The Steel Guitar Forum

In Bobbe Seymours video about how to properly replace string, they use a powerdrill peg winder.
Are they for sale? And I only have need for the winder bit. The drill is no problem...
I haven't seen one in the stores over here.

Peer

Musician's Friend item # 368700, manufactured by Dunlop. Have not used one as yet, but I imagine these can really get away from you if you are not careful. May cost a string or two before you get the hang of it.

Here's one from Stew-Mac:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Accessories ... 3&xsr=4947

I bought one of these Ernie Ball string winders through our local music store and used it for the first time about a week ago. They are terrific. Not high enough reving to get away from you. Sure makes changing a set of strings a lot easier. When I play out I still just carry the manual one for the occasional string that may break. I wish I had had one of these things years ago.

I'll second that recommendation for the Ernie Ball winder. I'd always thought it was a useless gimmick until I needed a few bucks on an order to get free shipping so I got the battery operated peg winder -- BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD. I can change a set of strings in half the time. Great product.

As George mentioned, it seems to be geared down to the point that you can control it pretty easily and the 'trigger' goes one way to tighten and the other to loosen -- no toggle switch to reverse direction. Really cool tool. TWO THUMBS UP.

I've been using the Musician's Friend/Guitar Center winder for years. It's a large hand winder that pulls apart and the part that goes over the machine head is like a bit. I wouldn't use a drill though. There are a lot of battery powered electric screwdrivers (Black&Decker is decent) that work well and don't turn too fast. Really takes the work out of it.

I use one of these by Dunlop, the shank fits about every power screw driver you can find.

There was a thread a while back about keyless guitars. Guys were sayin' that one of the reasons they didn't like keyless was because you had to carry an extra tool. Here we are talkin' about usin' power tools! 8^D I just use the Dunlop hand winder on my keyed guitars. The design of the tuning machine's shaft is such that a lot of windings aren't necessary. Couple of windings for wound strings, and 3 or 4 for plain strings. The curve of the area around the shaft's hole forces the windings together. A winding or two on either side of the cut string end, and that should do it. Excessive winds just add to tuning problems.

I like the Ernie Ball Peg Winder too. Fastest and easiest way I ever took 20 strings off and put 20 new ones on.

You don't need a lot of windings; just clip the string about 2 or 2 1/2 inches longer than the tuning shaft, put a 1/2 inch 90 degree bend in it, hold the string so it aligns with the nut and changer finger and go.

I'll put my two cents worth in here for the Ernie Ball winder.
If you change strings every week or so like me, it is a life saver!

Here we are talkin' about usin' power tools! 8^D I just use the Dunlop hand winder on my keyed guitars.

If, on the other hand, you only change strings on an annual basis, like John, a manual winder will suffice.

Just kidding, John!

Cheers!
Benton

Hi Benton!
You're more right than you know! Only have one Shobud set up at a time at home for noodlin'. When I was giggin' 5/7 nights a week though, I changed strings every 4 weeks. But my giggin' guitar was my Kline, and, as we Kline guys like to say;

"We don't need no steenking winders!" 8^)

So I can see the usefulness of such a tool for some. I just don't like to see gobs of string wound around the post.

Make one, just cut the bottom part off a string winder and put a screw through it. Lock it down with nut and your in business. A variable speed drill works best for me.

Dug

They are handy. Black & Decker makes a eletric screwdriver that runs on Alkaline Batterys. I bought a Yellow plastic wrench that fits over the keys without damage and has a hex post that fits a screwdriver and you are in business. I like enough wraps on key to get free of the string hole. Had a new 3rd string break at the edge of a hole, Wrapped over my bar hand and stuck to the bone in my ring finger on my right hand. OUCH! OUCH!!. Make sure the end of the string is not to long through the key shaft. My steel has scratches from the previous owner leaving to long a tail on the string and it scratched the formica under the keys. Good time to clean and lube nut rollers when changing strings to.