Installing a String with Wittner Pegs - Violin and Viola

Installing a String with Friction Pegs - Violin and Viola

Installing a String with Friction Pegs - Cello

Advise on Changing Your Strings

How to Straighten Your Bridge

How to Set Friction Pegs

Basic String Instrument Maintenance

By Dylan Chan

Congratulations! So you have received your first violin, viola, cello, or contrabass. Taking care of your beloved new instrument can seem daunting at first. Here are some tips and tricks for basic string instrument maintenance.

The Benefits of Wittner Pegs

Installing Wittner pegs is one of the most popular upgrades for string instruments. Unlike regular friction pegs, these are geared and have an 8.5/1 ratio, making the pegs fine tuners. The shafts of Wittner pegs are set permanently, do not turn in the peghole, therefore never slip. You don’t have to push the peg in any longer, just turn them. With these pegs you don’t need fine tuners on your tailpiece and can switch to a nice wooden tailpiece, if you have a wittner or other 4 tuner tailpiece. They really are a dream.