After ignoring my gu zheng for several months, I went to put the bridges in and tune it and three strings broke. Unfortunately, I live in a country where these instruments are not common.
Can you use other types of strings?
Are there stores people would recommend that ship internationally?
Is it possible to buy individual strings without buying a whole set?
Carol at Sound of China ( www.chinesezither.net/ ) ships internationally, as does Eason Music. I don't know if either will sell you individual strings, but it wouldn't hurt to have a full set of extra strings on hand. I am a little surprised that an extra set didn't come with your guzheng. In any case, if you don't see what you want on the websites, I suggest an email will produce a useful response.
Sound of China offers sets of 1-10 strings for half the price, which should do the trick as this is the range which I broke some of. All I got with my zheng was a set of nails and a booklet in Chinese, wish I had thought of it - I could have bargained for some!
After ignoring my gu zheng for several months, I went to put the bridges in and tune it and three strings broke. Unfortunately, I live in a country where these instruments are not common.
Can you use other types of strings?
Are there stores people would recommend that ship internationally?
Is it possible to buy individual strings without buying a whole set?
Oops. If you're breaking 3 in a row, there's something not right about your technique, and the new ones you eventually order might end up that way. Are you tensioning the strings with the bridges on, or off, before re-adjusting the bridges back on?
Sonically there's a big difference if you change strings, from the ones you use. I'm really taken by the Shanghai Dunhuang B type string. The A is not as rich to my ears. In the Far East, you can buy them one by one, or in sets. In 2 years, I've not managed to break the 11-21 yet, so the 1-10 set would be fine.
If you know which string brand yours are, or wish to upgrade, it might be worth getting a complete set, with the view of replacing all the strings with the better new one eventually.
I haven't bought any online - the postage is the killer. If it was just one you needed, I'm sure someone would flog it to you for postage...but 3 strings... any way - check your adjustment technique so that the new ones don't go the same way!
Best of luck.
Some people are into hardcore drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. I'm into dizi flutes.
Oops. If you're breaking 3 in a row, there's something not right about your technique, and the new ones you eventually order might end up that way. Are you tensioning the strings with the bridges on, or off, before re-adjusting the bridges back on?
My approach, which worked the first time, was to fit the bridge in the place where looked like it was before. Then to adjust the tension. This worked for the top set fine, then snap snap snap. Is there a recommended approach? I saw a video on YouTube but it didn't help much.
I've ordered a full set of strings, and two sets of 1-10's from Sound of China. I don't know much about music, so I'll try and fit replacements for the missing strings and see how it sounds to my naive ear. And if it sounds out of place, I'll replace the full set and go from there. I'm looking forward to playing again
I suspect that you are setting the bridges too far from the rail so that the strings are too long. With a long sounding length, the tension has to be greater to get them up to pitch, and apparently the tension is too much. I think that Carol has a chart on her website that indicates measurements for reasonable positions for the bridges. If you can't find it on your own, email Carol. I am sure she will be happy to help.
For the high range strings, you will need to take the bridges off before tightening the string with the tuning wrench. Another way is to raise the string away from the bridge and turn the tuning wrench. If you take off the bridge, and have problem putting it back because of the tight string tension, you can put it back in the middle of the string, and then gradually move it to the right.
My strings arrived a couple of days ago. They're the Yuesheng ones from Sound of Asia, and they look identical in style to my existing strings. I've successfully replaced where necessary, and otherwise tuned all the strings without further ado following the tuning chart and the tips above.