AMORI Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 After having built a good number of violins of various descriptions, I moved over to building guitars 2 years ago. Now, I have a commission for a modern electric violin and would like to know if members here know of the availability of guitar style machine heads for violins (not the Knilling type tuners though) The attached photo shows a previous design of mine where I mounted guitar tuners at the tailpiece side, now I want to mount them at the more "conventional" side at the end of the fingerboard (oops, I can't work out how to post a photo). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oded Kishony Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 IMHO the planetary type pegs are much nicer and now you have the option of using Wittner's version which are easier to install because they are not threaded. They seem to work very well. Oded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokovak Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 I've seen some violins and violas with banjo tuners like shown here, but I've never even held an instrument that uses them, much less play one. They're supposed to be pretty light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMM22 Posted November 26, 2009 Report Share Posted November 26, 2009 If you google image "Waverly style guitar tuners", you will see a plethora of guitar tuners that would arguably be the least heavy of the conventional style open back acoustic tuners. This would be my choice for mechanical tuners in an unconventional violin, but banjo tuners like those mentioned by Rokovak might also work well. Any sealed guitar tuner will add mass uneccessarily, although I reserve the right to be wrong on this point. It could just as well be an illusion, and perhaps the covers on some tuners are very light, in spite their bulky appearance. You can pay hundreds of dollars for a set of Genuine Waverly tuners, but I have seen very respectable reproductions for as little as $23 for a set of six, or $46 for three sets of four Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBK Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 IMHO: I think that a good quality ebony or rosewood peg set, properly fitted and lubricated in conjunction with 4 string adjusters on the tailpiece is the best solution. A bit old fashion? yes, but they don't require any alteration of the peg box or need special bushings, screws or proprietary reamers. and they are easily replaced at little cost. I have seen many mechanical pegs become a disaster when they age and the components wear out. Having said all of that , I think that the planetary type is probably the best of what is availaable, although they do require some alteration and are costly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMM22 Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 You probably have not seen Amori's work. It has been some time since he frequented Maestronet more, umm... frequently, but he is a competent maker of a more unconventional bent, and I think the idea is to use non-standard tuners in keeping with a stylized electric violin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainhook Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 International Violin has the bass-style tuners for violin, if that will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted November 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 Thanks gentlemen, I'll look into these possibilities. How does one attach an image? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b sharp Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 Thanks gentlemen, I'll look into these possibilities.How does one attach an image? Hi Amori, trust you are well... This is how I do it 1. You have the image ready on your hard drive somewhere. 2. Then click on the button circled in red (picture below) when you write your post. 3. Then press UPLOAD 4. Then press Manage Currrent Attachments (above UPLOAD) and click on your picture 5. It should then appear somewhere in your reply looking like this Hope it works for you! Albertus Bekker www.bekkerviolins.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COB3 Posted November 27, 2009 Report Share Posted November 27, 2009 Thanks gentlemen, I'll look into these possibilities.How does one attach an image? Amori, try this site: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners.html Stewart MacDonalds has a very wide selection of tuning machines, including mandolin, ukulele, banjo, acoustic and electric guitar, dulcimer, etc. Chet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted November 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks Albertus. I'm fine, and you guys. I can see the attachement box now but I'm almost sure it was nt there before:-) This is what I was trying to upload, an electric I made about 2 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted November 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks Chet. Making mostly guitars nowadays, I use Stewmac a lot, the tuners you see on the attached (above) pic are from Stewmac. I hav'nt has much to do with violins in the last 2 years and I just wondered if something new had come onto the market. I'm currently designing and building Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted November 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks Chet. Making mostly guitars nowadays, I use Stewmac a lot, the tuners you see on the attached (above) pic are from Stewmac. I hav'nt has much to do with violins in the last 2 years and I just wondered if something new had come onto the market. I'm currently designing and building my first electric guitar and am using headless tuners handmade in Germany, would have been nice if something like this were available for (electric) violins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COB3 Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks Chet. Making mostly guitars nowadays, I use Stewmac a lot, the tuners you see on the attached (above) pic are from Stewmac.I hav'nt has much to do with violins in the last 2 years and I just wondered if something new had come onto the market. I'm currently designing and building my first electric guitar and am using headless tuners handmade in Germany, would have been nice if something like this were available for (electric) violins. Nice-looking work. My son builds guitars (both electric and acoustic)-- he would like that look, I think. He is currently at the Galloup school, in Michigan. He's been building for some time, but this is the first formal training he has received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luthierwannabe Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Now, I have a commission for a modernelectric violin and would like to know if members here know of the availability of guitar style machine heads for violins (not the Knilling type tuners though) Hi AMORI, George Heinl & Co of Toronto carry a good selection of mechanical tuners. Their website is under construction but you can download their catalog from here : http://www.georgeheinl.com/pages/store Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertdo Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Thanks Albertus. I'm fine, and you guys. I can see the attachement box now but I'm almost sure it wasnt there before:-) This is what I was trying to upload, an electric I made about 2 years ago. Really nice design. I take it you named it Scorpio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Tucker Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 I'm currently designing and building my first electric guitar and am using headless tuners handmade in Germany, would have been nice if something like this were available for (electric) violins. Wow, this is nice work AMORI, as usual. I relly like the lines on this blue guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMM22 Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 So do I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted December 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Long time no speak Craig, nice to hear from you and see that you are still active here. Your son is going to enjoy making guitars and it's great that he can get formal training. I have missed my violin making (my favourite instrument) but I have really enjoyed the guitars as I have a bit more freedom with artistic expression. I've made 5 classicals, a jazz archtop and I'm busy making a steel string. The electric follows...... The electric violin I'm designing is from the same "school" as this electric guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzupe Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Love your work, very "starship enterprise" I'm picturing Spock with those hippie alien guys rockin out. What is the material that is being used for the spacers on the guitar, some type of metal tubing? or carbon fiber? I like the modular look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMORI Posted December 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 Most of my work is quite modern, but not always. I do respect tradition but there are more than enough people already making traditional "things". I make my living designing modern furniture (google murraykuun). I have not made a final decision about those "modular linkages". Possibly aluminium? I've made an MDF prototype and used 12mm aluminium which looks quite good. Maybe teflon, I'm not sure yet...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzupe Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 Most of my work is quite modern, but not always. I do respect tradition but there are more than enough people already makingtraditional "things". I make my living designing modern furniture (google murraykuun). I have not made a final decision about those "modular linkages". Possibly aluminium? I've made an MDF prototype and used 12mm aluminium which looks quite good. Maybe teflon, I'm not sure yet...... Real nice stuff. I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjohnbarleycorn Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 very nice! What kind of pick up are you using for the electric violin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardz Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Beautiful and interesting designs Amori! I can tell you have a design background. I'm guessing you've already thought of this, but have you tried Ned Steinberger for tuners. His violins have the design you would like. They may be proprietary though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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