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htaylor@herbtaylor.com
updated 5-Jun-2008


Number 84

This is a 9-string cittern I made for Don Schaarschmidt of Colorado Springs. He had a German folk instrument called a Thuringerwaldzither which was rather crude, and wanted a modern high-quality instrument to play the same music.

The waldzithers are usually tuned to open folk tunings, but Don tunes his like an octave mandolin with high course, GDAEB. It only has 9 strings because the low G string is single. The high B strings limit the scale length to about 18" -- much longer than that and they would break!

It has my standard features (zero fret, bolt-on adjustable neck, fingerboard extension over body). The body is cherry, with a carved back and top. Trim is mostly Madagascar rosewood.

The sound is very pure with tremendous sustain. Don loves it.