Search found 212 matches
- Wed Dec 31, 2014 8:49 am
- Forum: Zither Makers and Models
- Topic: Richard Paulus Zither
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1669
Re: Richard Paulus Zither
I think it's a little hard for us today to picture how popular the zither was in teh latter part of the 19th century. All the mail order catalogues czrried them, often in several models. Just the sheer number of those smaller instruments with three contra basses that survive is testimony to how perv...
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 9:23 am
- Forum: History
- Topic: Early Cabinet Card - New York
- Replies: 3
- Views: 5838
Re: Early Cabinet Card - New York
I use my little finger a lot (left hand). I guess it comes from years of guitar playing as well as other instruments but I find it very handy. There are so many times when I need the other fingers free to grab something and I use the little finger for some lower notes. I guess that's what happens wh...
- Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:48 am
- Forum: History
- Topic: Early Cabinet Card - New York
- Replies: 3
- Views: 5838
Re: Early Cabinet Card - New York
Looks like he learned to play out of the Darr book. Look at the little finger. I tried that when I first started and soon realized that this was not a good way to play. Very interesting. Thanks for putting this up, Dave.
Ken Bloom
Ken Bloom
- Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:51 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: The left thumbnail/suffering for our music
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1842
Re: The left thumbnail/suffering for our music
Hi Tom, That's info I wasn't aware of. Thank you! Lowering the pitch would certainly contribute to the rather pointed tone that Karas gets and make vibrato easier. Have you ever seen one of the Karas zithers? I saw one once at Rudi Wacek's house. The body was much deeper at the bass side than the fi...
- Mon Dec 22, 2014 6:44 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: The left thumbnail/suffering for our music
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1842
Re: The left thumbnail/suffering for our music
To answer Rudi's question several posts back, I think what he is asking is what is usually referred to as the height of the action on the fretboard. There really is no "standard" answer here. Lower action is easier on the left hand but reduces your ability to play expressively. A higher ac...
- Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:17 am
- Forum: Getting Started
- Topic: New member asks: How to string and tune the zither.
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4268
Re: New member asks: How to string and tune the zither.
Hi Rudi, I have found that string spacing to be highly variable one zither to the next. I have two Meinels and one Amberger and the spacing is different on all of them. My Meinel senior is just little closer together than the Meinel junior. Many of the older simpler zithers I've come across have rat...
- Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:33 pm
- Forum: Repairs and Restorations
- Topic: Electronic tuners
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1832
Re: Electronic tuners
Great point Tom! This is especially true if your strings are old. Over the years I've grwon accustomed to averaging out what the meter says with what my ears tell me. None of them are foolproof but I do like a tuner that has a VU meter and lets me know how flat or sharp it is in cents. Then I can do...
- Sat Dec 06, 2014 9:39 am
- Forum: Repairs and Restorations
- Topic: Electronic tuners
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1832
Re: Electronic tuners
I just checked. Seems like this tuner has been discontinued but I saw one on eBay that went for $35.00 but was sold. If you can find one, they really are great. The new one, the ST-1100 sat I think, is expensive. Don't know what the specs are. I paid about $100.00 for mine quite a few years ago, at ...
- Sat Dec 06, 2014 9:33 am
- Forum: Repairs and Restorations
- Topic: Electronic tuners
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1832
Re: Electronic tuners
No, it's not cheap but I have found it to be a very useful tool. I've had it for years. I just use the built in microphone. Not good for noisy situations but does great most of the time. For times when I'm getting ready to go on stage and there is a lot of noise around I use the Snark. I clip it to ...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:50 pm
- Forum: Repairs and Restorations
- Topic: Electronic tuners
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1832
Re: Electronic tuners
I use a Seiko ST-1100. These days it's a bit old fashion but does well on the contrabasses down to the low G. For a low F the octave harmonic is more reliable but that note often sounds muddy, at least it does on my zithers. I've done ok with a clip-on Snark tuner but the Seiko is much better. Ken B...