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Tuner Peg Conundrum

Posted by Roger Harris on May 8, 2010 at 9:08pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion
Hi,
This is my first post but I am so glad to be here. Anyway, I just bought a 3 string Robert Johnson style CBG with a mahogany broomstick neck. It came with thumb screw tuning pegs with wing nuts for tightening. Maybe I am doing something wrong but when I try to tune the light gauge guitar strings to D-A-D, I have a helluva time not only getting tuned to a Tuner, but also to itself.
When I finally get the right note, I cannot get the string's tension to stay taut while I tighten the wing nut. I just end up cussing and frustrated. My partner has a 6 string Takamine which is a dream to tune compared to the CBG.
Should I replace the straight eye bolts with something else? Could my tuning technique be the only thing that is wrong? The broomstick is only approx. 7/8" in diameter so would drilling a typical 1/4" headstock hole for conventional pegs be Verboten?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Roger

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Tags: 3, bolts, eye, nuts, pegs, string, tuners, tuning, wing
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Replies

  • Roger Harris May 10, 2010 at 11:56pm
    You read my mind Tracy. Those actually were my original thoughts even before I began surfing for a CBG. I guess I got impatient because I didn't have the time right then( a couple of weeks ago) to build one so ....
    As far as who the builder is, I don't remember his screen name but he did have a Youtube clip of this now famous CBG and although the playing was a little unimaginative, I am certainly not Chet Akins, Eric Clapton or whomever you might consider to be beyond compare. Personally, I wish I could play like Jimi Hendrix. Anybody play his song Red House(i think that's the name of it) on a CBG? I stray from the point, the builder answered my questions promptly and courteously, shipped the CBG quickly and followed up to see that it arrived okay, so any fault in this transaction hangs squarely on my shoulders for not being a totally informed buyer. Actually, that is unusual for me because I pride myself on exhaustive research so as I said before, lesson learned, end of story.

    Tracy Kennedy said:
    Roger, Man ol' man you paid more in shipping than what that CBG cost to build. Ok, let me put my sarcasm away now.
    I understand you want to make this CBG functional and you seem to be hell bent on doing so. At the very least I would use this CBG as a basis to build from. Gather yourself up some materials and build a new CBG. The first one I built cost me $12.42 ... The box was a $1 the 3 on plate tuners were $6.50, only needed one of the plates so make that $3.25. 3' of 1x2 polar @ .79 a foot is $2.37. Piezo $1.99, 1/4 jacks...2 in a pack $1.49, needed one so 75 cents, guitar strings were $4.50 for six, only needed 3 so that is $2.25. Add about 7% tax and its $12.42

    I understands your cost will be higher in direct relation to commodity prices in Hawaii but you should still come in under what you paid in shipping for the one you have now. In the end you will be much happier with the one you built with your own hands than the one you paid for.

    .Roger Harris said:
    Wes, the shipping alone was more than $30 but that is what I come to expect living in Hawaii. I probably paid more than the guitar is worth but lesson learned. Take care.
    Roger
  • Roger Harris May 10, 2010 at 11:44pm
    Thanks for the insight Roger. I will check it out although one local guitar store is just right down the street from Walmart and I like to support local business. BTW, they are both 30 miles from me as I live on the end of the earth near a spewing volcano.
    Roger

    Roger Martin said:
    The Walmarts near me sell both strings, picks,and entry level guitars and amps.But their in the kids toy sections so unless you have kids ,you wouldnt know they were even there.I dont have kids (any more,mine are in their 40's) but I ask several years ago about strings etc and was sent to the kids toys area.And yep thats where they are!
  • Tracy Kennedy May 10, 2010 at 8:47pm
    Good to know...Ive been to Walmart looking for strings and such and never could find them. Im not the type to ask for help, so when I cant find what Im looking for I leave and go somewhere else. The way I see it, if it isnt were it I think it ought to be then they dont want to sell it cause they didnt put it were they thought thier customer would look for it. But then again where else would you put guitar strings at Walmart? Keep in mind this is Redneck logic.

    Roger Martin said:
    The Walmarts near me sell both strings, picks,and entry level guitars and amps.But their in the kids toy sections so unless you have kids ,you wouldnt know they were even there.I dont have kids (any more,mine are in their 40's) but I ask several years ago about strings etc and was sent to the kids toys area.And yep thats where they are!
  • Tracy Kennedy May 10, 2010 at 8:32pm
    Roger, Man ol' man you paid more in shipping than what that CBG cost to build. Ok, let me put my sarcasm away now.
    I understand you want to make this CBG functional and you seem to be hell bent on doing so. At the very least I would use this CBG as a basis to build from. Gather yourself up some materials and build a new CBG. The first one I built cost me $12.42 ... The box was a $1 the 3 on plate tuners were $6.50, only needed one of the plates so make that $3.25. 3' of 1x2 polar @ .79 a foot is $2.37. Piezo $1.99, 1/4 jacks...2 in a pack $1.49, needed one so 75 cents, guitar strings were $4.50 for six, only needed 3 so that is $2.25. Add about 7% tax and its $12.42

    I understands your cost will be higher in direct relation to commodity prices in Hawaii but you should still come in under what you paid in shipping for the one you have now. In the end you will be much happier with the one you built with your own hands than the one you paid for.

    .Roger Harris said:
    Wes, the shipping alone was more than $30 but that is what I come to expect living in Hawaii. I probably paid more than the guitar is worth but lesson learned. Take care.
    Roger
  • Roger Martin May 10, 2010 at 8:12pm
    The Walmarts near me sell both strings, picks,and entry level guitars and amps.But their in the kids toy sections so unless you have kids ,you wouldnt know they were even there.I dont have kids (any more,mine are in their 40's) but I ask several years ago about strings etc and was sent to the kids toys area.And yep thats where they are!
  • Roger Harris May 10, 2010 at 8:00pm
    Wes, the shipping alone was more than $30 but that is what I come to expect living in Hawaii. I probably paid more than the guitar is worth but lesson learned. Take care.
    Roger

    Roger Harris said:
    Well,
    In hindsight I probably should have come here first before picking a CBG/Maker but you know how Hindisight is, so I will attempt to make the best of the situation because i don't want the guitar to be just a dust collector.
    One more thing and I gotta go earn some $$$ to buy more CBGs; what do you guys and ladies suggest for light gauge guitar string sizes? Any brand preferences and/or materials? Bronze, nickel, ? I live near the ocean so will need something that is somewhat resistant to immediate corrosion.
    Have a great Monday!
    Roger

    Wes Yates said:
    You know, the more I hear, the more my curiosity is peaked.

    So, my first question is, why only one broomstick for a 3-string. No, there are no rules but common sense might lend to the fact that the broomstick might not have the structural integrity as would a double broomstick neck (see the designs by John Lowe or Mac Arnold). And to top it off, what it sounds like is a FUD tactic (fear, uncertainty, doubt). Why would any honest builder dismiss any other builder. To be very honest, John McNair is one of the best builders active on ebay. I would be hard pressed to dishonor him -- as example you understand.

    I still say, even as a gift and from what I see and hear, I hope it wasn't more than $30 including shipping.

    -WY

    Tracy Kennedy said:
    Sure would like to know who this builder on Ebay is
  • Roger Harris May 10, 2010 at 7:54pm
    Thanks Roger, I didn't even know that Wally World sold strings. Do they sell instruments in your neck of the woods? I usually avoid the only store they have hear unless I can go at 6 AM, it is as crowded as if they are gving away gold.

    Roger Martin said:
    I think everybody has their own preference but I just buy my strings at Walmart, and use as many out of a set as I can.
    I think their $5 a set and they work fine on my instruments.
  • Roger Martin May 10, 2010 at 4:59pm
    I think everybody has their own preference but I just buy my strings at Walmart, and use as many out of a set as I can.
    I think their $5 a set and they work fine on my instruments.
  • Roger Harris May 10, 2010 at 4:22pm
    Well,
    In hindsight I probably should have come here first before picking a CBG/Maker but you know how Hindisight is, so I will attempt to make the best of the situation because i don't want the guitar to be just a dust collector.
    One more thing and I gotta go earn some $$$ to buy more CBGs; what do you guys and ladies suggest for light gauge guitar string sizes? Any brand preferences and/or materials? Bronze, nickel, ? I live near the ocean so will need something that is somewhat resistant to immediate corrosion.
    Have a great Monday!
    Roger

    Wes Yates said:
    You know, the more I hear, the more my curiosity is peaked.

    So, my first question is, why only one broomstick for a 3-string. No, there are no rules but common sense might lend to the fact that the broomstick might not have the structural integrity as would a double broomstick neck (see the designs by John Lowe or Mac Arnold). And to top it off, what it sounds like is a FUD tactic (fear, uncertainty, doubt). Why would any honest builder dismiss any other builder. To be very honest, John McNair is one of the best builders active on ebay. I would be hard pressed to dishonor him -- as example you understand.

    I still say, even as a gift and from what I see and hear, I hope it wasn't more than $30 including shipping.

    -WY

    Tracy Kennedy said:
    Sure would like to know who this builder on Ebay is
  • MichaelS Country Boy Guitars May 10, 2010 at 3:41pm
    As far as leaving it in tune when stored, you don't need to loosen the strings, all my cigar box and "real" guitars are left in tune when put away, if left along time it may need to be tuned up but overnite, not a worry. The string question is a bad one for me, I buy a pack of six and use 3 on one and 3 on another and tune to a note that works for the cbg and my untuned ears.

    Roger Harris said:
    Yes, perfect sense. Thanks Michael. As you suggest, I think I can affect a "fix" using these bolts and with some added hardware but it will still be a *&^*&^%$# to tune.
    Sorry, for so many questions, but what you think about maintaining tension on the strings while it is not being played? keeping it in tune, in other words? a waste of time if I am going to practice several times a week?
    2) I like the sound of steel strings, so for string gauge would 022", .015 and .010 work? any brand preference?



    MichaelS said:
    I would still look into using the geared tuners because one of your original problems was the getting it in tune parts. Its very easy to go past the note with the non geared tuner ie: friction peg or eye bolt. But with the geared tuner you have much more control over the string and can get it right on the note easily, like on your friends Takamine guitar. Then its just a matter of playing and having a good time. I have made an eye bolt type tuner, just to say I could and it does work and if made tight stays in tune, but the tuning is a pain, so I only made one.
    You could make your work simply by putting a nut on the string side so you can tighten it up against the wood, it looks like there is enough thread available ie: thumb part, string hole, nut, broomstick, wing nut. I hope this makes sense. Good luck with it.
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