The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #35743   Message #3692436
Posted By: PHJim
08-Mar-15 - 05:12 PM
Thread Name: Autoharp vs Chorded Zither
Subject: RE: Autoharp vs Chorded Zither
I have two non-Autoharp zithers. One has strings set up as chords on the left and single melody strings on the right. The label in the sound hole calls it a "guitar zither". The other one is essentially the same instrument except it is set up with 2 string courses on the melody side. It is made by a different company, but the label calls it a "mandolin zither". This is different from a chorded zither (Autoharp) or a concert zither, which has a fretboard on the left side.

Incidentally, there was once a publichation called "The Dobro Newsletter". Since they did articles on National. Regal and Beard players as well as Dobro players, they were asked to change the name of the publication and to refrain from using the word "dobro" unless it was referring to instruments made by the Dobro Co. and they were asked to include the © symbol. They began calling the publication "Resophonic Echos".