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Post by kailam77 on Jun 12, 2010 3:16:32 GMT
Hi everyone. Couldn't find any posts on this, so if I'm reposting I apologize.
I have an Eason beginner Erhu (one of the less expensive models), and I just realized that the neck is slowly being warped by the tension of the strings. I keep it on a shelf in my house, it's never exposed to extreme temps or humidity.
Is this normal? Should I be doing something to help prevent it?
Thanks so much!
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 12, 2010 6:11:06 GMT
I suggest contacting Sung Wah at Eason regarding your warping erhu. Normally the wood is seasoned so that warping is not so much of a risk. The wood could be affected by the change in humidity from where the erhu was made, and where it is now played. I doubt that the tension of the strings is the cause of the warping.
Be sure to keep the erhu out of direct sunlight.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by kailam77 on Jun 12, 2010 13:55:31 GMT
Thanks! That makes sense. I'll contact them and see what they say. If it's not the strings then at least it's not gonna get worse and worse indefinitely  |
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Post by ed on Jun 12, 2010 22:04:34 GMT
Personally, I always reduce the string tension each time I finish playing - this is what my teacher told me to do (when I had one). It is a bit of a bother though.
I should be interested to know if anybody else does this.
Ed
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 12, 2010 22:30:13 GMT
There is some reason for loosening the strings when storing the erhu, but not for removing stress from the neck. The snake skin is probably the most delicate component on the erhu that cannot be easily replaced.
It is a good idea to lessen the pressure on the skin from the strings when not playing the erhu. Loosening the strings is one way, but I prefer to insert a section of pencil under the strings. This is what my teacher recommends. The pencil should be long enough to span the width of the erhu face, but not much longer. I find leaving the erhu tuned improves the stability of the tuning.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by akhlaur on Jun 12, 2010 23:07:09 GMT
my teacher told me too to lessen the string. but your idea with the pen sounds good too. please tell me, did you have some problems with the erhu after some time? like the strings expand or something broke (like the snakeskin, i really dont know how solid it is). i would like a stable tuning ( it takes me everytime like 10-15 to tune it right) so can you explain me the way with the pencil, maybe with a picture?
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Post by ed on Jun 13, 2010 21:22:09 GMT
My instructions were not only to move the bridge every night to the edge of the drum so that there is a solid support beneath it, but ALSO to reduce string tension if the instrument is to be unused for more than a few days.
Ed
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 14, 2010 4:26:29 GMT
Here are some photos that I hope will illustrate using the pencil:   Regarding moving the bridge, just be very careful not to snag any of the scales. Lift the strings a bit to take the pressure off the bridge when moving the bridge around or inserting the pencil. It would be a shame to damage the skin while trying to protect it. Best wishes, David |
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Post by akhlaur on Jun 14, 2010 4:52:57 GMT
can you reupload the pictures? or send them per e-mail (akhlaur@gmx.de)
i dont know why but i see only:
[Image]
[Image]
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 14, 2010 4:55:46 GMT
my teacher told me too to lessen the string. but your idea with the pen sounds good too. please tell me, did you have some problems with the erhu after some time? like the strings expand or something broke (like the snakeskin, i really dont know how solid it is). i would like a stable tuning ( it takes me everytime like 10-15 to tune it right) so can you explain me the way with the pencil, maybe with a picture? I use the pencil to reduce the constant pressure on the skin that over time will cause it to stretch. As the skin loosens, the tone and response will change, probably for the worse. The skin on a new erhu will often be too tight. The break-in period will solve this and the skin will loosen up a bit to hopefully the optimal amount. The pencil trick is intended to stop or slow any further stretching. Moving the bridge to the edge probably accomplishes the same thing. My erhu is very stable. When I remove the pencil there is often not much tuning adjustment necessary. Best wishes, David I have broken a string or two, but never while playing the erhu. Fortunately, strings are pretty cheap. |
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 14, 2010 4:57:33 GMT
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Post by akhlaur on Jun 14, 2010 5:45:07 GMT
this site give me a 404 error..... i really dont know what i am doing wrong.
please e-mail them to me
thank you for the effort
and how did the strings broke? you said not while playing, so they broke when the erhu stands around?
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Post by davidmdahl on Jun 14, 2010 6:28:03 GMT
this site give me a 404 error..... i really dont know what i am doing wrong. please e-mail them to me thank you for the effort and how did the strings broke? you said not while playing, so they broke when the erhu stands around? I emailed the photos to you, as I can for anyone else interested who cannot see them on my website. Erhu strings don't break spontaneously. I have broken erhu strings while changing them. It is all too easy to pull on a loop and get a fatal kink in the string. I have also tightened a string too much while trying to tune the other. Playing erhu can be very humbling. <g> Best wishes, David |
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Post by ed on Jun 15, 2010 0:04:45 GMT
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Post by song on Jun 15, 2010 3:25:39 GMT
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Post by akhlaur on Jun 15, 2010 8:20:57 GMT
thanks a lot. david had already mailed me the pictures. now i have build this:    i hope i made it right |
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Post by sanmenxia on Sept 7, 2010 2:47:34 GMT
I have an erhu with a noticeably bend neck, but that's after years of the strings at full tension and more importantly it's quite an cheap instrument with a neck with a circular cross section.
Better erhus with a teardrop shaped neck should not get warped, I would think.
I used to just leave the strings at full tension on my erhus, then I started using the pencil trick, but now I loosen the strings after playing. I find it it's good practice for ear training
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