Friction Pegs Before the 1800s , guitars typically had tuning machines known as friction tuners . Friction tuners consist of a shaft with a hole that fits into the headstock of the guitar . The string is then passed through a hole in the top and the pegs are turned until the string is in tune . Because the pegs are conical and create friction , they hold securely in the guitar and hold the strings at the proper tension .
Worm Gear pegs The most important invention when it comes to tuning mechanisms is probably the worm gear . Early gear pegs are very similar to those still in use today , although less complex in design . These pegs use a gear on each peg to rotate them and hold them in place .
These tuners were more reliable and stable than friction tuners , so it is not surprising that they quickly became the gold standard .
However , early versions of scalloped tuners look a little different than those seen on most modern guitars . Instead of modern Gibson or Fender style tuners , these guitars typically used the Slotted Headstock design still found on many classical guitars today .
The slotted neck design was incredibly popular in the 19th and 20th centuries . The slotted design has a stronger effect on string tension , which has a beneficial effect on the sound , but at the same time reduces the service life of the strings .
Tuners in Vintage and Modern style It may seem strange to group vintage and modern tuners into the same category , but their designs are not very different . As scalloped tuners became more popular along with slotted headstock designs , people began to come up with other ways to mount them on guitars — most notably , without slotted pickguards . Companies like Martin began installing scalloped tuners into the fretboard in a modern style , and this quickly became the standard for guitars .
Functionally , these pegs are the same as slotted pegs : the pegs are attached to the gears , the string passes through the hole in the pegs , and the gears hold the string at the required tension . The only real difference is that they install vertically through six holes in the trim rather than horizontally through a slot in the trim .
The most important difference between the two tuners is that vintage tuners ( closed or open ) typically have a lower gear ratio than modern tuners . The gear ratio is the number of times you need to turn the pin to get one full revolution of the gear . Modern tuners have much higher gear ratios than vintage ones , allowing for more precise control over tuning .
Locking Pegs The next big invention in the world of tuning pegs was the locking peg . Most likely , you have already heard about such pegs and may have used them at some point . Locking tuners were invented by Sperzel in 1983 , and they allowed for even greater tuning stability than Modern models .
The significant difference between locking pegs and modern tuners is that locking pegs are equipped with a rod that rises from inside the peg , allowing the string to be clamped and fixed directly into the hole into which the string is inserted .
What ’ s next ? Gibson has introduced a robotic selftuning system that automatically tunes your guitar for you . You can set the tuning you want , and the system will immediately tune the entire guitar on its own .
Another interesting invention is the Evertune Bridge . It uses a complex mechanism based on springs to constantly create the necessary tension on the strings . Once the guitar is tuned , it will stay in tune until you need to change the strings .
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