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Thread: String winder

  1. #1
    Registered User rodarbal's Avatar
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    Default String winder

    Hey all,
    Looking to buy a string winder. None say mandolin specific, but I am sure some will fit. Probably some better than others. What works for you?

    Best regards

  2. #2

    Default Re: String winder

    I've got a D'Addario one, it fits both mandolin and guitar sized pegs.

    Dave H
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  3. #3
    Registered User darylcrisp's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    i found these this past winter, i gave away or sold all my other winders. they have a rubber like coating, ball bearings-super smooth, and the tip fits mandolin tuners perfect, and, the way its shaped, you will not hit your headstock on A or F styles.

    https://www.guitarcenter.com/MusicNo...4-ae6909bbbf73

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  5. #4
    Registered User Murphy Slaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Man, that's a nice one Daryl.

    Mine are the cheap Dunlop ones.
    1933 Gibson A-00 (was Scotty Stoneman's)
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  6. #5
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    This is the most expensive, most beautiful and best working winder. Made in hardwood with rollerbearings(yes!)

    I enjoy it everytime, instead of those dreadful cheap plastic winders ;-)

    https://www.guitarfromspain.com/en/t...ng-winder.html

    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #6
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Quote Originally Posted by darylcrisp View Post
    i found these this past winter, i gave away or sold all my other winders. they have a rubber like coating, ball bearings-super smooth, and the tip fits mandolin tuners perfect, and, the way its shaped, you will not hit your headstock on A or F styles.

    https://www.guitarcenter.com/MusicNo...4-ae6909bbbf73

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    That looks really cool

  8. #7
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Quote Originally Posted by poul hansen View Post
    This is the most expensive, most beautiful and best working winder. Made in hardwood with rollerbearings(yes!)

    I enjoy it everytime, instead of those dreadful cheap plastic winders ;-)

    https://www.guitarfromspain.com/en/t...ng-winder.html

    ...
    Not really. See Frank Ford's work.
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

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  10. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    I like Frank's cranks.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  12. #9
    Registered User Billy Packard's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Lynn Dudenbostel made the one I use and it's just perfect for my mandolins!
    Billy Packard
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  14. #10
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    Default Re: String winder

    I picked up one of these a month or so ago after someone here posted about it. A high quality product

  15. #11
    Registered User Joey Anchors's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Quote Originally Posted by Billy Packard View Post
    Lynn Dudenbostel made the one I use and it's just perfect for my mandolins!
    Also use a Dude String Winder and been loving it’s for the past four years.
    Waterloo WL-M

    Blues Mando Social Group - member

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  17. #12
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Quote Originally Posted by poul hansen View Post
    This is the most expensive, most beautiful and best working winder. Made in hardwood with rollerbearings(yes!)

    I enjoy it everytime, instead of those dreadful cheap plastic winders ;-)

    https://www.guitarfromspain.com/en/t...ng-winder.html

    Click image for larger version. 

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    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Handcrafted...QAAOSwWHtfI-Yn
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  18. #13
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Franks Cranks & Nicolo Alessi are my daily drivers in the shop; those and an old Jim Dunlop that I hacked up and superglued to make it fit little mandolin knobs over 20 years ago and it is still working... and multiple giant beasts for upright basses that look like a 357 magnum!

    Frank's link: https://shop.gryphonstrings.com/prod...cranks-acrylic

    Nicolo Alessi: https://alessituningmachines.it/

    Not all mandolin tuner buttons are the same size or thickness; some mentioned in this thread may not fit your instrument!
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    www.condino.com

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    tree 

  20. #14
    Quietly Making Noise Dave Greenspoon's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    I picked up a mandolin string winder a number of years ago from The Mandolin Store during their Black Friday sale. Their website currently shows one on sale for about $20. I love mine, fits all the buttons nicely.

  21. #15
    Registered User Jon Hall's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Which string winder will fit the "close quarters" on my 1918 Gibson A2?

  22. #16
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    The one I actually use is one I made from a repurposed piece of maple flooring and lined with leather many years ago.
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

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  24. #17
    Registered User Erin M's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Greenspoon View Post
    I picked up a mandolin string winder a number of years ago from The Mandolin Store during their Black Friday sale. Their website currently shows one on sale for about $20. I love mine, fits all the buttons nicely.
    Yep, I have one - works nicely for me. I'm always wary when using it though; a little sideways torque when you're winding on a string could potentially bend the tuner shaft (especially the longer ones on F5-style instruments), so go slow! I'm sure this is true for any string winder...
    "Flow, river flow. Let your waters wash down, take me from this road, to some other town." - Roger McGuinn

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  26. #18

    Default Re: String winder

    Frank's Cranks - expensive, but they're lifetime tools, and beyond.


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  28. #19
    Registered User tree's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    They are indeed expensive, but the man makes them hissown self, so they're not factory produced. Because they are well-designed and machined, they are a joy to use. I love mine, it makes me happy when I use it. I've also made my own, and while my homemade crank is functional, it is more like a gee haw whimmy diddle.
    Clark Beavans

  29. #20
    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Picked up a couple of these from Durl Jones a few months ago. They fit perfectly and work much better than the old guitar wonders I had been using.

    https://wildwoodstringwinders.com/
    "Keep your hat on, we may end up miles from here..." - Kurt Vonnegut

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  31. #21
    Registered User masa618's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    When rotating the winder, it does not hit the side. I had a friend make it custom.Click image for larger version. 

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  32. #22

    Default Re: String winder

    just bought one they work fine , big so harder to loose also

  33. #23

    Default Re: String winder

    Quote Originally Posted by Buck View Post
    Frank's Cranks - expensive, but they're lifetime tools, and beyond.

    looks like
    he used parts to a fishing reel!

  34. #24
    Registered User Erin M's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    Quote Originally Posted by masa618 View Post
    When rotating the winder, it does not hit the side. I had a friend make it custom.Click image for larger version. 

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    I ended up sticking part of a wadded up cotton ball in mine to stop it hitting the side.
    "Flow, river flow. Let your waters wash down, take me from this road, to some other town." - Roger McGuinn

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  36. #25
    Registered User pit lenz's Avatar
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    Default Re: String winder

    this is what I came up with, made of a broomstick bit an an old allen key. Never touches the adjacent tuners and fits snugly... Click image for larger version. 

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