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Received zither as b-day gift

hbarcat

hbarcat

Supporting Member
Aug 24, 2006
10,227
18,610
Rochelle, Illinois
#1
I was given a Menzenhauer Guitar Zither by my father for my birthday yesterday.

20210521_181615.jpg
He bought it at an estate sale for a few bucks. It was made in the 1890s and is in really great condition for its age. Everything works but it's missing 3 strings (easily replaced).

This is really cool. I'm going to replace the missing strings, give it a tune up and see if I can play it.

Does anyone know anything about these? I did an online search and there isn't much information on them. It doesn't seem to be a "serious" musical instrument, although I think it would take quite a bit of practice to actually achieve it's full potential.

I can't seem to find any information on how to play this. It's a completely different instrument from a traditional zither, and I'm pretty sure they don't share any common playing techniques

Based on the graphics on its face, I believe it's supposed to be tuned to the key of G. 2 of the 4 bass strings are G while the other 2 are F and C. Each bass string is accompanied by 3 strings of complementary notes to different combinations of chords.

There are 2 octaves of strings on the treble side that are laid out C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C.
 
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#7
I know nothing about it, but looking at it I imagine the bass string "chord" sets are played one set at a time as called for, and that there are music books of "play by numbers" associated with the instrument. But you made me go look at my "thing like an autoharp without the autoharp damping bars," and it's just barely legible if you reflect the light right as a model 2-1/2 from the same place. With a cracked soundboard...

I'm going to guess that the "special St. Louis model" is required to get that fancy post on the treble side.
 
#10
I don’t know about it not being a “serious” instrument. Strauss composed for it. And the Orson Wells movie The Third Man had a zither score running throughout the picture.

Like many so-called “folk instruments” such as the recorder, button accordion, hammered dulcimer, ukulele, banjo, cajun, etc. - they’re only as simple and casual as the person playing them.

Here’s some Strauss on zither. There’s also zithers, and then there’s zithers. The one in the video has a chromatic fretboard and melody strings in addition to the fixed note chording/drone strings, so it it’s a more versatile instrument. In the hands of a capable player it can be quite impressive.

 
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#12
It's listed in Wikipedia and available on reverb and etsy...you've got 4 chord sets and 15 diatonic notes, some are chromatic with 6 whole chords! Great for serenading river trips in the late 19th century in a kind of plainsong droning thing. Advertised as "...the wonder of the age," and "...the greatest musical instrument that has ever been placed before the public." eliminated by autoharp and the need for more chords.
 
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