Resources
Here you will find links to resources and materials that you may need for your zither.
Information for Luthiers
A number of folks have expressed an interest in building an Alpine zither. At this point, there are a few resources that I am aware of.
The Guild of American Luthiers offers back issues of their quarterly journal. Edition Number 50/ Summer 1997 has an article by John Roeder which provides advice on how to construct a zither.
The Concert Zither - John Roeder
The Guild of American Luthiers also offers full-size blue prints.
Published in 1907, Violins and Other Stringed Instruments - How To Make Them contains instructions for building a variety of stringed instruments such as Banjos, Dulcimers and Mandolins. Of particular interest is chapter 10 which contains instructions on how to build a concert zither.
If you've had success building an Alpine zither or have information that may be useful to fellow luthiers, please contact us.
Repairs and Restoration
All musicians should be able to perform basic maintenance on their instrument, such as cleaning, changing strings, etc. The following guide, by master zither maker Andreas Spohn, addresses maintenance issues that any zither player may encounter, as well as guidance on when the work is best left to a professional.
Troubleshooting Zither Problems
Should your zither require professional care , the following luthiers are highly recommended.
Ron Cook Studios, Santa Cruz, CA: As a skilled luthier, Ron Cook has undertaken the repair and restoration of a number of zithers. In this regard, he has produced a number of excellent papers which detail the restoration of antique zithers.
Restoration of 1880-1890 Franz Schwarzer Zither
Repair of 1895-1900 Concert Zither
Repair of A. F. Kochendorfer Concert Zither
If you have a zither that is in need of restoration or repair, visit Ron Cook Studios for more information and for Ron Cook's preferred contact method.
Radicic Guitar and Zither, St. Louis, MO: With over 25 years of experience as a luthier, Sasha Radicic worked for a number of years with Musik Hartwig in Germany where he handcrafted zithers and performed zither repairs. Visit Radicic Guitar and Zither for more information and for Sasha Radicic's preferred contact method.
Strings
Strings for your zither can be obtained from Saitenkatalog. Saitenkatalog sells strings to suit all manner of stringed instruments.
Buying a Zither
If you're currently shopping for a zither. Consider the fine zithers constructed by the skilled luthiers at Horst Wünsche Zitherbau.
The majority of zither luthiers are located in Europe. Here are some additional links to help you in your search.
Leo Sprenger - Zupfinstrumentenbaumeister
Meinel - Werkstätte Zithern und Gitarren
Andreas Spohn - MeisterWerkstätte für Zither und Gitarrenbau
Musik Hartwig - MeisterWerkstatt und Musikalienhandel
Otto Schneider - Meisterwekstatt im Zupfinstrumentbau
You can frequently find used zithers on eBay. If this is your first zither, and you're not looking for a project, you'll want to verify that the zither is in good shape and playable; that it is not warped and free of major cracks. eBay can also be a good source for zither accessories and sheet music.
eBay's German site is also a good resource. Before bidding, however, be aware of shipping costs and ensure the seller offers worldwide shipping.
Search eBay's German site for zithers
Zither Links
The following resources are also dedicated to promoting an interest in the zither.
If you're seeking additional information on the zither, such as players, Werner Woelfing has pulled together an extensive collection of zither related sites.
Zithers USA is a great resource for those in North America seeking materials pertaining to the zither. Zithers USA offers zither strings, rings, learning materials, music CDs and more. Zithers USA is also the official website of the Zither Newsletter USA.
Zitherist International is a multi-lingual site that provides a great venue for collaboration.
Web site of the Deutscher Zithermusik-Bund
Online portal for hackbrett and zither (German)
Are you aware of additional resources that are specific to the Alpine zither and not provided here? If so, contact us.
User login
Search
Louis Maurath
William Waldschmidt
Henry Schaber
