[zeprin]

What is the difference, if any, in tone or playability between the 2?
For some reason I find the look of the pegs strangely attractive.
And I really neeeed a reason to for a new guitar...

zeprin

[falseta]

Welcome to the forum zeprin!

I dont think its so much a question of tone than it is a question of staying in tune... But again I have never owned a guitar with peg tuners and have only heard about this from other guitar owners...

I am sure someone here in the forum owns a guitar with pegs and can answer your question about tone.

Good luck with the new guitar hunt and post some pictures of it here when you get it!

[Payul]

Hi Zeprin,

I red in an intervieuw with Manuel Reyes, that there is a slightly sound difference.'The one with the tuning machines sounds according to him a bit more "metallic" not metallic from the tuning gear, just in the sound of the guitar
also other builders ( Anders Eliasson f.i.) say that there is a slightly bit sound difference.
It is also lighter in weight, nice if you sit in the old flamenco postition.
Playability is not any different as far as I know and experianced.
but in the beginning harder to tune, the benefit is that it stays in tune longer. but, I have also heared the opposite that a tuning machine stayes in tune longer.....
I have one from J.L. Bellido, it plays and sounds very nice, though if I have to perform, I prefer one with machine heads, it is easyer to tune especially under stressy sircumstances and a lot of sounds in your surroundings.
But I agree totaly with you, it looks very nice and asthetic.

If you need some more excuses for a new guitar............., you need to have 3 guitars I think :-), one blanca with peggs one blanca with tuning machine, and a negra ofcource! LOL
( A negra with peggs i find a bit strainge, but that is just my taste..!)

Payul

[Frontera]

I have had both....

IMO:

Pegs are much quicker for bringing up new strings

The weight difference is minimal. With tuners more wood is removed and this compensates some for the extra weight of the tuners. This is not the big issue. Many players hold machine heads in the traditional manner with no problems.

Looks is the main reason.

Tone difference is debatable. Every guitar has a different tone. I have known a few that had pegheads converted to machines and could not tell any difference. Pegheads by theory might conduct more sound because of the more direct contact to the peghead and neck, however since the strings vibrations terminate at the nut, I don't see this as being an issue. I have played on peg and machine guitars by the same maker and couldn't hear that the machines added any metallic sound. The strings are wrapped around a plastic roller, so I can't see any reason that a metallic sound would result, however if a maker has had this experience with their guitars, then it might be worth considering.

I agree with Payul ... a peghead flamenco negra just isn't right.

[Ramirez1987]

Hi
Have an 1af Ramirez111 with pegs. recent acquisition. generally find the pegs easier for string changes etc but more difficult in fine tuning situations...ie with other guitars or flute etc.guess i would like some response regarding planetry pegs or similar..as for a comparison? have nothing to really base tonal difference on as i believe every guitar 'sounds' different.
if any body out there has these 'mechanical' pegs and is willing to exchange a few thoughts it would be greatly appreciated..
saludos

[Payul]

Hi Ramirez 1987

I do not have experiance with mechanical peggs, but had some interesting in it for my Jose Bellido.
They seem to work pretty good, ( I talked to Otto Vowinkel about it, a quite respected builder)
The ratio is 1:4 while a normal tuning system is 1;15, sometimes even more with the more expensive gear.
So it is a lot easier to tune, a little lost in aestethic ( in my personal oppinion though), But not so extemely good for fine tuning ( the ratio is rather big), comparing to a normal tuning gear.
So, at the end I decided to leave the guitar as it is....and bought another guitar for performing.

[Ramirez1987]

thanks payul
after a bit more info just cant stand the thought of aluminum pegs ...love the rosewood so guess it will stay as is,,,...will look at another guitar as well. thanks for the tip. hope your doing great out there.

[Payul]

Hi Ramirez1987,

I think it is a wise decision, you have a very nice instrument, I love the Ramirez 1A peggs, ( Probbably cedar top? ) and it is possible not reversable without a lot of trouble at a guitarbuilder.

All the best,
Payul

[flintsghost]

I owned a very early Yairi Flamenco with Ebony friction pegs. It was beautiful and the sound was phenomenal. But it was very difficult to keep in tune, even with the friction pegs coated with rosen. I preferred heavy tension strings and that may be why. I would never own a traditional peg fitted guitar again.

[ex_caeruleus]

Originally Posted by Frontera

I have had both....


The weight difference is minimal. With tuners more wood is removed and this compensates some for the extra weight of the tuners. This is not the big issue. Many players hold machine heads in the traditional manner with no prob

My thoughts were that the cut-out for the tuning machines must do something to negate the weight of the tuners.

I imagine that the specifics of the tuning machines can make a big difference. Brass Hauser style machines look fairly hefty (but classy), whereas straight style machines may weigh less. And I bet nickel is lighter than brass (have to be the "black" nickel though 'cause shiny silver tuning machines might look wrong with the rest of the colouring of a flamenco).
Maybe someone can make a set of titanium tuners?

It seems that after engraving and fancy stuff like that, one of the big factors in pricing in tuning machines is the gear ratio. The better the ratio, the more precise the tuning. What's the ratio on a peg?

LOL that was rhetorical sarcasm and sour grapes. My guitar is a very classic flamenco, just no pegs. I envy pegs.