Confirm your country
To correctly view the information on the website, we need you to confirm your location
Parts of the guitar, the machine heads | Guitarras Alhambra
MENU

english

You are online to the web version of:

Parts of the guitar, the machine heads

Although apparently all the machine heads seem to be the same, their quality is very important, particularly for the precision and durability.

In the past, the machine heads were made of wood. In fact, nowadays this kind of machine heads is still preserved in some flamenco guitars, although most are the mechanical ones, which are the most common we observe today.

In the Spanish guitars, this element consists of two pieces, each one with three mechanisms, if it is a six string guitar.

In the case of acoustic guitars, each string has a mechanism which is independent of the rest of them, since they are not grouped, they are individual.

The machine head is a very important piece, because it will help tune the guitar in an easier way; so that you must install mechanisms with a minimum quality.

In the case of the luthier guitars, it is necessary to take into account that we can find some handmade systems and with high prices. In fact, there are some systems which cost around one thousand euros.

In addition, aesthetics is also important, but above all their quality.

The right quality is essential to guarantee the durability of the different elements. Otherwise, the only option could be to replace them.

 

When the machine head or its components are replaced.

A priori, the machine head and its components could seem the same ones, but it is not true. If we try to change it completely, it is important to check its characteristics.

It is very important is to check that the screws are in the same place as the original one, just like the tubes where the strings are rolled.


Replacing the machine head

On the other hand, if you want to replace some components, there are also some features to take into account.

Regarding the machine heads to tune, if a string is broken or if you want to install other strings with different colours, there are several hole sizes.

The hole of the machine head must be adjusted to provide the correct resistance and to be able to move the tuning mechanism.

There are machine heads with holes of 3.5*4.3 mm, 3.8*4 mm or 3.2*4 mm. Moreover, in the case of the acoustic guitar, it can also be found of 3*4 mm.

It is important to be sure about the dimensions in order to buy the right pieces.

 

Replacing the gears

It is possible that in the gears, a cog breaks. In this situation, the only is to replace the piece.

To do so, it is important to know that the internal shape of the gears varies. We can find some shapes such as hexagonal, square or even oval shapes.

It goes without saying that if the shape were round, you would not get enough resistance to move the mechanism.

If the appropriate gear is not found, the solution could be to change the tubes where the strings are rolled.

In the part of the tubes is where you can find the part which fits in the gears, so you should buy compatible tubes and gears.

Alhambra Logo

Immerse yourself in the essence of Alhambra Handcrafted Guitars! Join our community today and subscribe to access exclusive support, irresistible offers and the latest news about Alhambra Guitars. Don't miss this unique opportunity and let your music tell the story of generations of Spanish craftsmanship! 🎸✨

In compliance with current regulations on data protection, we inform you that the person responsible for your personal data is Fundación Alhambra Guitarras, which will be processed for the purpose of managing and processing your request, as well as receiving commercial communications about news, products and Manufacturas Alhambra services, based on consent. This treatment is based on the consent of the interested party. The transfer of your data is not planned, except in cases where you expressly authorize, and for the purpose of receiving commercial information through the means provided. You can access, rectify and delete the data, as well as other rights that assist you regarding data protection through rgpd_alh@alhambraguitarras.com, proving your identity. For more information, you can consult the Privacy Policy or request it from our Organization.

It seems that something has gone wrong ... Try again and, if the error persists, contact us. Sorry for the disturbances.

Invalid email.

Email already exists in our system.

You must fill in your name

Thank you for subscribing! :)

The email is already registered in our system. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter!

Confirm you're not a robot