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Making a Zither, question about string length
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:31 pm
by 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
Re: Making a Zither, question about string length
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 2:25 am
by 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!
Re: Making a Zither, question about string length
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:49 am
by attila57
Graham wrote: ↑Mon Sep 07, 2020 2:25 am
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
Re: Making a Zither, question about string length
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:39 am
by 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
Re: Making a Zither, question about string length
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2022 9:10 pm
by 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.
Re: Making a Zither, question about string length
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 3:44 pm
by 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