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sport - Posted - 08/03/2011: 03:33:59
This is a question for Mike Gregory or any one else who might have some bright ideas for an alternative to planetary style tuning pegs. This seems to be the major expense for any low cost banjo creation. I know Elderly sells a set of Ukulele friction tuning pegs ( set of 4 for $25) which seems to be the cheapest route.
I can always use old guitar 90° tuning pegs as I still have an abundance of parts from an old 12 string. Or , I could try to find some old wooden spoons, trying to get them to fit just right like violin tuning pegs.... I appreciate the help.
FKL
Paul R - Posted - 08/03/2011: 04:18:16
Check out Pegheds. They look like violin pegs, have a 4:1 ratio, and - I think - are considerably cheaper than planetaries.
KennyB - Posted - 08/03/2011: 04:50:22
Ant Hill Music have a set of 4 planetaries listed for $50. I kind of doubt that Pegheds would come in at less than that.
I went to the Pegheds website for information. I couldn't find any information on cost, how to order, or who to order from. What a stupid website!
If you're building from scratch and want to keep things cheap, you might want to make a slotted head, and use low cost guitar tuners. That way you'd still have the knobs sticking out the back, which seems to be the reason everyone wants planetaries.
fuzzyacg - Posted - 08/03/2011: 04:57:46
pegheds are $80.
mike gregory - Posted - 08/03/2011: 05:48:07
For my $20 cookie-tin banjos, I use eyebolts. Rather than try drill a hole in the eyebolt, I wrap a strip of fiberglass reinforced tape around the bolt, and tie the NYLON strings to the pegs.
For the Squared Eel, I use the cheapest PING guitar tuners, about $15 a set of 6.
Yoppairi Kabetsu uses hollow wall fasteners to make a very precise set of tuners for HIS banjos.
Looky here:
banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...bumid=608
If you want to make wooden friction pegs, freehand, here's what I did, before I got the reamer & shaper:
Make the pegs LONGER than you need, and taper them.
NUMBER them on the big end, wrap fine sandpaper around one, rough side out, and gradually sand it INTO the hole. The taper will fit that hole.
Next peg, next hole.
If you want to borrow my Stew-Mac fiddle peg reamer & shaper, I'll loan 'em out, but you pay shipping.
Edited by - mike gregory on 08/03/2011 05:55:39
Jonnycake White - Posted - 08/03/2011: 09:13:11
quote:
Originally posted by KennyB
If you're building from scratch and want to keep things cheap, you might want to make a slotted head, and use low cost guitar tuners. That way you'd still have the knobs sticking out the back, which seems to be the reason everyone wants planetaries.
I've done that on a bunch of my banjos. But I still like planetaries better, because they make re-tuning a banjo much quicker. It's something most banjo players do and most guitar players don't have to do.
Wooden friction pegs are the cheapest way to do it. Like any friction pegs, they don't work well for steel strings but they are fine for nylon/nlygut/gut strings. The cost of a reamer is the prohibitive factor, but a good one is the same as the cost of one set of planetaries or just a few sets of the cheapest econonomy tuners you can buy, and it will last your the rest of your life. Once you have a reamer, it is possible to make a matching peg shaver in your shop from a block of hardwood and a piece of steel.
If you don't like turning or whittling your own pegs, violin or viola pegs can be bought at very reasonable prices.
mikehalloran - Posted - 08/03/2011: 10:11:23
Any SAGA dealer can get you inexpensive ebony friction pegs. A 2 degree reamer is required and Stew-Mac's is not cheap but it is the right one. Perhaps someone knows a less expensive source for 2 degree reamers.
oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 08/03/2011: 11:23:04
Cheap planetaries are not worth the time it takes to put them in a landfill. 25 dollars for Elton style Friction pegs is a waste of money. Saga friction pegs and a reamer would cost even more than the Eltons and they will be a PITA for life. Just get some middle range guitar tuners and put them in. they will well work for years.
Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 08/03/2011 11:26:29
nohobanjo - Posted - 08/03/2011: 11:50:21
Go to your local violin shop. They usually have a box of used violin pegs that they will often give away for nothing. Simply look for enough matching ones for your project and work from there. You can probably take your neck there and they can ream out the peg holes for you while you wait. Smile and show them your project and they will most likely take a friendly interest in what they will probably see as a lower form of musical instrument life!
NohoBanjo of Northampton, MA
rudy - Posted - 08/03/2011: 18:09:36
quote:
Originally posted by nohobanjo
Go to your local violin shop. They usually have a box of used violin pegs that they will often give away for nothing. Simply look for enough matching ones for your project and work from there. You can probably take your neck there and they can ream out the peg holes for you while you wait. Smile and show them your project and they will most likely take a friendly interest in what they will probably see as a lower form of musical instrument life!
NohoBanjo of Northampton, MA
Not a bad suggestion if you're willing to offer them a small remuneration, like a gift card to the local coffee shop.
Ebony fiddle pegs cost me 80 cents each in bulk the last time I bought a batch.
International violin can supply the same 2 degree reamer at about half the cost previously cited.
See the recent post about lower end Recording King open backs if you want to experience the joys of cheap planetary tuners vicariously.
Pegheds ARE planetary tuners, and very nice ones indeed. Don't get four for the peg head and forget the fifth peg. All five will be closer to the $100 dollar mark.
If you want to consider a good less obtrusive right angle tuner, go with the black or white buttoned Grover Ukulele tuners. I think they are around $20 a set of 4. I have them on my main gigging banjos and really like them:
Edited by - rudy on 08/03/2011 18:12:17
sport - Posted - 08/04/2011: 04:28:11
Thanks to all for your many replies...very helpful info at my fingertips.
I was leaning towards the Grover Ukulele tuners for the lowest price- so thanks Rudy for the verification that these will work for banjos.
If I go nylon, I will experiment with old peg heads and the Mike Gregory sand paper route.
As I am making these banjos for fun anyway, and not for sale, the more the challenge the better.
PS- I will use the perfected technology for a mega gut bucket (home made stand up 3/4 bass) where there will be a lot of tension on the strings. I could't fit the one in my picture in my suitcase to bring back to Rome.
FKL
