Tuning system

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 21 Apr 2012 12:39 pm

I was wondering if anyone had tried to use violin fine tuners, on a lap steel instead of the regular keys? Is it a feasible idea?

Terence Palmer · Post by **Terence Palmer** » 21 Apr 2012 4:48 pm

Why exactly? The regular tuning pegs on a violin are friction tuners, with a 1:1 ratio which are difficult to move as precisely as you might want especially on the higher strings, thus the fine tuners. The fine tuners, by definition, have a considerably smaller range than either the tuning pegs on a violin or the tuners on a steel guitar. The tuners on a steel are geared to allow a finer ratio anyway.

I owned an electric guitar with fine tuners on the bridge years ago, but that was because the guitar had a locking nut and the fine tuners allows for adjustments without unlocking the nut. Outside of that, I've never seen need for them.

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 21 Apr 2012 6:24 pm

Mike Anderson · Post by **Mike Anderson** » 21 Apr 2012 9:28 pm

The phrase "if it ain't broke..." comes to mind here.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 22 Apr 2012 2:49 am

Can't imagine them being tone enhancers..., but stranger things have probably happened.

James Hartman · Post by **James Hartman** » 22 Apr 2012 7:21 am

I've never had issue with generic tuners on a lapsteel. They seem to work just fine.

However, if someone did feel a need for more "precise" tuning capability, there are guitar tuners available with different gear ratios that would provide this. 16:1 or 18:1 is a common modern standard. At the extreme, Steinberger "gearless" tuners have a 40:1 tuning ratio.

That would seem an easier modification than trying to adapt violin fine-tuners.