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Does anybody make a geared tuning machine with the tuning pegs going out the back of the peghead? I don't like slotted peghead tuners. This is related to Harp Guitars.

Mike

pegheds.com

Looking for a planetary gearing system.

Yup, 16:1 Pegheds are the only good option I'm aware of for steel strings.

Ed Minch sent me a link to these:
https://shop.gryphonstrings.com/product ... idal-tuner

He could probably tell you more about them.

Believe it or not, in the hour since my last post I had the idea to use a cycloidal reducer, and am presently in the middle of 3D modelling it. Although mine is a special compound version that can produce high ratios with very low tooth counts, and thus may be 3D printable.

Frank Ford conceived of these 10:1 cycloidal gears and never got around to manufacaturing them - gave the concept to Rickard and they are making them.

https://shop.gryphonstrings.com/products/frank-fords-corner-rickard-101-rickard-cycloidal-tuner

He did this as an alternative for the early OM's that had banjo pegs on them. I will be using them on a Stauffer head that I am starting shortly.

Dennis - does Pegheads have a a 16:1 option? I am only finding their 4:1

Ed

There's not much info on the web site. Email him and ask for the catalog pdf.

Hmmm not sure if this will help
https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... uners.html


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Steinberger "gearless" tuners, as used on Gibson and Epiphone "Firebirds". Unfortunately, Gibson is no longer making them available retail. You can find them on eBay at an absurd price. I purchased and "upgraded" a couple of Epiphone birds in order to set some Steinbergers aside for my Harp guitars. I then sold the birds on so that the net cost of the Steinbergers was zero.


Also possible are the Kluson "banjo style" tuners, also for Firebirds. The "reissue" type is readily available at a reasonable price:

For what its worth, waverly has them... but high price and 4:1 (yuk) turn ratio

https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Pa ... uitar.html

How does one achieve 40:1 without gears?

Anybody used these on a steel string? Harp? is 10:1 ok?

Dennis, I have a harp waiting to finish. I have never liked using bridge pins for harp strings. Always though some kine of brass screw in riser for each string would work nicely. Any thoughts?

Ah, they’re back! There was a period where SM was claiming they couldn’t get them anymore. Of course the 40:1 is marketing, but they really are awesome.
I got the idea for using them for harp-guitar sub basses from Luke Brunner — he used them originally for his compact harp guitar, but had to redesign when SM no longer had them. I’ll have to let him know.


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Now that's an interesting design! I'm not 100% sure, but I think the tensioning is done by pulling the string further down the hole, as you screw the bottom cap onto the post while holding the key on top to keep the post from turning. So the screw thread functions as the gear. They're a bit heavy, but cheaper than Pegheds. Definitely worth considering.


My guess is that they'd be just enough. I've tried 4:1 Pegheds, and they're way too touchy. 10:1 might still be a bit touchy for most people, but these look to have a smaller post diameter, which increases the effective gear ratio. They look heavy, though. I'd email and ask for the weight before using them on a harp guitar.


Are you talking about bridge anchoring, or string break angle pegs at the headstock end?

If the latter, my harp guitar just has the strings come straight off the post, but they do occasionally buzz so I will be adding some kind of nut-like things on my next one. Probably horizontal break angle, using brass posts (2-3mm diameter) sticking up from holes drilled in the wood (see the black dots in the MS Paint masterpiece below). Possibly with slots filed into the sides of them to precisely set the string height rather than having it determined by the number of wraps around the post. Really the same thing as a nut, but rotated 90 degrees

The specs have them weighing in at 30 grams each or 230 grams for a set of six which makes no sense unless the numbers include packaging. Weight is about the same as an enclosed Gotoh or a Rotomatic.

I just weighed a set of Steinbergers sitting on my shelf = 234 g, virtually identical to a set of Gotoh M6-style 3+3.

Muriel Anderson playing a Brunner compact harp guitar with Steinbergers for the sub basses.

https://youtu.be/sAzKPdiqkGo

I notice that while Epiphone Firebirds still use them, it seems they’ve been dropped by Gi*son, which is likely connected to the renewed availability of these tuners on the retail market. Not so long ago (last year) you would see used ones on eBay for $250+

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Yeah, the Steinbergers are not heavy compared to typical machines, just compared to Pegheds, which are about 12.6g each. Makes a big difference when you have twice as many of them, especially with the harp arm being even longer than the neck.