minstrel: Friction pegs

[Lisa and Ken Theriot]

Tadhg wrote:

[Can anyone offer advice on the care and feeding of friction pegs?  My new 
oud has some pegs that tend to slip, some that stick.]

Now you know why machines were invented!  You could certainly try your goop 
on the ones that stick, but the ones that slip have to be replaced.  I 
agree with Glenn that it's probably a good investment to replace them all 
with better quality pegs; depending on your style of play you're going to 
need substantial staying power to resist the pull of your plucks.

Good friction pegs really shouldn't give you much grief.  Just use 
common-sense instrument care (i.e. don't let the head get really dusty, 
don't leave it in a kitchen or other area where there's grease in the air, 
avoid extremes of temperature and humidity, etc).  My husband's violin 
holds a tune beautifully, even plucked, and it was by no means an expensive 
instrument; it was made by a very dedicated luthier, though.  If you find 
your pegs won't hold, you should start looking around for a nice luthier 
and make friends.  Where are you located?  Maybe someone on the list knows 
of a good one.


Adelaide