Violin/Fiddle: Tuning Problems

Subject: violin tuning & pegs
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 21:10:31 -0600

Hello,
My son has just recently started violin lessons. The violin we bought for
him will not keep in tune. The strings seem to *pop* everytime we even
touch it. We cannot turn the pegs at all.... they are very tight. Is there
any way to fix this problem or is this violin a lemon, like his instructor
seems to think. It's a $400 violin!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, Alison

Greetings Alison,

There could be two things causing this...
1. The strings are not wound on the peg shafts properly...and they're slipping the higher you go up in pitch. To correct this, rewind the the string from scratch and allow one or two of the winding to wind over the string coming out of the hole in the shaft...

2. The other problem could be that the wooden pegs are not holding properly...which is quite common. To correct this, invest in some Peg Drops....available at most local music stores...very easy to apply...and works every time...

I wish I could assist further...I'm sure I could figure it out quickly if I could see it in person...Mickey