Technical data
| Model | Swiss Model |
| Wood | Rosewood |
| Version | Single peg |
| Instrument | Viola |
| Shaft at the collar | 9.5 mm |
| Taper | 1:30 |
| Item number | ZW-V943 |
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
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.
Palisander, known in English as rosewood, is East Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) in our pegs. At 12 % moisture content it has a density of 820 to 920 kg/m³.
The timber is beautifully figured.
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.
In our experience: on request we assemble a rosewood set by colour and grain, so that the four pegs form a harmonious picture.
When another model suits you better
If you love classic deep black, every one of our rosewood peg shapes is also made in ebony.
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.
Is palisander the same as rosewood?
Yes. Palisander and rosewood name the same wood; in our pegs it is East Indian rosewood.
How dense is rosewood?
East Indian rosewood has a density of 820 to 920 kg/m³ at 12 % moisture content.
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.
