Schmit Mandolin-Guitar

[Bobbie Dier]

A friend at work found one in a relative's trunk in the basement of their home. She said it is dated in the early 1900s .I think she said 1912.It is a Schmit Easy Method Mandolin Guitar. She also wants to know what it might be worth. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ima http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[Bob DeVellis]

Is it one of those zither-type instruments, sort of autoharp-looking? They're often called mandolin-guitar-harps. If so, the value is pretty minimal. They're all over the place and go for very little as a rule.

[Bobbie Dier]

Thanks bobd,
From the way she described it, yes it does sound like one of those zither type instruments. I'll let her know it's not worth a mint like she was hoping. I did promise her I'd ask. Thanks very much for the quick reply!!
ima

[Alanede]

The generic term for this kind of instrument is "Columbia Zither". They are quite common, but ones in really nice shape are not. To get an idea of its value, try "zither" on eBay.
Alan

[Martin Jonas]

Going off-topic a bit: Out of curiosity I've just done that search for zither on ebay.com and found this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16221&item=3747836413&rd=1). #That's a German concert zither, a completely different (and much more sophisticated and respectable) instrument from the American guitar-zithers that come up with great regularity. #My grandmother in Germany used to play one of these -- they're best known for the persistent theme from The Third Man. #The one on ebay looks in good condition (I don't think those cracks in the back are all that important) and with six hours to go, it's at an outrageously low $21.50. #It's also for charity. #Might be of interest for somebody looking for a musical challenge.

It's not that much off-topic, by the way: these instrument have five strings on a fretboard, plus between 33 and 37 free-swinging strings. On the most common type, the fretted strings are tuned like a mandola, with the highest string doubled: a',a',d',g,c. There's also a less common smaller type (the "Quintenzither") which is tuned like the mandolin: e',e',a',d',g. So, all your mandolin scales are readily transferable.

Martin

[TommyK]

Does a sack of flour make a big biscuit?
Only if you have a big SKILLET!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Alanede]

Any time you feel that the mandolin is insufficiently challenging, try a concert zither. As Martin points out, the fretted strings are tuned like a mandola; however they are reversed, so you can get the first a-string with the left thumb. It's like playing a lefty mandola right-handed. The right thumb picks the fretted strings using a wire thumb pick and at the same time the remaining fingers pick the open strings for the accompaniment. The concert zither is a *bear* to play. Personal experience, I never really got anywhere.
#Really nice zithers, Schwarzers for instance, can bring four figures, but ordinary plain ones very little.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Alan
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