Hey there, I wonder if anyone has any bright ideas. I have a really excessively tight peg on the A string of my viola. Even with the adjuster at full whack I can't get the A up to 440 where it is at the moment, but I can't turn the peg at ALL - and neither can my brother who is considerably stronger than me!
Help!
Full Version: *really* Tight Peg
QUOTE(sarah-flute @ Sep 28 2005, 04:21 PM)
Hey there, I wonder if anyone has any bright ideas. I have a really excessively tight peg on the A string of my viola. Even with the adjuster at full whack I can't get the A up to 440 where it is at the moment, but I can't turn the peg at ALL - and neither can my brother who is considerably stronger than me!
Help!
Help!
QUOTE(elidatrading)
OK, not a major problem, it is caused by high humidity.
The solution is very simple: you need a hairdryer. Turn the hairdryer on full heat and heat the pegs, you need to get close to the pegs so they really get quite warm.
Then put the violin down and leave it for at least a couple of hours. Repeat if necessary. The most I have ever had to do it is four times.
if you find this happening a lot then get some peg compound which will help.
The solution is very simple: you need a hairdryer. Turn the hairdryer on full heat and heat the pegs, you need to get close to the pegs so they really get quite warm.
Then put the violin down and leave it for at least a couple of hours. Repeat if necessary. The most I have ever had to do it is four times.
if you find this happening a lot then get some peg compound which will help.
I trust it applies to violæ too
.
Having found no other solution, I've just borrowed a hairdryer from next door... thanks for finding that!
It worked! (phew!)
Thanks.
You have mail!!!
Thanks.
You have mail!!!
QUOTE(sarah-flute @ Sep 28 2005, 06:24 PM)
It worked! (phew!)
Thanks.
You have mail!!!
Thanks.
You have mail!!!
Hurrah!!! I'll just put me hammer away then....
O yes, never ever force pegs. I've broken a few doing that 
Peg compound is really useful for preventing this sort of thing. The good news is that once you put your central heating on for the winter (if you have such a thing - we don't) you will almost certainly not have the problem again until next summer.
Liz
Peg compound is really useful for preventing this sort of thing. The good news is that once you put your central heating on for the winter (if you have such a thing - we don't) you will almost certainly not have the problem again until next summer.
Liz
This is so useful to know. Doesn't the heat damage the varnish?
QUOTE(elidatrading @ Sep 28 2005, 10:40 PM)
O yes, never ever force pegs. I've broken a few doing that
Peg compound is really useful for preventing this sort of thing. The good news is that once you put your central heating on for the winter (if you have such a thing - we don't) you will almost certainly not have the problem again until next summer.
Liz
Peg compound is really useful for preventing this sort of thing. The good news is that once you put your central heating on for the winter (if you have such a thing - we don't) you will almost certainly not have the problem again until next summer.
Liz
I think I may get some peg compound. I don't have central heating unfortunately, but do have a gas heater which definitely dries out the air!!
If in doubt I'll give my viola a holiday at my mum's - she has central heating
Yes, I didn't want to force the pegs, I had a horror of breaking it off, though I don't think I'm actually strong enough to do that...
QUOTE(Thisisus @ Sep 29 2005, 08:23 AM)
This is so useful to know. Doesn't the heat damage the varnish?
No. At least, in the many I've done (Gliga Gama and Maestro pegs fit very well and are rather prone to this when the humidity is high, it isn't a problem with the cheaper models) I've never yet had it happen.Sarah, once you've loosened the peg, turning it a few times will make sure it doesn't tighten again in a hurry. i guess they're more likely to jam when you regularly tune with adjusters - it would probably be worth unscrewing the adjusters as far as possible and tuning on the peg from time to time - that would also make it less likely that you "run out of adjuster" when you need to tune in a hurry, if you see what I mean.
Liz
Kind of nice to know it's a good sign, Liz!!
Thanks for the tip... I know it's lazy to use the adjusters but it can be tempting to use them a lot, especially with an instrument which seems to keep its pitch really well!
Given that I don't have a hairdryer and have to borrow one, it would be sensible to use the pegs as much as possible, though! Well, I'll hope they've stayed reasonably loose, and try and be good next time I tune it and use the pegs more...
Thanks for the tip... I know it's lazy to use the adjusters but it can be tempting to use them a lot, especially with an instrument which seems to keep its pitch really well!
Given that I don't have a hairdryer and have to borrow one, it would be sensible to use the pegs as much as possible, though! Well, I'll hope they've stayed reasonably loose, and try and be good next time I tune it and use the pegs more...
QUOTE(sarah-flute @ Sep 29 2005, 06:00 PM)
Kind of nice to know it's a good sign, Liz!!
Thanks for the tip... I know it's lazy to use the adjusters but it can be tempting to use them a lot, especially with an instrument which seems to keep its pitch really well!
Given that I don't have a hairdryer and have to borrow one, it would be sensible to use the pegs as much as possible, though! Well, I'll hope they've stayed reasonably loose, and try and be good next time I tune it and use the pegs more...
Thanks for the tip... I know it's lazy to use the adjusters but it can be tempting to use them a lot, especially with an instrument which seems to keep its pitch really well!
Given that I don't have a hairdryer and have to borrow one, it would be sensible to use the pegs as much as possible, though! Well, I'll hope they've stayed reasonably loose, and try and be good next time I tune it and use the pegs more...
Peg paste would probably be the easiest solution. Cheaper than buying a hairdrier ...
Liz
QUOTE(elidatrading @ Sep 29 2005, 06:27 PM)
Peg paste would probably be the easiest solution. Cheaper than buying a hairdrier ...
Liz
Liz
lol!
Yes...
I had a check of them this evening, they're all moving just fine now (and not slipping either) so thank you SO much for the tip. I've loosened them all to slightly flat (to match my piano
at least I won't have to worry too much if I get someone to accompany me!) and they're easily tuned up to concert pitch now
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