Technical data
| Model | Bean Shape |
| Wood | Ebony |
| Gauge | strong |
| Version | Set of 4 |
| Instrument | Violin |
| Shaft at the collar | 9.0 mm |
| Taper | 1:30 |
| Item number | ZW-K3-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 violin pegs have a 1:30 taper (1 mm less diameter over 30 mm of shaft length). Violin end buttons carry the same taper, because peg holes and the end button hole are reamed with the same reamer.
We measure a peg's gauge on the shaft directly below the collar, where it enters the pegbox. For the violin our specification sets these values:
| Thin gauge | 8.0 mm |
| Medium gauge | 8.5 mm |
| Strong gauge | 9.0 mm |
Without further specification, our violin pegs are medium at 8.5 mm.
A peg one gauge up sits about 15 mm further out in the same hole, so the choice follows the condition of the peg holes.
A Thomastik Dominant 135 medium set pulls on the pegs with 21.2 kg in total, 7.8 kg of it from the E string 129. The pegs hold this pull through their seat in the wall holes; that is exactly where peg soap is applied.
In dry air the maple of the scroll shrinks, the pegs then travel deeper into their holes, and 1 to 2 mm is quite normal. In humid air they turn more stiffly, and 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.
The K3 bean shape is a Götz design: in our string instrument catalogue we list it as specially made Götz pegs in ebony. It is fitted as standard on our violins of the Bohemia and Contemporary series. For the 108 Bohemia violin the ZW-K3-MED is the standard peg and therefore the right replacement.
We make the K3 in ebony, in the gauges thin at 8.0 mm, medium at 8.5 mm and strong at 9.0 mm. On request we also fit the bean shape to the Antique model in place of the pegs with Paris eye.
Our experience
In our experience: for a new instrument we like the thin gauge, for replacement and conversion the medium one, and a peg with a 9 mm shaft is our choice when a peg hole has grown wider over the years. 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.
For a replacement on an instrument that already has pegs, we ask for a photo of the existing ones, because we have refined our designs over the years.
In our experience: among the K3 gauges, medium and thin are the ones chosen most often.
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.
If you are looking for a more richly shaped head, the ZW-981 heart shape in ebony offers the same thin 8.0 mm and medium 8.5 mm gauges.
Frequently asked questions
Are the four pegs in a set identical?
Yes. The pegs in a set are identical to one another and can be used for all four strings on either side of the pegbox.
Are there Götz violin pegs for 3/4 violins?
We make our violin pegs in size 4/4.
What is the tag on the peg for?
It documents the certified timber origin and is an integral part of the product.
Which peg is the right replacement for a Götz Bohemia?
The ZW-K3-MED, because it is fitted as standard on the Bohemia 108.
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.
