A little ditty

[The Dong]

> On Monday 26 April 2010 19:32:45 Tony Hardie-Bick wrote:
>> The Dong wrote:
>>> making strings
>> WTF!?!
>>
>> HOW
> 
> Poor kitty-cat...
> Meow!

No cats were harmed. I wouldn't do that, it's not a shamisen; japanese 
banjo type thing whose skin is that of a cat or dog. The cats nipples 
were used to line it up, or something. Leave the head and tail on for 
instant cartoonish japes ;)

I got bare piano wire and twisted up hoops on the end.
Nothing too difficult, but more sensible than buying a set of ready made 
strings. The only bad thing is the wire is a hazard, some bleeding 
occurred. A full set of zither strings is very expensive, for example, 
more than the value of most second hand instruments.

Thankfully, the strings are supposed to last many years if looked after, 
if not indefinitely, but the thing about the Kantele is it has at least 
3 standard tunings, so the odd string may stress and snap. Not to worry, 
I have a lot of spare piano wire.

It's more satisfying making strings for your instrument than nipping off 
to the music store and buying some.