Machine head

The tuning machine (short: mechanics) used in many plucked instruments for tuning of each string. It is located on the top plate or on the peg box.

In contrast to the simple vortex mechanics has a translation. Thus, a sufficient precision is achieved in the mood, so that additional fine tuners, as used for example in string instruments of the violin family, can be dispensed with.

Requirements and development

The mechanism should also allow for light and strong tunability, so they should combine ease of movement and stability by self-locking. The better this is, the higher the quality of the mechanics. The type of surface treatment is, in addition to the manufacturing precision and the torsional rigidity of the base plate, contribute towards the quality.

The development of the vocal mechanism is often attributed to Charles Louis Bachmann ( 1778). However, already in Syntagma Musicum ( 1619) describes Michael Praetorius a corresponding development of Prague. In England established a W. Gibson in 1765 an instrument with vocal mechanics ago. Around 1770 there were first Cistern with a hook mechanism ( the string is hooked into a hook which can be moved by a screw thread in the longitudinal direction of the neck - this type of mechanism is still in use in the forest zither and the Portuguese guitar) and 1806 made the Berlin lute and guitar maker JG Thielemann first guitars with seitständigen vertebral screws. The Viennese guitar maker Johann Georg Stauffer invented in 1825 named after him Mechanics variant. Stauffer's pupil Christian Frederick Martin ( Martin Guitars ) emigrated in 1833 to America, where for the new mechanics.

Components and materials

A mechanism consists of several parts:

• Base ( one or more times occupied ) for attachment to the instrument
• Worm gear with the worm and worm wheel, rarely planetary gear for translation
• "Wings " (or " handle " or "button" ) to service
• Axis ( " parking axis ", " leg wave" ) to accommodate the strings end

The moving parts of the mechanism are usually cast or machined from metal. The metal surfaces are typically cured by electroplating. For this purpose, different metals, for example brass, nickel, chromium, or gold, is used. When the highest quality form applies the gilding.

The gearboxes are either designed to be open or enclosed in a closed metal box. In the closed version usually sufficient for the lifetime supply of lubricant is added so that the transmission is maintenance-free. In open models, the transmission can be cleaned and lubricated from the outside.

The control axes are made ​​of either metal, made ​​of metal with a plastic sleeve or entirely of plastic or DPN. The bearing of the axes is carried out either in plain bearings or, at very high-quality designs, in ball bearings.

For the wings of different materials are used: There are designs made ​​of metal, various plastics such as PVC or acrylic, pearl or wood. Since the wings have hardly any influence on the mechanical quality, material selection and processing is particularly relevant for aesthetics and handling. Depending on the position of the actuating shaft to the blade axis and the positioning axis to the head plate or to the fluidized board or box the wings are either constantly behind or laterally.

Types and Fields of Application

The designs are very diverse, so that virtually contain all component combinations both in terms of design shapes and dimensions.

Typical designs and uses in plucked instruments can be characterized, however.

• Classical guitar with gut or synthetic strings: the classical guitar has today usually over a broken headstock, depending on the a base plate with three open machine with worm gear and behind permanent wings are the right and left mounted. The center distance is 35 mm. The base plate has often engravings or a lyre -shaped ornament on the head end. The control axes are made of metal (diameter 6 mm) and with wings made ​​of plastic, acrylic, wood, or DPN (diameter 10 mm). Typical translations: 1:15 or 1:16.
• Steel string guitar ( electric guitar or acoustic guitar ): These guitars usually have a solid headstock, mounted on the right and left three base plates, each with a closed mechanism with worm gear and lateral wings of metal or plastic. In electric guitars, other arrangements are left ( the prototypical model Fender Telecaster ) before and six tuners; Setting axis of metal (diameter 6 mm), the axis clearance is specified for the individual mounting, Typical translation 1:12.
• E -Bass: The arrangement and design is limited as the electric guitar, but mostly on four strings. The machine heads are designed a little more stable because of the stronger strings, the adjusting axis is made ​​of metal with a diameter of 8 mm and a gear ratio of 1:12.
• Banjo: The banjo usually has a massive head plate to which, depending on the number of strings of four to six individually mounted machine heads are fitted with planetary gear. The wings are made of metal behind constantly. The actuating shaft is made of metal with a typical diameter of 6 mm and a gear ratio of 1:4.
• Mandolin: Due to the curly shape of the headstock commonly used in the mandolin base plates with four lateral wings in a graduated length. The actuating shaft is made of metal with a typical diameter of 6 mm and a gear ratio of 1:16.
• Guitar sounds: the guitar sounds has a narrow peg box, in the six axles mounted in tandem. The mechanics of these axes are arranged alternately left and right.

The string instruments, the double bass is equipped with tuners analogous to those of plucked instruments regularly. The arrangement is made, either individually or with two tuners mounted on a base plate ( Tyrolean mechanics). Bass - heads are often completely made of brass with polished surface. Rare violins are built with a tuning machine, common is the combination of swirls and fine tuners.

Other stringed instruments include mechanisms, however, very different functions. Thus, the mechanism used in the pedal harp to change the key of the entire instrument. When piano and other keyboard instruments, the mechanism involves the transfer of keyboard on the strings stop.

Manufacturer

Well-known manufacturers of tuning machines for plucked instruments are

• In Germany: Rubner (Mark Neukirchen ), Schaller (post -Heng ), Scheller ( Flintbek ), summer ( Bubenreuth )
• Outside Germany: Gotoh (Japan), Rodgers ( England), Alessi ( Italy), Grover (USA)