WITTNER^® FINETUNE‑PEGS

Stradivarius Violin meets WITTNER Finetune-Pegs


You may have seen or heard of the Academy-award winning film, The Red Violin. It is said to have been inspired by the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720. This very instrument set a world record price at Christie's of London in 1990. It was quietly gifted to the 16 year old American concert violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn by her grandfather. Today, Ms. Pitcairn performs in partnership with the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius in the finest concert halls of the world. Even on the finest instruments, artists such as Ms. Pitcairn have historically struggled with pegs that slip or stick during crucial moments in performance. Pegs that are difficult to turn can also exacerbate the wrist and arm strain that eventually plagues many professional musicians. Orchestra musicians are under pressure to get their instruments in tune for both concerts and rehearsals in the short amount of time allotted. Children and their parents especially have great difficulty with ill-fitting pegs on student instruments that create endless frustration for both families and luthiers alike. As director of the renowned Luzerne Music Center (NY) summer program, Ms. Pitcairn sees firsthand how extreme humidity and dryness adversely affect her students' pegs.

With these concerns in mind, Ms. Pitcairn eventually spoke to the master luthier who cares for her instrument. He recommended the WITTNER Finetune-Pegs. Here is what she had to say about her experience.


November 1, 2010

Dear Mr. Wittner,
I am delighted by the opportunity to express to you and your company how incredibly pleased I am with your product.
Robert Cauer of Los Angeles, a longtime caretaker of my instrument, has installed them so far on my three violins - the 1720 Stradivarius, the Pressenda and the violin which I practice on during vacations in extreme humidity in places like the Caribbean and dry climates such as the mountains of Colorado. This has solved my problems with pegs sticking and slipping which plagued me!
I also feel that your pegs are saving my arm from strain and the onset of physical problems caused by wrestling with sticking or slipping pegs.
It is so delightfully easy to tune my violin onstage before performing a major concerto with orchestra.
I am a huge fan and am spreading the word about this wonderful product wherever I go just because I like them so much.
Thank you for making them.

Very best,
Elizabeth

>>> www.elizabethpitcairn.com >>>