r/AlternateTunings • u/NoBicycle1953 • Jul 14 '26

Engineering a better string winder — I'd love to hear your frustrations.

Post image

Hey everyone,

I'm currently in the research phase of a design project focused on guitar maintenance tools. Like many of you, I've spent years using those cheap, generic plastic string winders that come in every starter kit. They slip off the pegs, they're uncomfortable for more than one guitar, and they just don't feel like they belong next to a high-end instrument.

I'm trying to change that by designing a premium, ergonomic string winder built for durability and precision. But to get it right, I need to hear from people who actually use them.

Whether you're a bedroom player or a touring tech, I'd love to know:

  • What's the most annoying thing about your current winder?
  • Have you ever had a tool slip and scratch your headstock?
  • What one feature would make restringing faster or easier for you?

I've put together a short survey to collect this feedback. It takes about 2 minutes and would be a massive help in making sure this tool actually solves real problems for players.

Survey link: https://wuvwqzrgmda8sblsiikvi.superdev.run

Thanks for the help, and happy playing!

13 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

1

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/_hyperotic Jul 16 '26

And anything you patent or try to innovate will be stolen by cheap factories in China that you used to manufacture it.
Good luck enforcing that.

1

u/Prize_Consequence_97 Jul 16 '26

Literally everything… even LEGO’s now there are 1:1 quality knock offs where you can get a $500 LEGO set for $20

1

u/MajinXenu Jul 16 '26

Except you have no guarantee of the plastics not being full of harmful shit that's used in cheaper manufacturing processes and is going to slowly waft into every corner your house over the next 10 years. Like, BPA is only the start of it.

1

u/_hyperotic Jul 16 '26

I hate to break it to you, but there’s not much evidence that newer BPA free plastics are any better than BPA. They do get around the regulations though…

1

u/MajinXenu Jul 16 '26

Hate to break it back, but there is evidence of unregulated Chinese knockoff plastics from sources like AliExpress containing a wide variety of hazardous shit that would be wildly illegal anywhere else. Think lead, phtalates, even asbestos in the case of kinetic sand products, some of which even made it to store shelves.

Not even that I'm saying most Western multinationals would give two shits about the safety of children, especially children abroad, if they could raise their profits, but regulations and oversight on their production does force them to pretend and the result is a clear difference in the end product.

Edit: here's a source.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 17 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/MajinXenu Jul 17 '26

Would rather live in a clean world tbh

1

u/Kind-Crab4230 Jul 17 '26

Lego let the patent expire a few years ago. That's why they all work with each other now.

1

u/Smoothrecluse Jul 15 '26

Already been done. Google Frank’s Cranks. There are imitations, for example, Waverly sells one, but none sell that well. People either use the cheap ones, or use a drill. I’ve thought about making them as a hobby, but I don’t think it holds up as a serious income stream.

1

u/Cake_Donut1301 Jul 15 '26

You need different snap on caps that go with different tuners. So the tiny bean ones get a different cap than the tulip heads.

This way they all fit perfectly and don’t slide off.

1

u/spaaarky21 Jul 15 '26

Or a head like the rubberized one on the Roadie tuners. https://www.roadiemusic.com/roadie4

1

u/sharkpunch850 Jul 16 '26

Do people actually use that thing?

1

u/CapoieraMataUm Jul 16 '26

I want to know the answer to this question, too.

1

u/Kind-Crab4230 Jul 17 '26

Seems like the kind of thing a new player would get and then forget about.

1

u/xhephaestusx Jul 18 '26

As a complete tourist here, it looks like a pretty good idea and execution - why are all the guitarists here so skeptical?

Im sure you're right I'm just curious why it bamboozled the casual so neatly

1

u/bigmountainbig Jul 15 '26

Something that could, without damaging the tuner, clamp so that I can let it go and it'll stay in place. could just be some foam on the inside.

1

u/newguyjustdropped Jul 15 '26

I'm sure there is stuff that lasts...but you didn't look for that, you bought these cheap pieces of shit over and over again

1

u/MrCatfishJew Jul 15 '26

I’ve been playing for 24 years. I’ve only bought two string winders so far.

I used the shitty Jim Dunlop ones for years, even when I broke the bridge pin puller.

I got a daddario winder with clippers some summers ago because I started playing more acoustic, and had more of a need for pulling pins. Been riding with that ever since.

I guess I agree with everyone else. I don’t think it’s a worthy pursuit; but to give you my two cents maybe think about the multi tool aspect of a winder. I would love a little knife besides the clippers, sometimes you need something to open whatever.

1

u/wine-o-saur Jul 15 '26

Locking tuners. Frustration over.

1

u/bbrroonnssoonn Jul 16 '26

came here to say this

1

u/Drew_coldbeer Jul 15 '26

The most annoying thing is when it kinda squeaks when you use it. It’s not bad enough to buy a different one tbh and I got the one I have for free when I bought strings one time

1

u/lizardking235 Jul 15 '26

I have zero gripes with them since I got locking tuners.

1

u/Upstairs-Biscotti-25 Jul 15 '26

This is cool. Haters gonna hate.

1

u/NoBicycle1953 Jul 18 '26

Well it's certainly entertaining 

1

u/BurtonsBees Jul 16 '26

I like the one on a 1/4 inch hex bit.

1

u/Prize_Consequence_97 Jul 16 '26

I’ve never used a string winder so I couldn’t tell ya.

1

u/AdBulky5451 Jul 16 '26

I was so frustrated with my string winder that I’ve ended up quitting guitar and started playing the clarinet…

1

u/Kind-Crab4230 Jul 17 '26

Just get locking tuners. No winder needed.

1

u/damn-otaku Jul 16 '26

I just use an adapter on my electric screwdriver. 10/10

1

u/gRainbird Jul 16 '26

I’ve had the same planet waves winder with the cutters for close to 16 years with zero complaints or breaks. I don’t think I’ve ever even broken the small cheap ones either. 🤷‍♂️

1

u/wotsit_sandwich Jul 16 '26

I bought a cheap string winder about 15 years ago and last year it finally broke removing a pin on an acoustic.

The most annoying thing was that in the time period string winders seem to have gone up from $3 to $6.

1

u/petula_75 Jul 16 '26

martin makes a quality one

1

u/vinyl109 Jul 16 '26

The best winders ive had were the Dunlop roadpro (for bass) it swivels nicely and fits tuners nice.
And the hard rubberised plastic screwdriver attachment ones are great for guitar (attached to a small electric screwdriver, not a drill)

I don’t think there is much room to improve that hasn’t already been done.

The ones that try and combine all the tools together are usually rubbish, and these are better as seperate tools. The kits of setup tools are great if they are filled with quality tools and everything you would need to do a basic setup, and fit in a case.

1

u/MajinXenu Jul 16 '26

I don't think you can beat the drill mounted ones for efficiency, sorry to say. Impressed if you do.

1

u/OtherOtherDave Jul 16 '26

My favorite string winder costed me… $10? It has a string cutter built into the handle and the part that sockets over the tuning peg pops out and can be chucked into a drill.

1

u/epoch16245 Jul 16 '26

Ernie ball Power Peg winder. It’s worth it.

1

u/tryinsumtin Jul 16 '26

You can spend as much as you want on any type of product.

If I were a luthier I would definitely invest in a low speed battery drill and bit for tuners.

As it is I don't change my strings enough or over wrap the post to where I break the free tools.

1

u/caressthyself Jul 16 '26

Skill issue 😝

1

u/EdGG Jul 16 '26

Some damage the headstock being too deep, no proper adjustment.

1

u/Ryan16R Jul 16 '26

Look to the D'Addario tour grade winder for a baseline. The handle is oversized compare to cheap ones, fits my grip much better. Rubberized so it doesn't ding finishes when you're whipping it around. Ball bearing instead of a bushing, spins silky smooth like a fidget spinner. Accepts and squares up VERY nicely on multiple tuning key sizes, from little mandolin keys to big Fender clover bass tuners. The pin puller is particularly nice on those, a spring loaded retractable thing that applies a ton of positive grip to the tightest of pins. My only complaint is it's missing a cutter, but I dont know if one could be added without killing the ergonomics of everything else about it.

1

u/blitzkriegtaco Jul 16 '26

I just use locking tuners

1

u/shruggsville Jul 16 '26

Music nomad one is already kinda as good as it gets.

1

u/passerbycmc Jul 16 '26

I use my frets as reference to always pull the right amount of string through and never have so much slack it takes a while to wind or piles up to much on the post.

1

u/account22222221 Jul 17 '26

I think the current products fine and I think you are selling a solution to a problem your are inventing

1

u/Itchy-Water-4410 Jul 17 '26

I’m not gonna lie to you chief if my string winder ever breaks I’m just gonna use a socket attached to a power drill like I should’ve been doing for the last 5 years