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Topic: ZITHER PINS for tuning? |
Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 4:49 pm |
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I am considering making another small travel steel guitar.
I have made keyless tuners in the past, but they take a long time for me to fabricate in my primitive metal shop.
Do any of you have experience with Zither pins for tuners?
Have any of you built a lap steel with Zither pins?
I assume hardwood is best- perhaps maple?
Any tips would be appreciated.
Hole size?
Angled or strait?
Pin material... stainless?
Thanks in advance;
Dom
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Glenn Uhler
From:
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 6:41 pm Autoharp pins
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Will try to answer your questions Dom, since I tune the autoharps at my church a few times a year. (I have a tuner I can adjust to the piano, and the piano tuner wanted $20 each to tune the 'harps.)
Pre-made zither pins are the same as autoharp pins, and available from bigger music supply companies. They are made to be pressed into hardwood blocks at least 1" thick. The holes are usually angled about 20 degrees away from the nut, and are a few thousands of an inch smaller than the pin diameter. The size of the hole will very slightly with the hardness of the wood. You also need a special wrench that fits the top of the pin.
That being said, you can probably buy an inexpensive set of tuners for what the pins and wrench will cost. Also, constant movement of the pins when changing strings will make them loose, causing tuning problems.
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1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H |
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Robert Allen
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2013 7:03 pm
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| I used to buy the pins from Saga Music but I don't see them in their catalogs anymore. Stew Mac has them for 67 cents each, nickel plated steel. It says 3/16" diameter. The pins I used in the past were threaded and screwed into the holes, not pressed. It's a very fine thread so the wood isn't tapped. The pin makes its own threads in the wood but as mentioned, after time and constant adjusting the wood will wear. Here's the link http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_parts/Dulcimer:_Tuning_pin/Tuning_Pin.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=6495 |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 11 Nov 2013 10:05 am
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I used auto harp tuning keys on this little Practice Steel and bought them at local music store. They ordered them in (Stainless steel. Work great!
RT
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Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Liz Williams
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2013 5:43 pm
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| Roy, what a nifty practice steel. Can you post picture of the other side please? I'd love to make something like this. Are there plans available or did you and Dom just come up with your own? |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 11 Nov 2013 6:19 pm
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Hello Liz,
The "Little Guy" is my creation  I use it for Tablature writing while sitting at my desktop, as well as for practice. Good little travel guitar also.
Although I used hardwood flooring pieces the tension of the strings (C6th Tuning) caused a slight "bow"
ie cabinet drop. Two steel rods took care of that
as shown above.
This one is sold so I will be working on another soon.
Hope this helps.
Roy
_________________
Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel |
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Liz Williams
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2013 6:30 pm
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Fantastic! Thank you, Roy. I assumed this had a sound box of some kind, but it's just the wood. And it's still audible enough to practice with! I'd never have thought that possible.
I hope you'll post pictures of the next one you build. I'm fascinated with your practice steel, and would like to see what you come up with next.
This forum never ceases to amaze me: Seems like every time I turn around someone is doing something wonderful. |
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