My new sanxian

[sanmenxia]

I just got my new sanxian!

In its case. It's about 98cm long (38in) and it's a "small" sanxian but it's still the biggest instrument I've got.


The case is just too heavy for everyday use. I'll be getting a soft bag for carrying the sanxian around.


Side view of the head.


Side view of the body. Snakeskin on both top and back.


The white thing is something I've added to stop the strings pressing directly on the skin. It's a piece of plastic with foam padding underneath.


Nice symmetrical patterns on the skin.


The inside of the peg box is quite messy, it hasn't been finished properly. The photos make it look much worse than it actually is. It's not really noticeable unless you look closely.




I don't know who the maker is, it doesn't have any labels or name on it. I'll need to ask the person who got it for me, perhaps he doesn't know either, but I would assume it was made in Beijing or maybe Tianjin.

[pickd28]

Sanmenxia -- I have a Sanxian and am trying to find a case for it quickly. I'd like to get a hardshell case (like the one pictured) to best protect it for air travel. Do you know where/how I could get one? Thanks much. PickD28

[xindi]

Wow - that's some size. Watch you don't end up crossing swords with 1 metre bass flute player ;P



Don't know why this seems to resemble a tortoise shell for me, given that it's made of snake. Hou Hsiao Hsien's film 'Three Times' features one of the beautiful female courtesans playing one in the middle triptych of the film - it's set as a silent colour movie to the music in an era, just before the Wuchang Rebellion. Tragically wistful music.


That's a great flight case too. I'd like to see you check that in as hand luggage

[xindi]

How far are you getting on your sanxian?

I wonder how different it sounds from a 3 stringed qinqin.

[sanmenxia]

I suppose a sanxian would fit in the rectangular type of electric guitar or bass guitar case. You would need to rearrange or change any foam padding inside the case.

Mine is actually a "small" sanxian, if you look on Youtube the sanxian used for solo playing has a longer neck and bigger resonator, I gather the sanxian used in Beijing opera is also the "big" type.

One thing I can say about my sanxian is that the pegs turns really smoothly,which is nice, unlike my erhu .

I don't know what that type of qinqin sounds like, I would imagine it might have a banjo like sound. The qinqin I've heard in recordings, at least I think that what it is, sounds quite percussive with not much sustain, so probably that's the wooden faced type of qinqin.