Official Luthiers Forum!

I know the main biz here is guitars, but I've got a question regarding dulcimer tuners. (And I welcome any and all comments.) I'm looking here at the StewMac catalogue which lists some 5 Star planetary pegs which give a nice "traditionalistic" look, PLUS they are geared. This commission is for a friend who doesn't need any trouble in the tuner department. (Thus, no friction pegs.) The trouble is that these four pegs are going for $68.97. Zounds! That seems high to me. I don't care for a guitar tuner turned sideways---I really want the traditional look. But, is there anything out there less expensive? TIA, SteveSteve Kinnaird38370.5953587963

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve, are those banjo tuners? You might try looking for those. I'm not sure how traditional they are but probably more so than guitar tuners.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I checked at All Parts. The prices there are even higher but they are Schaller tuners (over $80). I'll let you know if I run across any at a bettr price.

John, the specs are the same as the banjo tuners.Don A38370.6104861111

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

go to internation luthier supply. They have what you are looking for for about $40.

International luthiers supplyMike Mahar38370.6334606481

Carve some pegs out of boxwood. (you can find boxwood growing in front of some pricey homes in Nacogdoches. You can acquire this quite cheaply at night) Tradional and the price is right.

Yo helpful bro

Thanks, guys.
Bro-- though I love the idea, a hand-carved peg just won't do for this customer. (The price IS right, though. What i need to find are some planetary tuners growing in front of someone's house....)
Don--thanks for checking All Parts. If you can get set up with them (tax number) you can get wholesale prices. That's 50% off. Perhaps soon.....
Mike--thanks for the link to ILS. I love doing business with these guys. But my catalog is old, and I didn't know they carried these. The price looks quite attractive. Do you suppose that they will mount on a 5/16"-3/8" peghead wall? I guess that means, are they different than what StewMac lists as dulcimer gears? This is John's question. (So, is the barrel too long? Dunno.)

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve I go to International Luthier Supply pretty often as they are in Tulsa and only 30 minutes away.
Steve is a good guy. Most of their stuff is in violin, cello and those things. I get cello binding in wood fiber for rosette stuff. I will stop by tommorrow when go to Dr. and get you a catalog. Send me address via email at rondathomison@sbcglobal.net. Steve is going to start selling Les paul bent bodies and the chet atkins sst bodies he told me the other day

I know that you are price sensitive on this project and that your customer can't handle friction pegs. However, you still might find that building future instruments for friction pegs is a viable option where the price is not so critical. Look at Pegheds to see a planetary tuner that looks just like a friction peg and fits into the same hole. The go for $100 as set, however.

Thanks, guys. Mike, those tuners are amazing. Maybe for a Dalbergia Nigra dulcimer, though. (What's wrong with that last sentence?!)
Looks like ILS is the answer. Stan, their viola purfling is standard fare for the inner and outer rings on my rosettes. Just double the stuff up--makes up to about 3/32". One pass of the dremel, and it's ready to inlay.
How cool that you live so close.

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com