Printable View
Does anyone know of a cheap source for a mandolin peg winder? Mine just broke after umpteen years. It was plastic but worked just fine for many years. I'm not really interested in a finely crafted tool, nor one that I need to use other tools with to get the job done. I've checked Ebay and Amazon, but didn't see anything. I would be most grateful for any help.
I've never found a cheap mando winder. Guitar winders are cheap but not mando winders, for some reason.
This is what I have and has worked fine so far...
PLANET WAVES PEG WINDER
Molded plastic string winder from Planet Waves. Fits virtually all guitars, banjos and mandolins; has string stretcher and bridge pin puller built into the handle.
$5.99
I bought a cheap guitar pegwinder, cut it to fit my mandolin tuner buttons, super glued a pick to it to reclose the box, filed the edges and rounded the corners so they won't hit the headstock. Works great, cost about $1.50 and a half hour in time. There's a thread about it on here with DIY pics etc. It's easy.Quote:
Originally Posted by FrDNicholas
I got one of these... Sorry not cheap $20, but nice tone-wood, made in Colorado and they work great. Sometimes a reasonably priced good product is a greater value in the long run. Rumored to improve the tone of your mandolin (just kidding, but they look cool) as always NFI. (maybe someday I'll have a FI in something mandolin other than purchasing them...)
Attachment 121368
http://www.wildwoodstringwinders.com/Mandolin.html
Peg winders look like they do something but they really are unnecessary.... The strings only need to wrap around the posts a couple of times as long as the strings are properly installed as seen on frets.com. Frank Ford shows how to lock the string so that it will not slip and it takes a fraction of the time to install and tighten the string than not using this system.
Attachment 121369. I cut the end off and heat up with a butane torch to bend the sides around. Not pretty but it works!
I made my own peg winder like this. And use an electric screw driver to turn it. Worked very well for me.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...314_112355.jpg
Sorry, I still cannot insert any photo in this forum (after I replaced my old PC with this new PC since Oct2013).
You only need to choose the square blue part small enough for the mandolin tuner head.
I posted it a while ago, here is the link
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...=string+winder
I got one at Guitar Center last year for $1.99. It works fine on my mandolins (and guitars, too).
My favorite answer to this question is this. I took a plain jane Jim Dunlop guitar winder, cut a chunk out of the middle and used Superglue to put it back together. It's worked for years.
Cheap.
I use the Frets.com method, which means only a little more than one revolution of string goes around each stringpost. I have never had a string slip and can't imagine ever needing a string winder - but have enjoyed seeing the solutions offered up here.
I might just try that on my next set. thx for link RonQuote:
Originally Posted by Ron McMillan
I have an electric bass that needs several turns on the A string to get a good angle at the nut. Other than that I have never needed a string winder.
Taking strings off is very fast, and putting them on even faster using the Frank Ford method and a winder. With high ratio tuners, even a couple of rotations of the post take a lot of winding, and doing it by hand is frustrating particularly if you are trying to keep tension on the string to maintain that back-wind thing. I have found that at this stage of a string change, the faster you move the better. Of course it is unnecessary, but it is also a handy tool for a M.A.S. infected, obsessive-compulsive mandolin enthusiast!
Besides if you don't have a lot of disposable cash to buy too many instruments (can there be such a thing?), silly mandolin peripherals ease the pain.
Thank you for the "frets.com" link! I just broke my first string today at lunch and I've not seen this site before...seems to be quiet easy with their useful (and informative) information!Quote:
Originally Posted by bart mcneil
It's a mine of top-class expertise and advice on instrument maintenance. One of the best mandolin-related sites on the web.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigHossCCF
OP, just a FYI...I used the peg winder that I mentioned in post #3 today and I wanted to add that it states it is for GUITAR...but it has two peg tuner "holders" in that it fits the MANDOLIN pretty near perfect without any modifications needed. I love it!
Ron, I used the "frets method" tonight in changing my E strings...again, great like! It made doing something I had never done before...easy! Thank you again!
You say, "There's a thread about it on here with DIY pics etc." No link. Shucks.
It's not all that hard to do this. Get the white Jim Dunlop guitar winder (I'm not sure if the others can be superglued) and cut it leaving what is left in this picture. Fill it a little less than half way with baking soda and drop in a few drops of superglue.
I rarely get an entire wrap around my post so I just never understood a pegwinder. How many times are you all wrapping the strings around the post?
After countless times removing old strings from repair projects, I've come to appreciate my winder that slips into my mini rechargable, pistol grip screwdriver.
Definitely NOT a cheap string winder, but simply the best string winder, ever: Frank's Cranks (http://www.frankscranks.com/). NFI. Soft, contoured nylon head that won't damage the finish. Ball bearings for incredibly smooth action. Fits mando tuners perfectly. Maybe a suggestion for a Christmas or birthday present?
Winding the strings around the post first then going thru the hole not only keeps the tension on the string, but eliminates the need for the winder. Winding strings on the post helps keep them from breaking at the post hole. Locking the string by winding the string over the string can cause it to break there, I think it rarely does tho.
These work great for mandolin: https://www.ebay.com/itm/203234554395
They come in different "guitar brands" but always around the same price. Can use the crank handle or electric screwdriver.