Hey I bought an old fiddle and when i put new strings on the instrument the tuning pegs began slipping and would not hold their tune does anyone know how i can stop this happening without bringing the instrument to a fiddle repairer .........would a new set of tuning pegs work
You can try peg compound (also known as peg dope).
If that doesn't work, you need new pegs. You'll have to see a luthier though. You can't just buy new pegs and stick them in, they have to be fitted to the particular instrument.
I use peg drops on one of my fiddles - I had one of those tailpieces with the fine tuners built in installed and I use those to tune until I have to move the pegs. If it's a good fiddle it's probably worth having new pegs fitted (mine isn't!)
In a pinch, you can pull the pegs out partway, rub the ends with rosin, then put them back in. It's not the best way to do this, but it will hold (no pun intended) until it can be fixed properly.
Repair people hate it when someone brings in a fiddle with peg holes caked in old rosin. Just makes it harder to deal with. Peg dope isn't much better.
Pegs may slip because they're not properly seated in the holes, or the strings are wound wrong on them. Or (worst case) they've worn out of round and new pegs need to be fitted/peg holes re-reamed.
Best bet is to take it to a reputable repair shop and let them take a look. If it does need a fitting, it'll be cheaper without a mess of rosin or dope in the peg box.
Do you mean something like Hill Peg Compound, Will? That's what I was talking about; that's what I use. It not only lubricates, but it also helps with slipping by letting you push the peg in more without it binding up.
Hmmm. All I know is that there are two products commonly called peg dope. One makes the pegs stickier, the other makes them slipperier.
The sticky stuff makes a mess out of fitting new pegs and reaming the holes. Not impossible to deal with, just unpleasant extra work.
The slippery stuff causes no problems. Yes, it lets you set the pegs more firmly in the holes without risk of binding up--they'll hold, and still turn smoothly when tuning (assuming they're fit well to begin with).
I didn't have any luck with the peg dope - but a couple of my pegs are missing chunks. Only the sticky stuff works, but I'm very careful not to use too much, and to clean off any excess. I try to keep it out of the pegbox and off the windings.
If your pegs are "missing chunks" no amount of peg compound (chalk and dry soap is commonly used by luthiers) is going to work. You need to have matched tapers to your pegbox holes. The job is done with a reamer and shaver (and soap and chalk). If the holes are badly worn, they need to be bushed.
Rosin is a no-no. It can cause your pegbox to crack.
Luthier job, I'm afraid.
Def go with pieces of chalk, I find that the blue snooker que chalk works much better than the blacboard stuff, it doesnt get messy and can just be wiped of by repair men if necesary
tuning pegs slipping HELP
tuning pegs slipping HELP
Hey I bought an old fiddle and when i put new strings on the instrument the tuning pegs began slipping and would not hold their tune does anyone know how i can stop this happening without bringing the instrument to a fiddle repairer .........would a new set of tuning pegs work
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by Irish Mandolin
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
You can try peg compound (also known as peg dope).
If that doesn't work, you need new pegs. You'll have to see a luthier though. You can't just buy new pegs and stick them in, they have to be fitted to the particular instrument.
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by Marklar
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
Thanks anyone know how you fit new pegs???????
How good is the peg compound????????
How much would it cost t get pegs fitted??????
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by Irish Mandolin
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
Have you googled it yet? lots of information out there. Try the peg dope and if they still slip, take it to a luthier.
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by wyogal
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
I use peg drops on one of my fiddles - I had one of those tailpieces with the fine tuners built in installed and I use those to tune until I have to move the pegs. If it's a good fiddle it's probably worth having new pegs fitted (mine isn't!)
http://www.sharmusic.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=1175
# Posted on September 24th 2008 by airport
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
In a pinch, you can pull the pegs out partway, rub the ends with rosin, then put them back in. It's not the best way to do this, but it will hold (no pun intended) until it can be fixed properly.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
Repair people hate it when someone brings in a fiddle with peg holes caked in old rosin. Just makes it harder to deal with. Peg dope isn't much better.
Pegs may slip because they're not properly seated in the holes, or the strings are wound wrong on them. Or (worst case) they've worn out of round and new pegs need to be fitted/peg holes re-reamed.
Best bet is to take it to a reputable repair shop and let them take a look. If it does need a fitting, it'll be cheaper without a mess of rosin or dope in the peg box.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
(P.S. The other peg dope--used to lightly lubricate the pegs--isn't a problem. It doesn't dry out and solidify the way the stickum stuff does.)
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
Do you mean something like Hill Peg Compound, Will? That's what I was talking about; that's what I use. It not only lubricates, but it also helps with slipping by letting you push the peg in more without it binding up.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Marklar
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
Hmmm. All I know is that there are two products commonly called peg dope. One makes the pegs stickier, the other makes them slipperier.
The sticky stuff makes a mess out of fitting new pegs and reaming the holes. Not impossible to deal with, just unpleasant extra work.
The slippery stuff causes no problems. Yes, it lets you set the pegs more firmly in the holes without risk of binding up--they'll hold, and still turn smoothly when tuning (assuming they're fit well to begin with).
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
I didn't have any luck with the peg dope - but a couple of my pegs are missing chunks. Only the sticky stuff works, but I'm very careful not to use too much, and to clean off any excess. I try to keep it out of the pegbox and off the windings.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by airport
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hidersine-Hiderpaste-For-Pegs_W0QQitemZ110292173654QQihZ001QQcategoryZ10180QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em122
This thing worked with my pegs. They don't slip anymore, and turn smoothly.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Ramiro
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
"...there are two products commonly called peg dope. One makes the pegs stickier, the other makes them slipperier...."
I tried smoking some of that. It just made them wobbly.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by ragaman
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
Blackboard chalk to prevent them from slipping. Graphite (soft pencil !) to prevent them from sticking.
# Posted on September 25th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
I always keep a piece of chalk in my case. It sounds counter intuitive but chalk works very well.
# Posted on September 26th 2008 by greybeardd
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
If your pegs are "missing chunks" no amount of peg compound (chalk and dry soap is commonly used by luthiers) is going to work. You need to have matched tapers to your pegbox holes. The job is done with a reamer and shaver (and soap and chalk). If the holes are badly worn, they need to be bushed.
Rosin is a no-no. It can cause your pegbox to crack.
Luthier job, I'm afraid.
# Posted on September 26th 2008 by Weejie
Re: tuning pegs slipping HELP
Def go with pieces of chalk, I find that the blue snooker que chalk works much better than the blacboard stuff, it doesnt get messy and can just be wiped of by repair men if necesary
# Posted on September 28th 2008 by joe warne