Search found 41 matches

by Graham
Mon Jun 17, 2024 12:08 pm
Forum: Repairs and Restorations
Topic: Tuning pegs
Replies: 15
Views: 3483

Re: Tuning pegs

Try contacting Gewaguitars.com directly? I agree, that's ridiculous.
by Graham
Tue Jun 04, 2024 5:36 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: I meant to ask...
Replies: 4
Views: 2241

Re: I meant to ask...

Yes! They stop the zither sliding on a table-top, and transmit the vibration of the sound-board (which is the bottom on a zither, not the top) to the table, which then acts as an added amplifier/resonator. Yes, they do cause damage. One way around is to unscrew them and replace them with feet with l...
by Graham
Sun Jun 02, 2024 12:48 pm
Forum: Repairs and Restorations
Topic: Tuning pegs
Replies: 15
Views: 3483

Re: Tuning pegs

Ausgezeichnet! Result! So you have a properly made zither, with NORMAL Germanic threads, not strange American backtofront ones! :D Now, restoring the pegs ... On one of my zithers with very old rusty pegs, I took them all out, cleaned them thoroughly with fine wire wool (be cautious, as you don't wa...
by Graham
Sun Jun 02, 2024 6:51 am
Forum: Repairs and Restorations
Topic: Tuning pegs
Replies: 15
Views: 3483

Re: Tuning pegs

Gewa make zither pegs / wrest-pins in several different diameters. Could be useful! I think they are usually 40 mm long. They are in the Thomann catalogue on line.
by Graham
Sat Jun 01, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Repairs and Restorations
Topic: Tuning pegs
Replies: 15
Views: 3483

Re: Tuning pegs

Is your zither a European-made one, or American? European zither wrest-pins turn left = anti-clockwise to go down into the hole and tighten the string, raising the pitch of the note, and right = clockwise to go up and out of the hole and slacken the string, lowering the pitch. Some American made zit...
by Graham
Thu May 30, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Repairs and Restorations
Topic: Restoration questions
Replies: 2
Views: 1002

Re: Restoration questions

I took mine off completely, straightened it in a vice and by gentle hammering to flatten it out (horrid things had been done to it in the past...!), then cleaned it with chrome polish. This cleaned it well, but the end result didn't look that good. I think originally it was tinned, but it was dull. ...
by Graham
Wed May 29, 2024 12:15 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Alternate tunings?
Replies: 5
Views: 1791

Re: Alternate tunings?

I tried to buy the downloadable version of "Let's Start" recently, paid via Paypal, and no link was sent, or at least nothing arrived. I have contacted her via e-mail and Messenger, and she claims to have sent the link again, but still nothing has arrived, and she seems to simply not care....
by Graham
Sat Aug 13, 2022 1:39 pm
Forum: Getting Started
Topic: Zither search
Replies: 23
Views: 731631

Re: Zither search

I bought two off German e-bay, as Covid lockdown survival projects! The first was a Bohemian 34 string zither by Votava (Prague), which needed quite a lot of work but is now fully playable, with a nice tone, but unfortunately out of tune as the griffbrett is just ...slightly inaccurate, so it will N...
by Graham
Sun Jul 31, 2022 2:33 pm
Forum: Getting Started
Topic: Zither search
Replies: 23
Views: 731631

Re: Zither search

It looks to me as though it has been dropped, and that corner has taken a bashing. It looks more serious than just loose veneer. Probably best to avoid this one! Are you in the US? There are two or three tidy looking zithers in the US on e-bay at the moment that show up in my search, even though I'm...
by Graham
Sat Jul 23, 2022 12:42 pm
Forum: Getting Started
Topic: Zither search
Replies: 23
Views: 731631

Re: Zither search

Founded 1929 in Schwaebische Gmuend, moved to Koblenz in 1935. Still going in the 1980s, but may have closed down now. Best known for guitars.