Looking for a luthier...

[mlolya]

Wondering if anyone on here could recommend a luthier who would change the friction pegs on my Kamaka. I suppose I could do it myself, but I don't really have the tools and it requires some drilling or reaming. I'd hate to ship it to Hawaii. I'm in the NYC area and would love to find someone local, but will ship it if needed.

 

[Pegasus Guitars]

There should be many music stores with repair departments in the NYC area. It is a simple job. Just check to see that they actually have a repairperson and not just someone behind the counter with a reamer and no idea how to use it.

 

[ploverwing]

I went to a violin luthier to help with my friction pegs, since that's what he's got all the right sized tools for. But that's because I didn't know someone else in the near vicinity that would have the tools and knowledge.

 

[Pegasus Guitars]

I went to a violin luthier to help with my friction pegs, since that's what he's got all the right sized tools for. But that's because I didn't know someone else in the near vicinity that would have the tools and knowledge.

Doing actual friction pegs on a uke is probably below the pay grade of a violin maker. Ukulele friction pegs, if you are talking about actual old wood pegs, they are usually pretty minimal in quality, made with poor quality wood, hard to tune, and have unknown tapers. Generally , if you are looking for good playability, and the instrument is not some mega buck collectable, most players who still want friction pegs, opt to change to one of the more modern styles of friction pegs. There are many, from cheap to pricey. Any competant luthier, who is familiar with ukes, should have no problem finding pegs that suit you and your uke.

 

[ploverwing]

Doing actual friction pegs on a uke is probably below the pay grade of a violin maker.

Fair enough. It was someone that knew someone that I knew, and he was happy to help, not doing much in the way of building any more.

 

[mlolya]

I meant to say friction tuners not wooden pegs.
Sorry.

 

[EDW]

Installing friction pegs is something that any competent shop should be able to do. There are also shops around NYC that deal with all types of fretted instruments

RetroFret Vintage Guitars

RetroFret Vintage Guitars

www.retrofret.com

 

[dofthesea]

Check out the Guitar Specialist, Tell him David Foster sent you. Doug and his wife Sharon run a wonderful repair shop. Very talented.

Guitar Repair & Restoration By The Guitar Specialist, Inc.

Guitar Repair & Restoration. Masterful lutherie services for all fretted instruments Guitar and Bass repair and restoration clients like John Scofield, Joe Beck and John Abercrombie

www.guitarspecialist.com

 

[mlolya]

Check out the Guitar Specialist, Tell him David Foster sent you. Doug and his wife Sharon run a wonderful repair shop. Very talented.

Guitar Repair & Restoration By The Guitar Specialist, Inc.

Guitar Repair & Restoration. Masterful lutherie services for all fretted instruments Guitar and Bass repair and restoration clients like John Scofield, Joe Beck and John Abercrombie

www.guitarspecialist.com

Thanks for the info. Their shop is 20 minutes from me! I had no idea they were there. I’m going to drop them a line and see if they have a chance to work on my Kamaka.
Thank you!

 

[realityguy]

Size might matter..soprano verses tenor or so..if you want to change the tuners from friction to some geared ones like Grovers..because the friction tuner holes in Kamaka sopranos are too close to the edge to begin with on their sopranos. Other size KUs I don't know and the mount plate can hang off about 1/16" inch. A good luthier will glue in some wood plugs and redrill the holes farther away from the edge..but stay close enough that the new wood doesn't show on top..why some luthiers may not want to change them out..
Notice the line of the original top base (circle) of the Kamaka friction pegs and how close they were mounted to the edge.
If you were considering something geared like Grovers. This one was for me anyway ..and someday I'll take the grovers back off,take the tuners off the baseplate, and grind off the excess base,put them back together,and remount them,. Understand the problem? pic..