BigFryMan Posted July 27, 2016 Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 Sometimes when I need fittings I buy a few cheapies from ebay or aliexpress alongside buying something reputable. My reasoning is half the 'reputable' stuff we buy might get sources from a factory in china anyway, so it's worth taking a punt to see. If the cheap stuff is the same as the good stuff then I'll take the cheap. My first violin it worked very well, I got a top quality fingerboard and pegs very cheap.This time around, much less. I got a cheapish ebony fingerboard from ebay, sharpened my plane to cut the hairs off the back of your hand sharp without looking and then proceeded to rip the guts out of the fingerboard on the first pass. Ripped the grain out along the whole length. Absolute rubbish. Next was some pegs that I'd ordered. Firstly I mistakenly assumed they were blanks I could cut to size (they were not, my mistake). Next, even though they were described as 'ebony' I could put a mark in them with my fingernail they are that soft. I had my suspicions these were just some cheap timber painted black and with a quick flick of a knife I was proven correct:Ya win some and ya lose some. However those pegs are getting sent back, the seller lied, I will complain to ebay and leave bad feedback. They are NOT ebony.Oh well, pay crap, get crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzupe Posted July 28, 2016 Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 http://www.dov-music.com/ Good stuff, good prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Slight Posted July 28, 2016 Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 Even if they are ebony, frequently they can have problems. It's not uncommon for them to have sapwood, and be heavily dyed to hide it, once you cut into them the truth is revealed. It's not worth buying this junk. The same goes for fingerboards too, where poor quality wood can distort in unexpected ways further down the line.Not a bargain if you have to rework them repeatedly for a disappointed customer, or end up having to replace them for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 That peg looks like African blackwood or umpingo, not ebony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Slight Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 They are blackwood pegs. I was just using the photos to illustrate how cheap pegs can often have sapwood, in this case, or other defects hidden under a heavy stain or coat of paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 Sapwood would definitely make a non uniform hardness for the shaft. I used to make jewelry for my sweetie out of blackwood with half sapwood and half black since the contrast is so strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 Sounds pretty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeyerFittings Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 earrings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjohnbarleycorn Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 http://www.dov-music.com/ Good stuff, good prices looks good I just ordered some from him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavanger Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 ^^ Just checked out that page aswell. I believe these also are chinese/indian fittings - am I wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFryMan Posted August 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 http://www.dov-music.com/ Good stuff, good prices Thanks for the recommendation Jezzupe, very reasonable prices there! I did get my money back from ebay thankfully. Full refund. Happy ending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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