Members Tony Burns Posted October 21, 2006 Members Share Posted October 21, 2006 I have a zither thats been referred to as a Fretted German zither, it looks simalar to an auto harp ( with no note bars ) with a fret board attached to the side with strings - it has a BR soundboard , ive had this instrument for about 30 years now and im curious if anyone knows anything about them or how to play them , the only problem with this that i can see is that one of the bone tuner knobs is missing ( Tuning peg complete other than the knob - probably from age ) and i have no idea where to get strings for it or how to tune it - its definitely late 1800's or very early 1900's - anyone familiar with these -- thanks ahead of time . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zeppelin Rules Posted October 21, 2006 Members Share Posted October 21, 2006 Beleive it or not, I think my dad has one thats similar, although neither of us knows anything about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kap'n Posted October 21, 2006 Members Share Posted October 21, 2006 I passed on one for !00 Euros at a swap meet in Frankfurt this summer. I hope I made a good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tony Burns Posted October 21, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 21, 2006 I did a search on them after i posted this on the forum , and the one i have is called a " Concert Zither " I know that in the early seventies there was a German club in the buffalo NY area , think it was called the Buffalo Zither Club or Band . A friend at the time said his parents had a couple of these that belonged to his grandparents that came over from Germany . Lark in the morning has a few listings for these and i also found out that in the late 1800's to the early 1900's thy were vey popular in Germany as well as the German immagrants in the US there was also a very famous Concert Zither player who did the music for a movie about 50 years ago , think it was called " The Third Man " or something like that . I was also stunned when i found out because of the number of strings on it they cost about 200 dollars US to buy them ( the strings )- I think mine is German made ( even thou i found out Martin as well as Washburn made these in the early 1900's ) I dont think anybody plays these anymore , ( at least seriously ) but it is a really neat and beautiful instrument . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knockwood Posted October 21, 2006 Members Share Posted October 21, 2006 Originally posted by Tony Burns there was also a very famous Concert Zither player who did the music for a movie about 50 years ago , think it was called " The Third Man " or something like that . "The Third Man" it was. Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. 1949. It was my old man's favorite movie. Great, great flick, and the zither soundtrack is what I always identify with it. I highly recommend the flick - you'll fall in love with the instrument. I look at them, though, and can't fathom how anyone plays something that looks so complicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tony Burns Posted October 21, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 21, 2006 It does look somewhat complicated , Ive boughten alot of zithers over the years and most of them are gimmicks which were never popular, but the concert zither is a different matter - Just think its one of the most beautiful instruments I ever bought - back 30 years ago i think i paid 40 bucks for it - I had to borrow the money to get it , and i went home and made a wooden case for it - It has a rosette around the sound hole with a circle of acorns and an emblem made of Pearl with a engraved castle and battle scene on it --besides the Brazilian Rosewood top -- it should be in a museum, tempted to pick up the cd of the music for " The third man " by Anton Karas -- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slider Posted October 21, 2006 Members Share Posted October 21, 2006 check out Lark in the Morning web site.they have lots of instruments in that vein.they sell strings and maybe even lesson stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildlysane Posted October 22, 2006 Members Share Posted October 22, 2006 Do a search for zither at youtube.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tony Burns Posted October 23, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 23, 2006 They have a video their on Anton Karas playing the third man music , and its fantastic- wondering why the concert zither isnt a big instrument as it once was, with such a complex sound - very simalar to the guitar in many ways - again many thanks ! ( I like it alot better than the Lute ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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