So I have a gig tonight (for which I'll be leaving in about an hour, maybe a little less) and a very stuck A peg. I've tried pencil and force in both directions....but it's not moving. With fine-tuners I can get it to a regular 440 A, but I'll be tuning to a bagpipe tonight and will have to go higher. My strings are probably newer than they should be considering that I have a gig tonight, I put them on yesterday, but I've been playing a lot since then to break them in, and they've done so but my A-peg is comletely stuck (my instrument isn't super-high quality, just a lot of sentimental value) Should I get someone stronger to try to move it, or does anyone have a better idea? Help meeee!
Thanks
Ok, see if you can pull it OUT and DOWN and then tune back up, if you can't get it- get someone else to bring it wayyyy down and then try tuning higher. I had the same prob. a while back, got a big guy to pull it out and tune it down at the same time....just make sure they're going down, not up!!!
It's not moving down for me...I might have to get a big manly man (haha Bronwyn) to do it for me, but I don't know any that play fiddle so I might have to guide them...I'll also try pulling out, I've been pusing in (or trying to, it hasn't worked)...
See if you can push the peg (gently!) from the other end with the blunt end of a pencil. Make very sure you support the peg box and stop that from moving when you do this. Problem with trying to twist and pull on a stuck peg by applying force at the usual business end has been known to snap it off, and in one worst case a youngster I knew some years ago contrived to break the neck of his fiddle!
Just occurred to me - is the final winding of the A-string on the peg jamming up against the inside of the peg-box? Because if it is then it shouldn't be.
Try this- loosen the other three strings. If that A sting is still stuck, they tighten the other three strings. Any tightening or loosening force on a violin is met with a force in the opposite direction, especially now with humidity so high.
If the string still won't move, you should then take it to a luthier so you won't really damage the violin. :(
I’m sure this is too late for your gig, but I got a quick lesson on pegs from a great set-up luthier this week.
She took a sound post (any dowel would do) and put it end to end with the stuck peg then she tapped the soundpost with a small hammer. Obviously you have to be very careful to support the peg box and use a very light tap.
Once the peg was out, she showed me a four step process to hopefully keep it turning better. Rub the contact points of the peg first with pear glycerin soap, then Hill peg compound, then Ivory soap, then pear soap again.
Thanks everybody! I found somebody that could get it down for me...then I put more pencil where the string touches he fingerboard...I tuned it back and it would go down, and up to exactly a 440 A....I had to use the fine tuners with the bagpipe, and overuse them, but now I'll see if any of these other suggestions work...thanks!
Emergency!
Emergency!
So I have a gig tonight (for which I'll be leaving in about an hour, maybe a little less) and a very stuck A peg. I've tried pencil and force in both directions....but it's not moving. With fine-tuners I can get it to a regular 440 A, but I'll be tuning to a bagpipe tonight and will have to go higher. My strings are probably newer than they should be considering that I have a gig tonight, I put them on yesterday, but I've been playing a lot since then to break them in, and they've done so but my A-peg is comletely stuck (my instrument isn't super-high quality, just a lot of sentimental value) Should I get someone stronger to try to move it, or does anyone have a better idea? Help meeee!
Thanks
# Posted on October 21st 2006 by possumawesome
Re: Emergency!
Ok, see if you can pull it OUT and DOWN and then tune back up, if you can't get it- get someone else to bring it wayyyy down and then try tuning higher. I had the same prob. a while back, got a big guy to pull it out and tune it down at the same time....just make sure they're going down, not up!!!
# Posted on October 21st 2006 by BE
Re: Emergency!
It's not moving down for me...I might have to get a big manly man (haha Bronwyn) to do it for me, but I don't know any that play fiddle so I might have to guide them...I'll also try pulling out, I've been pusing in (or trying to, it hasn't worked)...
# Posted on October 21st 2006 by possumawesome
Re: Emergency!
Oooh, Rita!!! big manly men- hahahahaha....
# Posted on October 21st 2006 by BE
Re: Emergency!
See if you can push the peg (gently!) from the other end with the blunt end of a pencil. Make very sure you support the peg box and stop that from moving when you do this. Problem with trying to twist and pull on a stuck peg by applying force at the usual business end has been known to snap it off, and in one worst case a youngster I knew some years ago contrived to break the neck of his fiddle!
# Posted on October 21st 2006 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Emergency!
Just occurred to me - is the final winding of the A-string on the peg jamming up against the inside of the peg-box? Because if it is then it shouldn't be.
# Posted on October 21st 2006 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Emergency!
Try this- loosen the other three strings. If that A sting is still stuck, they tighten the other three strings. Any tightening or loosening force on a violin is met with a force in the opposite direction, especially now with humidity so high.
If the string still won't move, you should then take it to a luthier so you won't really damage the violin. :(
# Posted on October 22nd 2006 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Emergency!
I’m sure this is too late for your gig, but I got a quick lesson on pegs from a great set-up luthier this week.
She took a sound post (any dowel would do) and put it end to end with the stuck peg then she tapped the soundpost with a small hammer. Obviously you have to be very careful to support the peg box and use a very light tap.
Once the peg was out, she showed me a four step process to hopefully keep it turning better. Rub the contact points of the peg first with pear glycerin soap, then Hill peg compound, then Ivory soap, then pear soap again.
# Posted on October 22nd 2006 by iampeterfonda
Re: Emergency!
Thanks everybody! I found somebody that could get it down for me...then I put more pencil where the string touches he fingerboard...I tuned it back and it would go down, and up to exactly a 440 A....I had to use the fine tuners with the bagpipe, and overuse them, but now I'll see if any of these other suggestions work...thanks!
# Posted on October 23rd 2006 by possumawesome
Re: Emergency!
overnight in a closet with a light bulb (lit of course) if it's humiidy related
# Posted on October 23rd 2006 by ratbiscuit