Perfection Planetary Pegs - Information
Background
Technical Information
Peg Sizes
Instrument Safety
Efficiency
Availability
Contact
Background
In centuries past, all stringed instruments had strings made from processed gut, and used wooden friction pegs for tuning. Over the years, new strings with higher tensions and a bigger, brighter sound have been developed. The higher tensions have caused the string bass, the guitar, and many other instruments to adopt geared mechanisms as a replacement for friction pegs. Although various alternatives to the friction peg were tried for the violin, viola and cello, for generations the temperamental friction peg has presented a frustrating challenge for players at every age and level of accomplishment. Despite various attempts and workarounds it appeared to be an intractable problem, and for many years a genuinely acceptable solution could not be found.
Finally, in the late 1990's, advances in materials and computerised design methods allowed the creation of the Perfection Planetary tuning pegs. At their heart is a precise, permanently sealed gear mechanism. The advantages of the Perfection pegs are numerous: they offer extraordinary ease in tuning with phenomenal accuracy, an instrument-friendly installation, life-long maintenance-free operation, and by allowing you to remove the fine tuners they can improve the sound of your instrument. With all of these benefits you might expect a down side - remarkably, they introduce no new problem or challenge.
Perfection pegs are available now.
Technical Information
The size, shape, weight and taper of the Perfection peg matches the ebony friction peg. Because of this, Perfection pegs retain the traditional appearance of the instrument. In fact, the most prominent indication of the use of Perfection pegs on an instrument is the absence of finetuners on the tailpiece.
Some older instruments over the years will have had their wooden pegs serviced and adjusted and the peg holes reamed several times. This results in a peg holes that over time grow larger. The Perfection Pegs come in a range of sizes to suit nearly every instrument, young or old. If you have an older instrument you may need to measure the diameter of your peg holes to determine which size Perfection peg is right for you. Your luthier will be able to do this for you.
In contrast to the wood-on-wood friction of the wooden peg, Perfection pegs rely on internal gears to bring each string to its desired tension and hold it securely in place. In operation, turning the head of a Perfection peg rotates the main gear (the central "sun" gear) which drives three smaller planet gears, that orbit between the sun gear and an outer ring gear. As the orbiting planet gears spin about the sun gear they force the peg shaft to rotate and take up the string. The shaft turns once for every four turns of the peg head. This four-to-one gear reduction gives the Perfection peg the precision to act as a finetuner. The gears are fashioned from the same tough steel alloy that is used for the shafts that drive the rotors on helicopters. The ring gear and shaft are made of aircraft grade aluminium. The working assembly is permanently sealed and lubricated with the same grease used in sealed microscope, telescope and binocular gear assemblies. The peg head is moulded from PBS polycarbonate, often used in car bumpers, while the other end of the shaft is an industrial strength nylon (Dupont Delrin). Perfection pegs will not spontaneously slip from a desired position, or stick in an undesired position. The hidden internal gears of the Perfection peg are unaffected by the changes in temperature and humidity that make wooden pegs to shrink (and slip) or swell (and stick).
The 4-to-1 gear reduction creates a mechanical advantage for the user, greatly reducing the strength and coordination required for successful tuning.
Peg Sizes
Perfection pegs come in a range of sizes and shank diameters to suit different instruments and a variety of peg hole sizes. Most newer instruments have hole sizes suitable for the smaller diameter pegs. If you are unsure of the dimensions, your luthier will be able to take measurements.
To find the correct size pegs for your instrument - measure all four peg holes and select the peg model with a shank diameter one size larger than the largest hole.
Peg Model |
Peg Shank |
Description |
|
P1VN44 |
7.8 |
set of 4 |
violin 4/4, viola 14" and larger |
P1VN34 |
7.8 |
set of 4 |
violin 3/4-1/2, viola 12"-13" |
P1VC44 |
12.0 |
set of 4 |
cello 4/4 |
P1VC34 |
12.0 |
set of 4 |
cello 3/4-1/2 |
P1VN44OS |
8.3 |
set of 4 |
violin 4/4, viola 14" and larger |
P1VN44OS9 |
9.0 |
set of 4 |
violin 4/4, viola 14" and larger |
P1VC4413 |
13.0 |
set of 4 |
cello 4/4 |
P1VC4414 |
14.0 |
set of 4 |
cello 4/4 |
P1VC4415 |
15.0 |
set of 4 |
cello 4/4 |
P1VN44T |
7.8 |
single treble |
violin 4/4, viola 14" and larger |
P1VN44B |
7.8 |
single bass |
violin 4/4, viola 14" and larger |
If you have questions about Perfection pegs for your instrument, contact us at pegs@twofold.com.au
Instrument Safety
On an instrument with conventional wooden friction pegs, the pegbox and pegs are the only parts that wear out (strings aside). Installation of the Perfection pegs eliminates the main cause of pegbox damage - the grinding wear caused by wood-on-wood friction, and the cracks that can develop from the huge forces created when jamming worn pegs into worn peg holes.
Installing the Perfection peg does not harm the instrument - it is a fully reversible process. No new holes are made when installing Perfection pegs. Trained luthiers possess all the skills and tools required for installation. The reamer used in preparing the peg box for Perfection pegs is exactly the same as that used for friction peg installation. The diameter of the Perfection peg is slightly greater than a new wooden peg, so their fitting does not generally require a rebushing of the peg holes.
Efficiency
Use of Perfection pegs in a classroom setting, particularly at the elementary and middle schools levels, reduces the time required for tuning and increases the time available for instruction. When the instruments of a young string orchestra have been equipped with Perfection pegs, the time taken by a teacher in tuning the group is vastly reduced. Incidents where cellos need large-scale string re-tensioning (often brought about by climatic changes in storage areas) are largely eliminated. For concerts, the early arrival times formerly required to allow for tuning can be moderated. Most educators report time savings of 30% or more.
Students with Perfection peg-equipped instruments may be taught to fully tune their own instruments at a much earlier point in their learning, often years earlier. When trained, young students are able to tune without intervention or the need for adult assistance. This engenders the student with a greater sense of control and encourages regular practice, and therefore they progress more readily than students with friction peg equipped instruments.
Spending on string instrument repairs associated with pegs and fine tuners, including damage to instruments from fine tuners, is virtually eliminated. And since 'incidents' with friction pegs are the most common cause of string breakage, expenditure on replacement of broken strings is also reduced.
Availability
Perfection Planetary Pegs for violin, viola and cello, to fit instruments 1/2, 3/4 and full-size, are available now by mailorder from the sales page on this website, or through your luthier.
Trade discounts are available for professional luthiers and school string programs
Our contact details
Twofold Media Pty Ltd. 4 Eustace St, Blackburn VIC 3130, Australia. tel +61 3 9878 0716
pegs@twofold.com.au