Peghed tuners

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ChuckBarnett
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:46 pm
Location: Arlington, WA

Peghed tuners

Post by ChuckBarnett »

Hello, folks. The Newbie again... Anybody had experience with Peghed tuners? Hoping that I might get some feedback on using them on a tenor ukulele my first build.

Gratefully,
MaineGeezer
Posts: 1711
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm

Re: Peghed tuners

Post by MaineGeezer »

I put a set on an old banjo that had straight friction pegs. They do work better than straight friction pegs, but unless one is upgrading an old instrument and wants to keep "the look," I would opt for something else. But that's me. If you want the appearance of friction pegs on your build, they will certainly give it to you. I think other options may work better, however.

Personally, if I wanted the straight-peg look, I'd go with Waverly planetary banjo tuners https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... _Pegs.html
They don't try to mimic the appearance of friction pegs, as the PegHeds do, but they suggest it.
The 5-Star brand is cheaper, and probably equally reliable, but I like the Waverlys.

I've used several sets of the Waverly tuners on dulcimers and on one banjo, with total satisfaction.

I found the PegHeds to be a bit finicky to install.
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: Peghed tuners

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

I have not used them but have seen them advertised a couple of times. WOuld be great to get a first hand report

Since ukes are so easy to tune, I think a regular-old friction peg like on a violin wouldn't be too bad. Martin used them for the first 5-7 years or so when they started in 1916. These Pegheads look like something fun to try, although for $80 a set???. I have used the Grover geared tuners available for less than $25 and am more than happy with them - but they are a different thing. And for a guitar, here is something new. Frank Ford is ready to introduce banjo tuner with a 10:1 gear ratio so now you can successfully copy those early OM's and other guitars that had them. I am thinking of a Stauffer head with them on:

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/for ... p?t=520895

Ed
Ed M
Danl8
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Re: Peghed tuners

Post by Danl8 »

Anything you use should be fine, mostly a matter of cost and personal preference. I like waverlies and bit on their sale this weekend for a planned OM Deluxe copy. Don't fear wood pegs, well seated they work fine. My 1917 Martin uke has its original pegs and they still work well. I successfully used wood pegs on the ukes I've made.
Bob Gleason
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Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 2:45 pm
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Re: Peghed tuners

Post by Bob Gleason »

Wood pegs can work O.K. if they are perfectly fitted, you use the right wood combinations, are prepared to accept slightly off pitch tuning at times, and you don't experience much seasonal change in humidity. Having built quite a few ukes here in Hawaii, and handled lots of repairs over the years, I can say that in Hawaii wood pegs suck! Pegheds are used by quite a few high end builders and I don't care for them either. Like wood pegs, and maybe even slightly more demanding, they need to be carefully fitted. Most builders end up adding glue to hold them in so where's the advantage in using them? For the straight peg, traditional look, I prefer Gotoh planetary tuners. They come in a wide variety of finishes and button choices, but will set you back as much as pegheds They do work great.
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Peghed tuners

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

I've never used peghead tuners, but this might be helpful. I got a notice from Stewmac that they're carrying Steinberger tuners again, which are supposed to be quite good.

The Waverly Planetary tuners Have a 4:1 gear ratio, which wasn't exactly precise for what I needed for a special build, so I went with regular Waverly tuners.

The Steinberger tuners are gearless, but have a tuning ratio of 40:1. Here's the link if you're interested:

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... wEQAvD_BwE
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
MaineGeezer
Posts: 1711
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm

Re: Peghed tuners

Post by MaineGeezer »

How do they work? Is there a 40 tpi screw in them, or something?
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: Peghed tuners

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

The tuner button is the head of a bolt that goes down into the tuner. The string goes down under the bolt and back up. As you tighten the tuner/bolt, it gently stretches the string coming in.

Ed
Ed M
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