Mike's Oud Forums

tuning pegs!

Reid - 7-6-2007 at 01:39 PM

i know you guys probably see this problem everyday, but here it goes. my new ouds tuning pegs are not fitted very well. theyre very hard to turn, and cannot tune precisely. any simple suggestions other than getting new ones?

Matthias - 7-6-2007 at 02:07 PM

Hello Reid,

1) the thin end of the peg must be thinner than the hole
2) put a bit dry soap onto the places where the peg touches the pegbox, but only a bit and turn round the peg about 2 - 3 times
3) now the peg will not keep the string tension. You can regulate this with chalk, but agan only a bit.

This is the way I finish my pegs

Best regards Matthias

Reid - 7-6-2007 at 03:14 PM

thanks mathias, ill try this and let you know how it works out.;)

Jonathan - 7-6-2007 at 05:23 PM

You can also use a lead (graphite) pencil, and write on the peg where it comes in contact with th peg box. That will make the pegs turn easily. But, if you apply too much, it will be really tough to keep the oud in tune--just use a little and work it in.

Lintfree - 7-6-2007 at 11:50 PM

The graphite thing is a revelation. Going to try that tonight. Thanks Jonathan.

Check out the Matthias Wagner website and look at the Tieffenbrucker lute! It's like a guitar-lute with 6 strings, tied frets and wooden pegs. Very laouta-like. (Tieffenbrucker, it has been said by some, was the inventor of the modern violin, carved top, carved back etc.).

Boral - 7-8-2007 at 04:05 AM

Hi,

I don't know if this could be of any help:
http://www.bearmeadow.com/build/methods/setup/html/installing-peg.h...

Matthias - 7-8-2007 at 05:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Lintfree
The graphite thing is a revelation. Going to try that tonight. Thanks Jonathan.

Check out the Matthias Wagner website and look at the Tieffenbrucker lute! It's like a guitar-lute with 6 strings, tied frets and wooden pegs. Very laouta-like. (Tieffenbrucker, it has been said by some, was the inventor of the modern violin, carved top, carved back etc.).


Hello,

the changing at the Tieffenbrucker lute is really a very bad work. I have had this instrument in my hands, and in the actual state it is far off being historical a lute nor a laouta. The changing transferred it to a german "Wandervogellaute" from the 1920's. I call such instruments "Bastardlaute" as is does not have to do anything with a real historical lute.

About Tieffenbrucker himself:
This is not a single person, it is quite a dynasty of instrument makers living in south germany, Italy and in Lyon ( France ) too. As at that time instrument makers did not make only one type of instruments, for instance lutes, it is not possible to say this person invented that instrument. All instruments do have a development over years and have been made in general by several makers.

Regards

Matthias

jdowning - 7-8-2007 at 01:53 PM

I doubt if the Tieffenbruckers were the inventors of the 'modern' violin who's origins surely must predate the period when this family were active? As Matthias observes,however, impossible to prove one way or the other. I am not aware of any surviving Tieffenbrucker violins but would be interested to know if they do exist.
I also have examined at first hand a few examples of what must have once been fine lutes by famous 16th/17th C. luthiers, vandalised during the 19th C Romantic movement in Germany by being converted to this kind of 'guitar-lute'. A great shame and historical loss to the world but at least some original fragments (mostly bodies) remain for study.