Technical data
| Model | German Model |
| Wood | Ebony |
| Gauge | strong |
| Version | Set of 4 |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Shaft at the collar | 10.0 mm |
| Taper | 1:30 |
| Item number | ZW-V910-STRONG-SET |
Features
- Götz peg soap lets the peg turn easily and keeps it in place against the pull of the strings
- Weight: ebony is the heaviest of the three woods, rosewood sits in between, boxwood is the lightest. In our experience the difference cannot be heard; boxwood is chosen because the left hand feels every gram
- The ebony we use is not subject to CITES requirements
Dimensions and wood
Our viola pegs have a 1:30 taper (1 mm less diameter over 30 mm of shaft length). On the German Model ZW-V910, with a shaft length of 51 mm, the shaft therefore narrows by 1.7 mm from collar to end.
We measure a peg's gauge on the shaft directly below the collar, where it enters the pegbox. For the viola our specification sets these values:
| Thin gauge | 9.0 mm |
| Medium gauge | 9.5 mm |
| Strong gauge | 10.0 mm |
A peg one gauge up sits about 15 mm further out in the same hole.
The medium viola sets in our Thomastik tension reference place between 20.7 kg (Dominant 141) and 28.3 kg (Spirocore S23) on the pegbox. The pegs hold this pull through their seat in the wall holes, and it is exactly on these contact surfaces that peg soap is applied, meant to give both easy turning and a secure hold. Wooden pegs respond to humidity and shift with the climate; as a guide for storage and playing we give 40 to 50 % relative humidity at 20 °C.
Our ebony sets are supplied with certified timber origin, and the tag or certificate is an integral part of the peg. Since 2013 the CITES appendices have listed only the Madagascan Diospyros species; the East Indian ebony we work with is not among them.
Our experience
In our experience: a newly fitted peg needs some time to settle in its hole, and at the first fitting the right amount of peg soap is hard to judge. We recommend wiping the peg with a dry cloth first and applying the soap very sparingly, only where it touches the wall of the pegbox.
When another model suits you better
If you are looking for a light fitting, boxwood, with its colour ranging from light brown to deep orange, is a warm counterpart to the deep black of ebony, and on request we put together a set that matches in colour.
Frequently asked questions
What gauge is a viola peg with no gauge stated?
Medium, with a 9.5 mm shaft, as for example on ZW-V961, ZW-V965 and ZW-V986.
What is the tag on the peg for?
It documents the certified timber origin and is an integral part of the product.
These texts hold decades of experience and a great deal of heart. They are protected by copyright, C.A. Götz jr. GmbH. Please ask us before any use. Thank you for your appreciation.
