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These Korean banjo pegs are not only ungainly, but rough, and rather prone to breaking:
That's a real problem with inexpensive banjos. In order to pay homage to tradition
and cut corners at the same time, the workability of the tuning pegs often suffers.
The maker of this inexpensive banjo skates the issue altogether, simply using inexpensive
12:1 ratio open guitar tuners:
Personally, I like this option better. It allows for very good tuning, and skips
the old time artful design. After all, it's the beginner who needs the most help
tuning!
The last development in the five string banjo was the elimination of this nasty bit
of hardware:
Long after friction pegs became obsolete, five string players had to contend with
the imprecise, sticking, slipping friction fifth string peg. Friction fifth pegs
are still common on inexpensive banjos.
Now, though, we have a fine alternative, a geared right angle drive peg for the fifth
string:
Installing
one of these geared pegs is the kindest thing we can do
for a beginning five string player!
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