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Fine Tuners
Peg Box or Tail Piece?
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Ripton
Vermont, Massachusetts or somewhere in between
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November 3, 2015 - 4:56 pm
Member Since: November 2, 2014
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OK, so my wonderful Fiddlerman Viola came with only an A string fine tuner. I've struggled with getting my instrument in tune for practice and play. (It can take me up to half an hour to get in tune)> I really wanted to learn how to do it with only the pegs, but I realize, it may just be time to add three more fine tuners. 

 

I am considering the Wittner Finetune Pegs vs the traditional tailpiece tuners. 

 

What do you have and any opinions on one over the other...

Michael gave me a great description of the technical end but what are your thoughts... 

thanks, Rip

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
November 3, 2015 - 5:25 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

The Wittner fine tuners are among the best external fine tuners but you may want to keep them forever. I would recommend the Pusch tailpieces for the longer after length plus the quality wood. The movement is not quite as much as the external but it's a great compromise.
http://fiddlershop.com/Pusch-Tailpiece
The other thing to consider is to install fine-tune, or Perfection Planetary Pegs
http://fiddlershop.com/perfect.....iolin.html
http://fiddlershop.com/wittner.....iolin.html
They allow you to keep the better sounding tailpieces and still be able to fine tune your instrument. :)

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Jacques
San Diego

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November 3, 2015 - 6:32 pm
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I use the Wittner fine tune pegs without any fine tuners on a Frirsz alloy tailpiece. With the Wittner fine tune peg you do not need fine tuners on the tailpiece. 

A warning, before I upgraded to the Frirsz tailpiece I was using a boxwood tp and the e string began to cut straight through the wood. So if you're going to run tuning pegs without fine tuners - DO NOT USE A BOXWOOD TAILPIECE.

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cdennyb
King for a Day, Peasant for many
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November 6, 2015 - 1:24 am
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Regardless what you choose, the tailpiece is more easily changed back in the future than geared pegs or any mod up in the peg box.

I on the other hand have the weirdest setup you can imagine. I have 'geared pegs', AND fine tuners... LoL and I use them both. Whichever is more convenient at the moment.

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"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein

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micra
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November 6, 2015 - 2:28 am
Member Since: February 15, 2015
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Jacques said
I use the Wittner fine tune pegs without any fine tuners on a Frirsz alloy tailpiece. With the Wittner fine tune peg you do not need fine tuners on the tailpiece. 

A warning, before I upgraded to the Frirsz tailpiece I was using a boxwood tp and the e string began to cut straight through the wood. So if you're going to run tuning pegs without fine tuners - DO NOT USE A BOXWOOD TAILPIECE.

Boy do I like the idea of fine tune pegs!!  And I had not even heard of this Frirsz tailpiece before now.  It looks very cool!!  Their site indicates they do come with the E string fine tuner, but I guess you just pulled yours out?  I would love to see a pic of your instrument with these upgrades!  Do you feel that the improvement in projection and sensitivity are worth the cost of the Frirsz, are you happy with it?  Did you get a luthier to install these upgrades or do it yourself? 

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Jacques
San Diego

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November 8, 2015 - 2:07 pm
Member Since: December 15, 2014
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@micra if you pm your email address I can send photos. Presently I am limited to smartphone usage and am unable to upload pics.

 

i am happy with the upgrades knowing the complete inhibition of string vibration detriments have been entirely removed i.e. no fine tuners. You will want to simultaneously replace the strings with the tailpiece because the strings will set differently due to the  curvature of the tail piece e.g. If you stick with your current string set : the preloaded pitch will be offset due to this curved after-length of that tail piece.

I'm using the Rolls Royce of strings (Peter Infled).

As for the wittner pegs ... Their shell is made from a nylon composite and function nicely. They do need to be installed professionally because you will need to ream the peg box. Additionally, I had to have the largest peg size ordered to fit my already worn/expanded peg box. They do come with a nice scroll ticket that a leave laced around my scroll. The ticket reminds users not to pull on the pegs... It makes the fiddle appear special or brand new having the ticket dangling from the scroll. [=

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Schaick
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November 9, 2015 - 7:28 am
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I most of really lucked out with my set-up!!  My violin is in tune for weeks, months on end.  I have a fine tuner on just my E sting.

Violinist start date -  May 2013  

Fiddler start date - May 2014

FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius.  BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.

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coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
November 9, 2015 - 2:23 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
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@Schaick 

I have lucked out also ... I have minor adjustments to make on my Soloist and Ming.

I think it is so convenient to have fine tuners.  But I don't mind Messing with the pegs. I like the idea of learning to tune like Fiddlerman does. I try to twist and push with one hand. 

I don't mind tuning my violin.. sometimes I will mess up and grumble but over all it is just another thing that I love about violin.

Now I don't like putting on strings as I used to break them.  But even now.. I am over that.   :)

I like not adding any weight to my violin.. I am still actively fighting death grip.

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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