Knilling planetary pegs

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Permalink Reply by Erin Shrader on February 9, 2010 at 11:06am

The ones I've seen and used worked beautifully. AND they have just, finally, figured out how to make the heads out of wood rather than plastic so nobody will be able to tell the difference at a glance.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Torosian on February 10, 2010 at 11:07am

I've been curious about those too. Do they need to be professionally adjusted like regular wooden pegs, or can you put them on yourself? The pegs on my violin drive me crazy sometimes. They'll come out of tune at the worst moments-most recently, I was at a dress rehearsal in a pit orchestra, and they all popped out of tune for no apparent reason. I guess it was hot in there or something. But of course, the entrance to the pit was on the opposite side from where I was sitting, and in between there was the conductor, the drum kit with the sound barrier, and the brass section who also was filling in with more percussion instruments. I couldn't hear myself at all in there, so I had to maneuver my way out at the next pause in between songs, and go all the way out into the hallway...then come back. Whenever that happens I feel like it's an epic battle between my violin and I, because I really struggle with the pegs slipping while I'm trying to tune. So if you decide to use Planetary Pegs and really like them, let me know!

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Permalink Reply by Erin Shrader on February 10, 2010 at 12:14pm

Planetary Pegs do need to be professionally installed. But once they're in, neither peg nor hole wears out so it seems to be a one-time job.

Yes, pegs do let go with a significant change of weather--it's one of the violin's few serious design flaws--and it always seems to happen at the worst time, doesn't it?! But if you're struggling with the pegs under normal conditions you probably need to take it in to have the fit adjusted. That's just normal maintenance.

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Permalink Reply by David Alston on February 10, 2010 at 6:04pm

Pegheds are an alternative to the Knillings. Collings Guitars uses them on the ukuleles, so I would think that they would be reliable.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Keating on February 10, 2010 at 8:46pm

Thanks Erin. The Knilling pegs do seem to look almost like ebony pegs. That's important to me, that the instrument still looks traditional. The less metal and synthetic materials used the better, but planetary pegs are worth the sacrifice if it turns tuning from a daunting task to a trivial necessity.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Lyonn Lieberman on February 20, 2010 at 1:27pm

I've been using Planetary Perfection pegs since they came out. I have them on 2 of my violins. Never had a problem. They are light-weight and insure in winter that I never open my case to pegs that have sprung from the dry heat. Knilling gives support to luthiers to teach them how to install the pegs and I hear through the grapevine that there will be more choices soon.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Keating on February 20, 2010 at 1:55pm

Thanks. I ordered a set from amazon.com, $81 total. I've done some instrument work before so I'm going to install them myself. So far, I've heard nothing but good reviews on them.

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Permalink Reply by Maja Fajndovic on February 21, 2010 at 4:16am

I suggest you to take a look at our work ...pegs and tailpiece made from plum tree originated from Serbia that proved to be very good and most important durable.We also used maple , olive wood and oak old over 100 years.Some people are not fond of carvings but ones you put such fitting on your instrument you will find old fittings too plane and simple.Nice, elegant carving is always aye catching

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Permalink Reply by James Suovanen on February 23, 2010 at 9:06pm

Does anyone know if the perfection planetary pegs change the sound of a violin in any way? Does anyone have personal experience in this area?

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Permalink Reply by David Alston on February 24, 2010 at 3:17am

I note that in the latest Strings magazine Witner has an ad for planetary type pegs also. It implies that they are a direct replacement (i.e. no modifications necessary).

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Keating on February 25, 2010 at 8:38pm

Just finished installing the planetary pegs from Knilling. Only a little minor hole reaming was required. I noticed a change in sound projection, but then I also fitted a new bridge and removed the fine tuners. The tone seems the same but a bit stronger I think because of the bridge more so than the pegs. As for the pegs themselves, it is sooooo easy to tune up now. However, tune UP to pitch, not down. The pegs drop quicker than they tune up. This is a rule of thumb anyway on any instrument with tuners.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Keating on March 6, 2010 at 12:34pm

These pegs are working great. I would never put them on an antique instrument, but for the average player's newer instrument, particularly a student's, it's well worth the $81. And they look perfectly natural, no fine tuners needed. I'm happy with them.

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