Geared violin pegs

A luthier friend of mine just installed a set of geared violin pegs on my elderly German factory fiddle, thereby enabling me to sacrifice those four unsightly fine tuners cluttering up my tailpiece! Played my first "gig" with them yesyerday (the funeral of a friend's father) and they worked marvelously well. Anyone else have them or is anyone else interested in trying them?

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Permalink Reply by Sean Harrison on April 5, 2009 at 10:18am: I'm thinking about them. Which ones have you got? I'm looking at the Wittner ones as they fit in exactly like normal pegs and can therefore be easily swapped back if I don't get on with them.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Light on April 5, 2009 at 2:33pm: That's what I've got, Sean. Wouldn't go back to standard pegs fior anything now!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richard Calvert on April 6, 2009 at 10:03am: Do you notice any difference in the scroll weight? Is there a different feel to how your fiddle " sets" between shoulder and jaw / chin? I checked these out online and they do " look " interesting. R/; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kitty Herbert on April 6, 2009 at 1:13pm: Why didn't they think of these way back?! So sensible! They're quite pricey, though, aren't they?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Light on April 6, 2009 at 5:22pm: Not really. Mine cost me $100 installed.

Richard, I've noticed absolutely no difference in weight or anything else, aside from ease of tuning!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jerald Franklin Archer on April 7, 2009 at 1:03am: I have been searching for the old fashioned models, with no luck! E-Bay will sometimes have them (usually not in very good condition) and way overpriced. Is there a link you might have as to where this item is found? Thanks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Light on April 7, 2009 at 8:42am: You might try www.elderly.com. This is the web presence for Elderly Instruments, an internationally known retailer in Lansing, MI which also handles online orders. For anyone who lines near Lansing, Elderly has an excellent repair shop on site as well as a first rate selection of violins, bows, and accessories. They carry three models of "Perfection Pegs" (the brand name for their geared pegs). Their online catalogue features list prices (exclusive of installation).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ed Lehner on April 7, 2009 at 10:53pm: I installed a set of Knillings geared pegs on a fiddle that I restored for sale and liked the way they worked. I still don't have them on my fiddle however. International Violins (internationalviolin.com) has Wittners and I just ordered two sets for some other restoration projects. They also have the older style tuners that have been mentioned here. Best in tuning.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Light on April 8, 2009 at 9:06am: That's great, Ed! Thanks! That makes three companies now that I've learned are manufacturing and marketing geared pegs for violins. I dare say, they could be the "wave of the future" for violinists and fiddlers alike! Played a session last night; there were four fiddlers, and two of us had geared pegs. Sadly, to my knowledge, there is still no Canadian manufacturer who's stepped up to the plate. Good for the U.S.!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Onastik on April 8, 2009 at 10:37am: I had a set installed by Charles Herren at Pegheds.. http://www.pegheds.com/index.htm

From what I understand, Charles is the one who actually invented the technology and owns the patent on it, but sold rights to Perfection Pegs (and maybe others) to manufacture a similar product. I really like the pegheds a lot! I shipped my fiddle to Chuck in Charleston, and he installed the pegs and shipped back the day after he recieved it. I believe it came out to around $130, not inculding shipping. Well worth it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Light on April 8, 2009 at 2:27pm: Thanks, Dave! I'm learning all sorts of stuff about geared pegs; I hope you guys are, as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jerald Franklin Archer on September 19, 2009 at 1:17pm: The tuning gears may only be available for a limited time, but they appear to be quality and at a decent price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250499984124...

The Internation Violin Company also offered some (with the pearloid heads) but I don't know it they are still available:

http://www.internationalviolin.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=7601

The old tuning gears seem to be a very difficult item to find today, but obviously some company is still making them.; ▶ Reply to This