I've recently acquired a Waldzither (bohm system no machine heads)I know nothing about them except Andy Irvine used to play one.I wonder does anybody know if it can be tuned gdae or GDAE(1 octive lower),the string length is about 68cm I think .I haven't got it yet so suspect it's somewhere between a Mandola and mandolin in size
Those are usually 9-string instruments (4 double courses, 1 single bass course). The traditional German tuning is an open C chord, and the typical scale length is more like 45 cm--maybe you are getting a bass waldzither. With a 68 cm scale length, you could tune GDAE, GDAD or similar with fairly light strings, and perhaps put a low D on the other string.
Waldzithers are more commonly tuned in an open C tuning essentially giving you the same chord fingerings as a G tuned 5string Banjo. From the bottom - C(mostly as a drone), GG CC EE GG. This is quite a nice tuning for accompanying/melody playing as long as you can sing in C. Although they are about the same size as a mandola my only attempt at tuning it as a mandola was abandoned as it would have meant restringing rather than retuning. David Kilpatrick of Kelso (he who sells troubador mandolins/mandolas/bazoukis) can supply sets of Waldzither strings with both single and double loops, you will need a double looped set. Although I think there is only one scale length it may be as well awaiting your waldzither and measuring it before buying strings. Have fun, I do.
Does this mean the 'watch-key' type tuners, found on renaissance citterns and portuguese guitarras? Presumably not the same Böhm system as that found on flutes.
I see no reason why it could not be tuned GDAE, given the right string gauges. If it has a scale length similar to a mandola (normally tuned CGDA, 1/5 below a mandolin) - i.e. 450-500mm or 18"-20" - you would need heavier strings than for a mandola. You might get away with using the C, G and D strings of a light mandola set for your D, A and E - you could at least look at a set and use the string gauges as a guide.
There are ways of calculating the ideal string gauges for a particular tuning and scale length. Does anyone know of a website that does this?
As Davetnova says, ideally you'd want strings looped at both ends. But you could make do with single-looped ones and make your own loops with pliers. Since, with the watch-key tuners, you do not need any extra length for winding, you would have plenty spare to play with on a single-looped string.
I play a clock-key Waldzither - I think it sounds great. One of the tuning screws broke, so right now I only use the four double-string courses; no single bass 9th string.
As I understand it, Andy Irving took to bass string off.
Anyway, I use standard medium guage mandola strings and I just make the loops myself with a pair of pliers. One caution thought, put the loop end of the stting on the machine tuners part , and put the home-made loops on the tail-piece part of the instrument. The way I broke one of my tuning screws was because of the width of the hand-wrapped strings jamming two screws together. This can be avoided by putting the much thinned, unwrapped core loop on the machine tuners and leaving the home-made loops for the tailpiece.
By the way, does anyone know where I could get a tuning screw for this thing?
Hey Dave ( dfost )... exactly where do you buy your
medium gauge mandola strings for your Waldzither?
I have a 1904 Bohm and just love it for playing Irish
but haven't got the string dance down yet. I was trying
different gauge D'Addario Mandolin strings and making
my own loops on one end but they keep 'unwinding'.
I keep it tuned as an 'octave mandolin' with a high 'b'
on the top end ( G DD AA ee bb ) and then when I
slap a capo on fret 5... Voila!... it's a mandolin...
( C GG DD AA ee ). I love it. Is this what you do?
Waldzither question
Waldzither question
I've recently acquired a Waldzither (bohm system no machine heads)I know nothing about them except Andy Irvine used to play one.I wonder does anybody know if it can be tuned gdae or GDAE(1 octive lower),the string length is about 68cm I think .I haven't got it yet so suspect it's somewhere between a Mandola and mandolin in size
# Posted on March 4th 2005 by doire
Re: Waldzither question
Those are usually 9-string instruments (4 double courses, 1 single bass course). The traditional German tuning is an open C chord, and the typical scale length is more like 45 cm--maybe you are getting a bass waldzither. With a 68 cm scale length, you could tune GDAE, GDAD or similar with fairly light strings, and perhaps put a low D on the other string.
http://home.hccnet.nl/h.speek/bouzouki/cittern.html
http://www.waldzither.de/
# Posted on March 4th 2005 by tedium
Re: Waldzither question
Waldzithers are more commonly tuned in an open C tuning essentially giving you the same chord fingerings as a G tuned 5string Banjo. From the bottom - C(mostly as a drone), GG CC EE GG. This is quite a nice tuning for accompanying/melody playing as long as you can sing in C. Although they are about the same size as a mandola my only attempt at tuning it as a mandola was abandoned as it would have meant restringing rather than retuning. David Kilpatrick of Kelso (he who sells troubador mandolins/mandolas/bazoukis) can supply sets of Waldzither strings with both single and double loops, you will need a double looped set. Although I think there is only one scale length it may be as well awaiting your waldzither and measuring it before buying strings. Have fun, I do.
# Posted on March 4th 2005 by Davetnova
Re: Waldzither question
"bohm system no machine heads"
Does this mean the 'watch-key' type tuners, found on renaissance citterns and portuguese guitarras? Presumably not the same Böhm system as that found on flutes.
I see no reason why it could not be tuned GDAE, given the right string gauges. If it has a scale length similar to a mandola (normally tuned CGDA, 1/5 below a mandolin) - i.e. 450-500mm or 18"-20" - you would need heavier strings than for a mandola. You might get away with using the C, G and D strings of a light mandola set for your D, A and E - you could at least look at a set and use the string gauges as a guide.
There are ways of calculating the ideal string gauges for a particular tuning and scale length. Does anyone know of a website that does this?
# Posted on March 4th 2005 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Waldzither question
As Davetnova says, ideally you'd want strings looped at both ends. But you could make do with single-looped ones and make your own loops with pliers. Since, with the watch-key tuners, you do not need any extra length for winding, you would have plenty spare to play with on a single-looped string.
# Posted on March 4th 2005 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Waldzither question
Here is an online (simple Java applet) string tension calculator:
http://www.pacificsites.net/~dog/StringTensionApplet.html
And a similar thing as a free Windows application: http://www.kennaquhair.com/ustc.htm
Calcuations like these are extremely useful for those of us who love miscellaneous stringed instruments, as I do.
# Posted on March 5th 2005 by tedium
Re: Waldzither question
This site has an easy-to-use system:
http://greenmanhumming.com/html/StringCalc/stringCalcX.html
# Posted on March 5th 2005 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Waldzither question
I play a clock-key Waldzither - I think it sounds great. One of the tuning screws broke, so right now I only use the four double-string courses; no single bass 9th string.
As I understand it, Andy Irving took to bass string off.
Anyway, I use standard medium guage mandola strings and I just make the loops myself with a pair of pliers. One caution thought, put the loop end of the stting on the machine tuners part , and put the home-made loops on the tail-piece part of the instrument. The way I broke one of my tuning screws was because of the width of the hand-wrapped strings jamming two screws together. This can be avoided by putting the much thinned, unwrapped core loop on the machine tuners and leaving the home-made loops for the tailpiece.
By the way, does anyone know where I could get a tuning screw for this thing?
Happy playing,
Dave
# Posted on March 8th 2005 by dfost
Re: Waldzither question
I forgot to mention that I do tune my waldzither to GDAE - one octave lower than a mandolin.
# Posted on March 8th 2005 by dfost
Re: Waldzither question
Hey Dave ( dfost )... exactly where do you buy your
medium gauge mandola strings for your Waldzither?
I have a 1904 Bohm and just love it for playing Irish
but haven't got the string dance down yet. I was trying
different gauge D'Addario Mandolin strings and making
my own loops on one end but they keep 'unwinding'.
I keep it tuned as an 'octave mandolin' with a high 'b'
on the top end ( G DD AA ee bb ) and then when I
slap a capo on fret 5... Voila!... it's a mandolin...
( C GG DD AA ee ). I love it. Is this what you do?
Yours...
Kevin
# Posted on July 15th 2005 by kiley