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Post by George on Mar 5, 2012 19:48:34 GMT
Wow! When can we buy the spider strings? I wonder why the G string sounds so ropey (0:35-0:39 in that recording)?
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Post by lottie on Mar 3, 2018 18:56:51 GMT
Hi, My one of my original silk strings snapped when somebody tried to tune my gaohu.... I'd like to get some more and probably go for silk again if it's a more mellow / well rounded sound. I found some here: www.soundofmountain.com/professional-erhu-silk-strings-9-m-length/My question though is what is the difference between erhu strings and gaohu strings? Eason sell different ones for each... perhaps it's just the length of them?
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Post by davidmdahl on Mar 3, 2018 19:24:41 GMT
\ <snip> My question though is what is the difference between erhu strings and gaohu strings? Eason sell different ones for each... perhaps it's just the length of them? Gaohu strings are thinner, so you can tune to G/D. This is a fourth higher than the erhu tuning of D/A. It may be that the original silk strings were not intended to be tuned up to G/D and could not handle the tension. Of couse, they may just be old. Gaohu and erhu strings should be roughly the same length. Some years ago, I got some Marusan Hashimoto silk strings for erhu and zhonghu. I didn't like the results on my erhu, but have not tried the silk zhonghu strings yet. I decided that I like conventional steel huqin strings just fine. Best wishes, David
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Post by dawei on Mar 5, 2018 16:26:35 GMT
Some years ago, I got some Marusan Hashimoto silk strings for erhu and zhonghu. I didn't like the results on my erhu, but have not tried the silk zhonghu strings yet. I decided that I like conventional steel huqin strings just fine. Best wishes, David I have a few older erhu set up with the Marusan silk strings and they sound quite sweet, a welcome change from the "reformed" and "improved" erhu. But these are instruments with no heavy support under the resonator, light construction, etc. Still, I like the sound of silk strings. I even use them on my pipa.
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Post by davidmdahl on Mar 5, 2018 18:41:35 GMT
I highly suspect that the success of silk strings on an erhu depends on the erhu and its setup. It would seem that older erhus would be more likely to work well with silk. Maybe the "right" bridge and snake skin also makes a difference. It is most reasonable that an erhu made recently was expected to use metal strings, or at least not silk. But, I have found that certain modern strings work well on my erhus, and other strings don't so much. Anyway, I tried silk and a few other exotic options on my erhu, and found what I prefer.
My intent was not to knock silk, but pass on my experience with it. If I wind up with an older erhu sometime, I may try silk again.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by dawei on Mar 8, 2018 14:08:42 GMT
I highly suspect that the success of silk strings on an erhu depends on the erhu and its setup. It would seem that older erhus would be more likely to work well with silk. Maybe the "right" bridge and snake skin also makes a difference. It is most reasonable that an erhu made recently was expected to use metal strings, or at least not silk. But, I have found that certain modern strings work well on my erhus, and other strings don't so much. Anyway, I tried silk and a few other exotic options on my erhu, and found what I prefer. My intent was not to knock silk, but pass on my experience with it. If I wind up with an older erhu sometime, I may try silk again. Best wishes, David That would be the thing to do. I do not have any of my "modern" erhu set up with silk strings, but I have several of the older lighter made type and they react well with silk. You are right, the newer instruments are made for the reformed metal strings. I just love real silk in "silk and bamboo" music.
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Post by ntp0210 on Mar 19, 2018 20:09:33 GMT
If you guys want to try a set of high quality strings that have a smooth and non-piercing sound, it is the Pirastro Red Dragon strings. Made in Germany and I highly recommend them.
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