A simple tuning peg question

Posted by Warren Williams on August 25, 2019 at 3:39pm

How much of the capstan should protrude above the headstock once the tuning peg is installed? I've been googling all afternoon but have been unable to find this simple piece of information.

The thickness of my headstock will obviously be determined by this measurement. There is obviously a standard size tuning peg but I've no idea if mine are standard or not.

My tuning pegs have the following measurements:

Overall length of capstan measured from back plate: 27.5mm (1 3/32")

Distance of center of hole from back plate: 23.5mm (30/32")

Many thanks for your help,

WW :)

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Replies

  • Warren Williams August 26, 2019 at 11:16am

    OK thanks for your replies everyone. As usual there doesn't seem to be an exact answer so I will 'eyeball' it and try to use a sensible height based on the angle of my strings coming off the nut.

    • MadGomer > Warren Williams August 26, 2019 at 1:37pm

      Such is my approach to life!

  • Taffy Evans August 25, 2019 at 6:40pm

    Hi Warren, usually the peghead is 15mm thick on guitars. This will take the rotomatic [enclosed] style tuners. Some open back tuners have a longer post and some CBG's have thinner pegheads, so I would keep in mind the break angle of the string off of or over the nut as well as the height of the post hole above the peghead face.

    If the hole is too high then the string may not have the desired angle from the nut. I try to keep the hole about 1/4 above the peghead face, this give enough room for a few winds of a wound string. I often put a veneer of suitable thickness on the back of the peghead to regulate the amount of post protruding out front.

    Taff 

    • Reg Seward > Taffy Evans August 26, 2019 at 7:17am

      Hi,   Like the previous answer, I applied veneer to both sides of the machine head, then, like a twerp, I realised that the tuners would not protrude enough. So, I ended up Dremel routing each tuner base by an 1/8th" on the back side, a bit of a job, but it worked. I now have 5/16th" protruding, and that is fine, certainly enough for the average string sizes... this measurement is taken from the locking nut, out to the end of the peg.

  • MadGomer August 25, 2019 at 6:02pm

    I'm not able to measure mine right now but I make my headstock 5/8" thick and always have plenty of peg protruding even when I use bushings on top.

  • Art Prior August 25, 2019 at 5:51pm

    I usually go about 1/2 inch above the headstock, or the ferrule if one is used. Art

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