geoff1954 Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 I've come across violins with plastic pegs several times, and automatically replaced them with wooden pegs. However, if the pegs fit correctly then should I be doing this? My recent arrival has plastic pegs which look like deep black ebony, and fit perfectly. Why change them? The shafts won't warp (as they do with cheap wooden pegs) and it doesn't look as if there will be wear to the peg shaft or to the pegbox wall. (I suspect I have disturbed a hornet's nest here.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddleDoug Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 Interesting question. While I understand that some plastic pegs were made at some time, I haven't run across any personally. I would say leave them if they fit the quality level of the violin. With the advanced materials available today, and the increasing scarcity of good ebony, it seems like someone should have come up with a good synthetic peg (other than the geared pegs). They should be a strong, stable, and machinable material. Let's hear your thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Dorsey Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 Would you replace original Stradivari plastic pegs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 Surely only a ghastly VSO would have (shudder) plastic pegs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 I personally dislike the idea of plastic violin components. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Noon Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 I DO like the idea of finding some modern materials for making pegs, but I would suspect that the subject plastic (cheap) pegs might have problems. Most plastics creep under load, so they could bend out of shape. Friction characteristics might be good or bad... I've never come across plastic pegs to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Kasprzyk Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 5 hours ago, Don Noon said: I DO like the idea of finding some modern materials for making pegs, but I would suspect that the subject plastic (cheap) pegs might have problems. Most plastics creep under load, so they could bend out of shape. Friction characteristics might be good or bad... I've never come across plastic pegs to know. Molding in an aluminum shaft down the center of the plastic peg would prevent creep. And while you were at it you could add some gears too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddleDoug Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 7 hours ago, Michael_Molnar said: I personally dislike the idea of plastic violin components. How would you view carbon composite parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacksonMaberry Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 10 hours ago, FiddleDoug said: Interesting question. While I understand that some plastic pegs were made at some time, I haven't run across any personally. I would say leave them if they fit the quality level of the violin. With the advanced materials available today, and the increasing scarcity of good ebony, it seems like someone should have come up with a good synthetic peg (other than the geared pegs). They should be a strong, stable, and machinable material. Let's hear your thoughts. Wittner has for some time offered synthetic friction pegs, but the catch is they want you to buy the shapers made for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 1 hour ago, FiddleDoug said: How would you view carbon composite parts? Fine. It is a higher technological material. However, I hate working with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacksonMaberry Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 Just now, Michael_Molnar said: Fine. It is a higher technological material. However, I hate working with it. I'm with Mike, working CF blows. Doesn't carve nicely, doesn't plane nicely, and working it at all is a hazard. Kile Hill offers beautifully milled nut and saddle blanks in Corian. I won't use anything else these days. It also sucks to work with blades, but it works fine with iwasaki and standard files, as well as on a disk or belt sander with a miter jig. He'll make them in ivory tone Corian too, for those wanting the look. The ebony tone blends perfectly with the real deal, it's jet black and has the correct luster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Violin Beautiful Posted September 28, 2022 Report Share Posted September 28, 2022 Here are some old plastic pegs: Newer ones show up on some really cheap Chinese factory VSOs bought for less than $100 on Amazon. Sometimes, the whole neck and fingerboard are also plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacksonMaberry Posted September 28, 2022 Report Share Posted September 28, 2022 6 minutes ago, The Violin Beautiful said: Here are some old plastic pegs: Newer ones show up on some really cheap Chinese factory VSOs bought for less than $100 on Amazon. Sometimes, the whole neck and fingerboard are also plastic. The upper ones look like they might be Galalith, neat stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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