UndisputedTruth
Oud Admirer
Posts: 1
Registered: 12-15-2007
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Slipping Oud Pegs
Hi Guys - I really could use some advice. I was looking at an oud in a music store today, but walked out after fiddling with it for an hour because I
wanted to be absolutely sure it was well made and felt I didn't have all of my facts. Here is my question: the oud I was looking at would go out of
tune while I was playing it...is this just a 'typical' issue with ouds in general, something that always needs to be addressed? (with some chalk
specifically) Or is it a bad sign that the pegs were slipping when I was in the midst of playing it? Perhaps I didn't have it tuned up all the
way...but does the fact that the pegs kept slipping with the frequency that they did during that hour of playing around indicate that this is poorly
constructed? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
UT
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Benjamin
Oud Junkie
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Registered: 7-23-2006
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Hi mate,
I guess it depends upon the way the pegs were pushed into (strong or not), and indeed upon the quality of the wood used as well. Personnaly I put some
chalk on my pegs so that they won't slip. But watch carefully the wood used for it (ebony is a good wood for that for instance) as it is an important
part of the oud.
Benjamin
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Oud Freak
Oud Junkie
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Registered: 11-23-2007
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Hi Mr. Truth, I fully agree with what Mr. Benjamin said. Try the chalk of course. Another tip: when u string your instrument don't let the string on
the peg touch the peg holder (cheviller), cos' it will ruin the tuning even if it is the best oud on earth.
Second of all, there also might be a defect in the peg holder. The holes might not be properly done (the hole might not be exactly circular but more
elliptical) so the peg cannot turn properly will not hold in place, instead it the string might be violently detuned and the peg ejected. I had this
bad experience and believe me it was not funny at all.
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jdowning
Oud Junkie
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Registered: 8-2-2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Have you done a search on the forum using keywords 'slipping pegs'? You may find the answers to your question that have already been covered in detail
by other members. It is a problem that can usually be easily corrected.
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Sunshy
Oud Lover
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Registered: 9-12-2007
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I was having the same problem with my oud. It was very frustrating. I had some geared tuners installed--which look just like pegs--so now it stays in
tune! The headstock is a tiny bit heavier than having regular pegs, but I'm not looking back as I can actually spend more time playing rather than
tuning. Highly recommended, though not very "traditional."
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Oud Freak
Oud Junkie
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Sunshy, can u post a pic of the "modified" oud you are talking of? I can't understand what u mean by geared tuners. Is it like guitar peg machine? If
so, then it will make the oud heavier (as u say) and the instrument will have a tendency to pivot to the left side while you are playing. Moreover, it
gives the oud a more metallic sound, which is a matter of taste.
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Meursault
Oud Junkie
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He's probably talking about Pegheds, or something like them. Go to http://www.pegheds.com
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Benjamin
Oud Junkie
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Registered: 7-23-2006
Location: Paris, France
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Wow it looks amazing I thought it was a joke at the beginning (about pegheds). Does somebody on the forum has already used it for an oud?
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Sunshy
Oud Lover
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Yes, that is what I had installed. Geared means that once you tune the string up or down, there are little teeth (gears) in there that make it stay in
place, therefore, in tune. It's the same mechanism as a guitar, but it's all fit into a peg. Amazing! It is heavier, but only slightly. I do notice a
difference, but it is worth it to me. Highly recommended. I think I would have given up the oud if not for this, as I was used to playing guitars that
stay in tune.
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Oud Freak
Oud Junkie
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Sunshy, where can you get these pegs from and how can u know the size to order?
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Sunshy
Oud Lover
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I had them installed by a great luthier who works on ouds here in Los Angeles. I can give you his contact info if you send me a message. I believe the
pegs were around $20 each.
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gilgamesh
Oud Junkie
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 Excellent !!! That looks an excellent peg strategy
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Raby
Oud Maniac
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Registered: 11-3-2007
Location: Québec, Canada
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Very interessing pegs but really expensives !The price on the website is 149 $ for 4 pegs mutiplie by 3 for a oud =447$!!!!!! I am very curious to try
it for see the difference with goods wood pegs (ajusted well) .Because the problème with the pegs is often they are not well adjusted and made of bad
kind of wood !
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Oud Freak
Oud Junkie
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The geared peg solution is very expensive and the pegs are not easy (they will take time) to be received in Lebanon. I think that one would better
risk to have a qualified luthier make him new pegs or even change the pegbox if needed. It might not result as costly as the 400$. I thank God and the
luthier that I have no problems at all with the pegs.
Tjanks for the precious info Sunshy, this knowledge is seriously good to have.
Cheers
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jdowning
Oud Junkie
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I have referred to the 17th C writings of Thomas Mace - as he discusses problems with maintaining and repairing lutes - elsewhere in this forum. Here
is what he has to say about slipping pegs - as big a problem for 17th C lutenists as it can be for present day oudists:
"For there are three causes of a peg slipping;
The one is, the not equal fitting or biting at both the holes (in the pegbox); therefore you must observe at which hole it it bites least; for if it
bite hard at the wide hole, which is the thickest part of your peg, and stick at the other, then your string will constantly slip down, so soon as the
peg or hole is worn smooth'
But if it bite hard at the small end and slack at the great, it will not often so slip, but many times cause your peg to twist in pieces.
Now the remedy for all this is only to scrape the peg a little smaller at the end which is too thick so long till upon trial you find that it bites at
both ends alike.
Another cause of peg slipping is when both ends are equal yet both the peg and the holes are worn smooth( being made of soft wood) wherefore so near
as you can have all your pegs of hard wood (and without sap) as of Plum tree, box, or ebony etc. The remedy for this inconvenience is only to scrape
the peg at both ends a little and then rub it at the biting places with a piece of chalk and then it will stick fast.
A third and very common cause is from putting on of the string ........ so that in twisting about the peg at either end the strings lie too near the
cheeks of the pegholes (and) hinders the peg from biting.
And I have often seen some fumblers fret and vex themselves a quarter of an hour or more to (unsuccessfully) fasten such a peg .... and then to cry
out that it was the peg at fault.
Now the remedy for this is the easiest of all and lies only in the care of the putter on of the string, to see that it lies wholly clear from both
sides (of the pegbox).
And take this rule along with you, never to twist too much string upon the peg"
The 17th C English is quaint but the meaning is clear enough. No need for modern alternatives if traditional pegs are properly made and fitted in the
first place
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