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Post by xindi on Nov 2, 2011 1:57:34 GMT
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 2, 2011 6:31:48 GMT
I asked local guqin master Jim Binkley about getting an instrument, and he replied that the only way to get a really good one is to go to China, presumably with himself as a guide. <g> Short of that, a student of his purchased a guqin from Carol at Sound of China, and he was rather impressed. It was not a random pick though. A friend of Jim's who knows qins played all the ones in stock and picked out the best. I don't think that you can get a first-class guqin for $400, but probably one good enough to get started on. I would sooner trust Carol than an auction company in Florida.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by Si on Nov 6, 2011 17:53:13 GMT
How will you get someone to follow you to china? Doubt its guna happen.
Just go, try all the qins you can afford and pick the best. But beware those certain things which you should look out for. Which CCC is the most qualified to tell you - not really me!
I would say:-
Pick a nice deep tone
Strings cant be too high from the base board
Dont go for the cheapest
Check back here to conform if the maker is reputable (I assume if you are in China your hotel with have internet access so dont buy straight away - report your findings to here of FB group)
If you love qin, then this will be your first qin, not you last! (wow sounds prophetic!)
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Post by xindi on Jan 13, 2012 18:57:47 GMT
Thanks for your considered replies.
I'd abandoned the fantasy of playing one ... u.til err... I came across 4 of them this week.
Si ... I couldn't get decent notes across all zeven strings. One shop keeper confessed that there was no one left except for the mainland cities, to teach guqin.
When I hold down the strings near the 10th position, I get dull boiiingg! like notes, no matter how I try to strike.
Nylon strings seem more common. Again, the construction of all 4 seem rather shoddy compared to guzhengs for less than US$300. The varnish had flaked off some...others had rub marks...the shop told me that in 10 years, no one had bought a guqin.
The only difference I could fathom was in the decorations. The base wood, whatever they were, were all, painted and varnished. The one thing I did, like was the rather gentle soft 3am sound. This is an instrument which won't disturb the neighbours and will win kudos since not many seem to know how to play it....and me too....which makes it seem, like an expensive ornament....
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Post by omaio on Jul 5, 2012 8:59:13 GMT
any books on this?
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Post by Si on Apr 16, 2013 14:45:03 GMT
any books on what?
There is "standards of the Guqin" which is the most usefull book rest is on the web
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