The way I see it. A good break angle over the bridge is critical to producing a good bright tone. But with the way the string travels over the nut in a long arc the break angle remains the same whichever way you string it. All you’re going to do is increase the resistance over the nut and make it harder to tune. Especially the G string.

Clearance over the other pegs. Pretty simple.

Some instruments like lutes for instance have a high break angle over the nut. Some of them have the headstock angled at or close to ninety degrees

Another factor with violins is that classical players don’t tend to play open strings anyway. And as for us folkies it’s probably the last thing we want is a brighter open string note contrasting with the fingered notes.

You have got me thinking now! Maybe we should try a slip of paper or some other material underneath the strings to soften the open string sound. Playing open strings on fast tunes is hardly noticeable but it definitely is noticeable playing Irish slow airs.

I get the convenience, the end of the string just pops right out there for you and you can ensure it doesn't pull out before you get half a turn, and you can lower the number of turns before you are at pitch by easily lengthening and trimming some of the extra (maybe that's a no no?).

That is my take on said topic.

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Originally posted by Brian Wood

Clearance over the other pegs. Pretty simple.

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.. the obvious and correct answer.

Just do the opposite and find out for yourself. Probably to do with too acute an angle for the integrity of the string or something. Like they are more likely to break maybe?

Hey! How about making the pegs a lot smaller in diameter so they can be more finely tuned/????

I don't pretend to know the answer. But if you went under the peg, the additional friction of the strings wrapping more around the nut would make it harder to turn the peg, both initially and later on for tuning.

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Originally posted by tonyelder

...why do we route the strings on our fiddles over the nut and then over the top the tuning peg?

Why are we not routing the strings over the nut and then under the tuning peg?

Forget how convenient it is. Is it optimal, or are we just being lazy? ...perhaps honoring an age old tradition?

 

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Winding the string under the peg would mean turning it in the opposite direction, which would be much more difficult for tuning and installing strings. 
 

Clearance to the floor of the pegbox might be affected more that way as well in shallower pegboxes. 

To say nothing of the scroll not being a reminding guide.
"Oh, I wind the string onto the peg opposite of how the scroll is carved?"

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Originally posted by Brian Wood

Clearance over the other pegs. Pretty simple.

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   ..why would that be a problem?

Binding, wear, silly looking.

String over the top applies the old rule; righty tighty, loosey lefty

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Originally posted by Brian Wood

Binding, wear, silly looking.

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   ...who are you calling silly looking?

Just wait til I brush my hair and comb my teeth.

I have seen a few parents who didn’t know how to change strings wind them backwards. It made tuning much more difficult until the strings were put on correctly.

...the trophy is yours Brian.

3 strings would not just be resting on the pegs it goes past, they would pretty much be pressing down on the peg and potentially the string wound around it.

But - boy think about what that fiddle would sound like  ...with 2 break angles within the pegbox. 

  I can see the facebook ads now:

Dual Break Angle Technology™
Why settle for one when you can have two? Each string now enjoys two glorious bends before it even reaches the peg. More angles = more tone. It’s simple math.

Pegbox Pressure Points™
Strings don’t just pass pegs — they embrace them. Constant contact ensures maximum friction, tuning drama, and artisanal squeaks.

Enhanced Nut Authority™
With a sharper downward pull, your nut finally feels important. Buzzing? Gone. Sustain? Infinite. Ego? Inflated.
 

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

Hey! How about making the pegs a lot smaller in diameter so they can be more finely tuned/????

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And even more winding until it gets to pitch

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Originally posted by tonyelder

...the trophy is yours Brian.

Wow! I never win anything!

Brian, unfortunately the trophy had already been engraved "Best Furry Fiddler -- Harry Hare," but you can cover that up with duct tape. Doesn't diminish the honor at all.

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

Hey! How about making the pegs a lot smaller in diameter so they can be more finely tuned/????

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A lot of luthiers nowadays make pegs at a smaller diameter than you find on old violins, and this is for a few reasons. One is that by making the diameter smaller, less wood has to be reamed out of the pegbox; this can be beneficial especially at the A peg, where the pegbox is weakest. If you're bushing holes and cutting new ones, putting in a smaller diameter peg allows the peg to have a bit more bushing to encircle it, which may help if there are cracks. It has also been found that smaller diameter pegs offer less resistance when tuning, so the change in diameter can make things smoother. If the diameter is too small the pegs will be weak and likely to snap, but as long as the peg is within reason it will be fine. 

As always, logical and very competent, Rich.

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Originally posted by DougD

Brian, unfortunately the trophy had already been engraved "Best Furry Fiddler -- Harry Hare," but you can cover that up with duct tape. Doesn't diminish the honor at all.

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Can't compete with Harry Hare. I willingly concede.