Making a Zither, question about string length

[neil]

I am making a Zither that is about longer than a standard Zither. How long are standard concert Zither string sets? Are bass Zither string sets longer, or does that just refer to the "bass" strings on the Zither?


Tha KS!
Neil

[Graham]

My concert zither strings (Lenzner) are 58 centimeters long, for a sounding string length of 41.5 cm. Remember hat you need some extra length to go round the wrest-pins!

Harp zither strings have a sounding length of 43.5 cm.
Psalter zithers are 45.0 cm
Alt zithers are 52.0 cm
Bass zithers are 57.0 cm

I don't have any new strings for these other sizes to measure, but presumably they are all about 16.5 cm longer than the sounding length.

It would probably be a good idea to make a bass or alt zither of a standard size, rather than "about longer", to avoid permanent frustration with tuning and lack of music in the right key, unless the idea is to use a longer string to increase the string tension.

Good luck!

[attila57]

My concert zither strings (Lenzner) are 58 centimeters long, for a sounding string length of 41.5 cm. Remember hat you need some extra length to go round the wrest-pins!

Harp zither strings have a sounding length of 43.5 cm.
Psalter zithers are 45.0 cm
Alt zithers are 52.0 cm
Bass zithers are 57.0 cm

I don't have any new strings for these other sizes to measure, but presumably they are all about 16.5 cm longer than the sounding length.

It would probably be a good idea to make a bass or alt zither of a standard size, rather than "about longer", to avoid permanent frustration with tuning and lack of music in the right key, unless the idea is to use a longer string to increase the string tension.

Good luck!

Hello Graham,

That's very useful information, thanks!

Attila

[Rudy Mueller]

The contra strings on "boomer" (aka "Tante Ella" a Schwarzer described elsewhere here) go from 68 to 76 cm (bridge to pin) Its strings are probably steel core as my fingers attest, and from at least early 1940's. I'd like to put on nylons to get the tone up, but wonder about altering an antique.

Any comments?

Rudi

[neil]

Thanks for the replies. I was able to make strings from dulcimer wire, and retrofitted guitar and bass quitar strings by untwisting some of the winding from the strings.

[ncc1701zither2]

Also, if you want to look for actual Concert Zither strings, here are some resources that may sell you Zither strings of various types needed:
https://doctorzither.com/order-strings/
https://www.prinzmusicstudio.com/zither/
https://optima-strings.com/en/bergfee_c ... zither.php

Also, back in 2013 or so, I obtained an old Washburn zither, and thereafter used it as a basis to build two zithers of my own as a hobby, and I love the Concert Zither sound, very sweet. May help with string lengths and fingerboard frets dimensions. I also studied pictures of other zither types like the Psalterform.
https://forum.zither.us/viewtopic.php?t=226