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Post by jonpickard on Nov 21, 2014 14:52:29 GMT
Hi All,
Can anyone help me please? I have just joined this forum as I am looking for someone who might be able to make me some extra small Guzheng bridges for an unusual stringed instrument.
Does anyone know of a Guzheng maker who speaks English? They could be anywhere in the world, but I need to be able to communicate with them in English about technical questions like string tension / angle / proportions / materials of bridges etc.
I need to get a test bridge built by a knowledgeable builder and if it works I would order at least 12 to be made.
I really hope someone out there can help!
Best wishes
Jon
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 21, 2014 17:28:27 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Jon. I don't know of any guzheng makers that speak English, and expect that will be a difficult search. However, I suggest that you look for a nearby luthier, someone who makes or at least repairs musical instruments, like guitars or violins. Such people should be good at working with wood and fabricating just about anything needed for a musical instrument. If you can provide a model, or maybe even a photo or drawings, I suspect that you will be able to get what you need.
Best wishes,
David Dahl
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Post by jonpickard on Nov 21, 2014 20:05:59 GMT
Thanks David, Yes I will be able to find someone like that near me. I was assuming that the precise design of the Y shaped bridges is the time-perfected best way to transmit the vibration from the string into the soundboard, so would have liked to find someone who is skilled at making them.
A few other questions in case anyone can answer them:
Can anyone tell me the 'break angle' that occurs at the bridges of a guzheng?
What is the highest note that a guzheng can make?
Are all the strings on a guzheng the same gauge thickness?
Do the strings come in different gauges suitable for shorter strings lengths / higher pitches?
Please forgive my ignorance in these matters - just researching around!
Thanks
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 21, 2014 23:29:42 GMT
I don't know what break angle is, but maybe your purposes would be best served by ordering in a set of bridges, or even just a few. Then you could take the measurements you need. Since a guzheng can be tuned in different ways, the top note is not a fixed thing. When my guzheng is tuned in D, the top note is a note corresponding to the third D above middle C on the piano (two octaves). I suppose the string could be tightened further, or the bridge could be moved further to the right. There needs to be enough slack in the string to allow bending. There are several gauges of strings used on guzheng. As you would expect, the higher pitched strings are a little shorter and skinnier. The low strings are long and fat. You might contact Carol Chang at www.soundofchina.com . She appears to have good contacts with Guzheng companies in Asia. I suspect that most or at least many guzheng makers do not make their own bridges, but have them made by specialist houses. Best wishes, David
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Post by jonpickard on Nov 22, 2014 18:33:52 GMT
Thanks David, will get in touch with her.
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