Mike's Oud Forums

Which pegs for an oud

marzinp - 8-27-2005 at 03:23 PM

Hi all!

After drilling the pegbox holes to 5mm, I'd like to purchase pegs for my future oud. Which violin size should I choose: 1/4, 3/4, 4/4???
Is it possible to ream the peg holes using a under-sized peg + sandpaper glued around (reamers are VERY expensive!). What should be the finished diameters of the holes?
Any other ideas welcome!

Pierre

Peyman - 8-27-2005 at 06:53 PM

This is a good coincidence. I have the same question about peg dimesions. I asked a couple of dealers but didn't recieve any answers. I'd like to know what the differences are in sizes between a viola peg and a violin peg.
For your second question, I think that's a good idea. But you can also use a neelde file of appropriate size. The end needs to be welded to have a T shape so you can ream.

Dr. Oud - 8-28-2005 at 07:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by marzinp
Hi all!

After drilling the pegbox holes to 5mm, I'd like to purchase pegs for my future oud. Which violin size should I choose: 1/4, 3/4, 4/4???
Is it possible to ream the peg holes using a under-sized peg + sandpaper glued around (reamers are VERY expensive!). What should be the finished diameters of the holes?
Any other ideas welcome!

Pierre

I like viola pegs but 4/4 violin pegs will work. The viola are larger and longer, which looks a little nicer on an instrument of this size. The cost difference is very little.
A reamer is essential to get the proper taper in the hole. The peg must also be shaped either with a shaper (it's like a big pencil sharpener) or they can be shaped by hand, but it takes a lot longer and more skill. Reamers canbe found for around $25, and shapers for about the same. If this is too much for you, consider having the pegs fitted by a violin shop they will charge $25-$40 per peg, so the tools seem like a bargain, no? The sandpaper on a smaller peg won't work because the taper won't match the actual peg - don't bother wassting your time with this approach.
The finished diameter of the holes varies from peg to peg, as the pegbox tapers toward the end. The pegs are fitted so the heads line up, so the final length of each peg and size of each hole is different. Mark each peg in the inside shaft as you fit them to keep them in order if you take them out - each peg will fit only the hole it was fitted to. Jameel posted a great video on the process.
VIDEO TUTORIAL

Peyman - 8-28-2005 at 04:22 PM

Thanks Doc. Out of curiousity, I went to a violin repair shop in Gaithersburg, MD. The attendant gave me an estimate for fitting pegs on a violin: $10 for one ebony peg, and cost of fitting and labor = $80 total for 4 pegs fitted on a violin.
I pretended that it was a good deal and said I would be back. It was an interesting old shop though.