So I really like the idea of taking non-musical parts and making a musical instrument, or at the very least, making the part yourself. Using machine heads is sort of like cheating to me and sort of kills the spirit of "this something I threw together with crap I found in my garage."
Thanks.
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I have tried to make 2 handmade worm drive gear tuners, as a experiment.
These tuners are really not an "alternative" to machine heads, because they are indeed real worm drive tuners themselves, but they are handmade, and they are BIG!
Is it possible to make worm drive tuners, using only handtools?
I think so, and I have tried to make worm drive tuners, one smaller, and one bigger, but they are both much bigger than ordinary worm drive tuners (machine heads).
The worm itself is not made by using a lathe and carving away the redunt materials.
Instead an add-on method is used, where a cord is wrapped around a dowel, and some nails keep it in place.
The worm wheel uses nails or wire as »teeths«.
Two kinds of dowels are used.
The thin axis is made of a Ø6 mm thick flower stick. The thick axis is made of a Ø22 mm broom stick.
The worm drive tuners are very big, so they are placed on the instruments body and not on the headstock.
Here is a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcS3BNPrMp4&feature=youtu.be
and some pics:
If machine head tuners always are the best solution, why are they not used more on violins and cellos?
Violins, violas, and most cellos stayed with pegs to keep the authentic look in the style of Stradiveri or in the style of Amanti, and added tailpiece tuner machines instead of headstock machines. some cellos ( https://youtu.be/UzJ9dMYu2AM) and all double-basses have tuning machines because the string tension is just too tight.
I made one using dowels as a simple tuner. The screw at the base end pulls it tight to the headstock and it stays in tune. I sprinkled salt in the recess for friction.
Well....if you buy one part of the instrument prefabricated (the tuners), why stop there? You can also buy a prefabricated fretboard, or prefabricated bridge etc.
It's ok, for me, that some parts of the instrument is prefabricated, but why is it allmost always the tuners?
I like the idea that the instrument is made of things that, in the first place, were not constructed to be a part af a musical instrument.
My input as to why the tuners ? = reliability .
If you are building a guitar for yourself , for fun / inspiration , etc . then indeed experiment with baked playdough to make tuners and parts if you want .
But if you are selling ,..... then something "more' reliable is needed , "Some" friction tuners and diy tuners etc.. can be a pain in the ass to tune, or be picky and tricky , and can be frustrating to some players / buyers . A performer on stage attempting to tune for even a few minutes before he starts , ruins his show before it starts . or awkward tuning interruptions during = no fun or glory for the builder or the player .
builders / sellers customers etc ,, all have to be taken into account in some cases .
in others , make-shift ideas , inspiration , traditional techniques , making milk plastic , and or introduction to such ideas is very helpful , entertaining , inspirational , and food for thought for the movement .
but , in some cases tried and true and safe and easy are warranted .
Just my free opinion ,,, and possible worth every penny.
In the spirit of “Homemade” allow me this digression:
Years ago – I went fishing with a friend; one of us caught a really nice trout. The other asked “Did you use bait?”
"Yep – a worm.”
“Doesn't count fer much then, does it.?”
Two weeks later, we went fishing again – both equipped with artificial lures.
One of us caught a really nice trout. The other asked “Did you use bait?”
"Nope – artificial lure.”
“Did you carve it yourself?”
“...No...”
“Doesn't count fer much then, does it.?”
A few days later we were fishing again:
One of us caught a really nice trout. The other asked “Did you use bait?”
“Nope – artificial lure.”
“Did you carve it yourself?”
“Yep”
“Looks like a fish – not a bug...”
“uh, yeah?”
“Doesn't count fer much then, does it.?”
When next we went fishing, we both had fly-rods and streamers made from feathers.
One of us caught a really nice trout. The other asked “Did you use bait?”
"Nope – streamer fly.”
“Did you tie it yourself?”
“uh...no.”
“Doesn't count fer much then, does it.?”
This went on for about two years as we progressed from wet flies to dry flies. Building our own rods from graphite, Fiberglas and finally, bamboo. Tying flies only from birds or 'things' we found as roadkill. Forging hooks from iron wire. Harvesting witch-hazel and ash staves to make rods according to the instructions we read from Isaac Walton's book and, finally twisting our own fishing line from horse hair. Each step into madness driven by one our the other saying that everything gone before “...didn't count fer much...” because we were still too dependent on commercial products.
That, finally led to the dialog that nearly ended our friendship:
“Nice fish. Did you catch it with bait?”
“No, artificial.”
“Spinning lure?”
“No, a dry fly.”
“Tied it yourself?”
“Yeah”
“Used feathers you harvested yourself?”
“Yep.”
“Forged the hook yourself?”
“Yep.”
“Built the rod?”
“Followed Isaac Walton's instructions. Witch hazel tip and an ash butt section.”
“Spun your own horsehair line?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. Pretty impressive.” He though a moment. “Wait a minute – did you know the name of the horse? Doesn't count for much if you didn't know the horse personally.”
I shoved him in the water and threw my rod in after him.
It was two years before we spoke again.
I'll buy my tuning machines, thank you. But I'll watch while you try to figure out an alternative.
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