the wrench isn't a problem for me, my dad bought me one to use with my autoharp. I just need to find out how to install the stinkin pins Zither pin wrenches can be easy to get if you have access to a piano/harpsichord tuning supplier, which I don't since my dad died
My latest 6 string was built with zither tuners and they work well. They are also great because kids can't make them go out of tune! As Crowe said, they are a pain to use the wrench. I'm sure there is somone that could make a better, cheaper wrench- I picture something like an old bleeder wrench that you would use on a radiator in your home. Anyone out there with tooling skills that could make them?
The first time I heard of zither pins being used on a cigar box guitar was on a cigar box ukulele being shown off by Pat and Patrick Costello back in 2008. Here is a few photos extracted from their video with a URL. Might be worth a watch.
I thought it was an interesting design concept, which might work well for you if you are planning to go with zither tuners.
I just joined CBN a short time ago, and when I googled zither pins, it brought me back here. Judging by the submission dates I am a couple years behind everybody else. Just came into some zither pins and, since all my builds are basically $0 budget, wanted to try them in some new builds. Each is an experiment for me. Saw your videos, excellent work and thanks for the ideas- I will be stealing them and working them into my available materials. Thanks
Crow said:
i've used zither pins for several projects. here's my thoughts.
cheap? certainly.
easy to install? YES.
keeps tune well? yes, if the holes are drilled right (i use 3/16 in hardwood, and go one size smaller in soft wood)
easy to retune? not really. after some REAL practice (a few years) i'm pretty good at tuning zither pins. but it's a SKILL.
wrench? pain in the ass.
easily the biggest drawback to zither pins is aquiring a proper zither pin wrench. an adjustable wrench *works* but the taper on the head of the pin makes the wrench roll a bit, and messes up the pin.
after all this, i've moved on to using eye bolt compression tuners. they're adjustable, so you can really crank em tight to hold a tune, and a common screwdriver put through the eye can give plenty of extra leverage for fine tuning.
i've used zither pins for several projects. here's my thoughts.
cheap? certainly. easy to install? YES. keeps tune well? yes, if the holes are drilled right (i use 3/16 in hardwood, and go one size smaller in soft wood) easy to retune? not really. after some REAL practice (a few years) i'm pretty good at tuning zither pins. but it's a SKILL. wrench? pain in the ass.
easily the biggest drawback to zither pins is aquiring a proper zither pin wrench. an adjustable wrench *works* but the taper on the head of the pin makes the wrench roll a bit, and messes up the pin.
after all this, i've moved on to using eye bolt compression tuners. they're adjustable, so you can really crank em tight to hold a tune, and a common screwdriver put through the eye can give plenty of extra leverage for fine tuning.
i've used zither pins for several projects. here's my thoughts.
cheap? certainly.
easy to install? YES.
keeps tune well? yes, if the holes are drilled right (i use 3/16 in hardwood, and go one size smaller in soft wood)
easy to retune? not really. after some REAL practice (a few years) i'm pretty good at tuning zither pins. but it's a SKILL.
wrench? pain in the ass.
easily the biggest drawback to zither pins is aquiring a proper zither pin wrench. an adjustable wrench *works* but the taper on the head of the pin makes the wrench roll a bit, and messes up the pin.
after all this, i've moved on to using eye bolt compression tuners. they're adjustable, so you can really crank em tight to hold a tune, and a common screwdriver put through the eye can give plenty of extra leverage for fine tuning.
Replies
the wrench isn't a problem for me, my dad bought me one to use with my autoharp. I just need to find out how to install the stinkin pins Zither pin wrenches can be easy to get if you have access to a piano/harpsichord tuning supplier, which I don't since my dad died
My latest 6 string was built with zither tuners and they work well. They are also great because kids can't make them go out of tune! As Crowe said, they are a pain to use the wrench. I'm sure there is somone that could make a better, cheaper wrench- I picture something like an old bleeder wrench that you would use on a radiator in your home. Anyone out there with tooling skills that could make them?
The first time I heard of zither pins being used on a cigar box guitar was on a cigar box ukulele being shown off by Pat and Patrick Costello back in 2008. Here is a few photos extracted from their video with a URL. Might be worth a watch.
-Rand.
Crow said:
Crow said:
cheap? certainly.
easy to install? YES.
keeps tune well? yes, if the holes are drilled right (i use 3/16 in hardwood, and go one size smaller in soft wood)
easy to retune? not really. after some REAL practice (a few years) i'm pretty good at tuning zither pins. but it's a SKILL.
wrench? pain in the ass.
easily the biggest drawback to zither pins is aquiring a proper zither pin wrench. an adjustable wrench *works* but the taper on the head of the pin makes the wrench roll a bit, and messes up the pin.
here's two instances::
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEGM8HZ_xow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJZb7zJyKjg
after all this, i've moved on to using eye bolt compression tuners. they're adjustable, so you can really crank em tight to hold a tune, and a common screwdriver put through the eye can give plenty of extra leverage for fine tuning.
here:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/eye-bolt-tuner-w-string-b?conte...
have fun!!!!
Randy S. Bretz said: