
do you mean these: elderly.com/accessories/items/PVP2.htm
No, those are "Perfection Pegs". The OP mentioned that she was familiar with them, but they are not what he wanted. What she wants are machine heads. I've seen picture of violins or fiddles with machine heads. I guess that they would be easier to tune than wooden pegs.
fiddlepogo - Posted - 06/25/2010: 20:56:28
I've been told, and it makes a lot of sense to me that the key problem with these machine heads is that they are mounted with those small screws you see in the picture. And holes have to be drilled for them, in an area where there just is not that much wood to begin with. You've already got eight holes in a pegbox. Looking at those pics, I see TEN screw holes. That makes for a total of
EIGHTEEN holes of various sizes in the pegbox walls, which are not that thick to begin with.
That's probably more holes than you'd find in a piece of Swiss Cheese of the same size!!!
It's like perforations. Rows of little holes make it easy for a complete separation to happen, in this case, a crack.
And wood already has a tendency to split along the grain.
And once a crack in the peghead happens, it's a royal pain to fix, and probably expensive, or just a "death sentence" for the fiddle.
If a fiddle already has them, and no problem has happened because of them over a long period of time, well, that's lucky,
but I would feel it was a gamble installing them for the first time,
and a gamble that's now a bit silly to take since there are better options.
I would think that it would also be possible that it would make the instrument more vulnerable to damage from dropping or getting bumped by another instruments headstock. Maybe even more so because the tuner knobs point DOWN.
And it seems like the vulnerability to cracks would be permanent, it would still be there is someone were to take the machine tuners off and install regular ones.
If there were a way to mount the tuners with thin nuts like many sealed electric guitar tuners have, that would make a whole lot more sense to me, but then they probably wouldn't look as "Old Timey".
Fiddlepiper - Posted - 06/25/2010: 23:06:08
I use to have an old fiddle with those geared pegs, and with steel strings....it never went out of tune! Wonder what the gear ratio on these are? Perfection's are 4:1.
captainhook - Posted - 06/26/2010: 15:20:27
These tuners can be mounted without the little screws. I have one set with nothing but string tension holding them in place. Not too neat, but it works with no extra holes. You could use a low grade adhesive, such as double sided tape, for a nicer appearance.
Be aware that if you are putting them on an existing instrument, the pegholes may not match up and require adjustment. In my case it was a new fiddle so I drilled the holes to match.
ScotsJim - Posted - 06/28/2010: 17:43:41
I have an old fiddle of unknown lineage that has worn out peg holes. Someone chose to install machine heads rather than bush, drill and ream for wood pegs. They do add some weight but they eliminate the need for fine tuners. And they look kind of cool because they are so unusual. Interntiona Violin does sell a brass colored set--mine are old chrome. My first choice is still classic wooden pegs. Happy fiddling.
Jeremy Steele - Posted - 06/30/2010: 08:09:40
A friend gave me an old fiddle he found in his basement which had a headstock which looked like the dog had chewed on it for a while...I put these machine heads on and have been very happy with them...the fiddle holds tuning very well.
Matilda - Posted - 09/02/2010: 09:19:32
I bought this violin today for $40. It is marked HOPF Germany on the back. It has the geared tuners, which I have never seen before. It has a crack near the F hole, but the sound post is in tact and the tumers seem to hold a good tension. It sounds pretty good. I was wondering what a ball park figure of what this may be wort. Basically can anyone tell me if I paid too much for it at $40? Can anyone tell me about yhat year this fiddle would be. I bought it from an older neighbor who said it use to belong to her grandfather.
I have attached some photos along with a photo of a stamp on the back of the wooden case.
SEE Photos at: fiddlehangout.com/myhangout/ph...?id=19059
Thank You
Matilda
Edited by - Matilda on 09/02/2010 09:43:31
pinch - Posted - 09/02/2010: 11:01:14
quote:
I'm sure it works well, but for me, it just drains the natural beauty out of a violin/fiddle. I suppose it is comparable to drilling holes in your car body. You just don't do it unless it is a beater.
scrubber - Posted - 09/02/2010: 11:06:29
What do I see here? Fiddlers with attitudes about fiddle set-up??
Geared tuners are wonderful for fiddles using steel strings! (BTW, why doesn't anyone have a problem with basses using this type of tuner?). Why does it matter (from a practical standpoint) whether the string is tuned from the 'front' or the 'back'??
dave
transplant - Posted - 09/02/2010: 12:43:23
Basses can stand on their own. Try hanging a tassel of wheel balancing weights off your scroll and see how long you like it. Besides, have a look at what pogo Michael said; there are enough fiddles with cracked pegboxes already, no need to drill any extra holes.
Now where was that link to the Guarani fiddler playing a Strad copy with with a chicken bone for one of the pegs...
notlwonk - Posted - 09/02/2010: 15:05:36
quote:
Originally posted by scrubber
What do I see here? Fiddlers with attitudes about fiddle set-up??
dave
Well as tevye from Fiddler on the Roof would say. Because it's tradition!!
Diane in Chicago - Posted - 09/02/2010: 15:27:26
Actually, I wasn't planning on using these on a fiddle, but now of course I must.
woodwiz - Posted - 09/02/2010: 15:56:18
Here's why I don't like geared tuners:
They are sloooooooow. Takes forever to change strings.
They are heavy & feel awkward to me.
The plates never seem to fit the peg boxes.
There are too many better alternatives.
They do this to peg boxes. Pretty, huh?:
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