plastic xiao

[Blue]

Here's the original collection of plastic xiaos I had in comparison with the bamboo one. One of the plastic ones is yellow and has 7 holes; the other is transparent and has 5 holes.

I ended up returning the 5 hole one because my fingers can't stand the piper's grip, and I discovered that it's easy to see how dirty the transparent one can get. Also one can see the humidity that builds up in the inner tube after one plays the xiao!

Attachments:

[Blue]

Additionally, for some reason, the transparent xiao had some dark particles embedded inside as illustrated here. Also hastened the return of that xiao to the seller.

Don't have any problems with the yellow plastic xiao, however.

Attachments:

[Blue]

All those plastic xiao have a thumb hole: therefore, the yellow plastic xiao that I displayed has 8 holes. Although there are sites in Taiwan that sell these xiao, the sellers can't communicate in English and are unlikely to ship abroad:

www.shinemelody.com.tw/
tw.page.bid.yahoo.com/tw/auction/d51759395

The alternative would be to purchase from Francois, a polymer flute maker in South Africa:
sites.google.com/site/modernethnicflutes/

Strictly speaking, Francois makes quenas and quenachos. Additionally, they have six fingers and don't have a thumb hole, although traditional quenas and quenachos usually have a thumb hole.

[Blue]

Here's me doing a horrible job playing it.
www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3792715689765¬if_t=like

Here's someone doing a good job playing it.

[dragona]

Thanks much for the info

[rappelz]

how magic they are!

[Blue]

But I have to say that the bamboo xiao sounds better and plays easier than the polycarbonate dongxiao. Maybe it has something to do with the thickness of the walls of each flute. When I do get the plastic dongxiao to resonate really well, I can literally feel it vibrating and shaking strongly. A little like a sword that his vibrating heavily.

I've just shelved US$60 purchasing a transparent perspex quena (equivalent to an alto C on a dongxiao) and a copper brown quenacho (equivalent to a low D on a dongxiao) from Francois, and look forward to making a direct comparison with the polycarbonate dongxiao I have. Avoided purchasing one made out of PVC because PVC notched flutes are probably common place based on a search on the internet!

Also noticed on youtube that Francois is actually experimenting making dongxiaos!

[edcat7]

Well played on the xiao, you sell yourself short. The plastic xiaos are an excellent idea, no cracking and perfect for travelling.

[Blue]

Also ended up ordering two Tony Dixon flutes: one equivalent to the low G on the Chinese pitch classification scale; the other equivalent to a alto C qudi.

[Blue]

I've been debating, however, the hole position of the D quenacho to choose.

Francois offers a quenacho whose finger hole size are all equal, but the center of hole to center of hole distances are as follows in cm:

3.924
3.302
5.368 ==> not relevant
2.914
3.722

The other option would be having all the center to hole to center of hole distances equal as 3.0cm, but the finger hole sizes would not be equal. Here's a youtube video of such quenacho:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq5RLdPH3y0

Francois warns me however, that the sound of the flute will be significantly be reduced because of the small finger hole sizes if I chose the flute with equal finger hole size distances. I asked reduced by how many decibels, but Francois could not give me a quantifiable answer. The qualitative answer was that the sound is softer and less penetrating as is usually the case with a Quenacho. I can't tell from the youtube video either.

What suggestion does anyone in this forum have (true, quenacho isn't identical to a xiao, but they are both generally low pitched notched flutes). Should I get the one with equal finger hole sizes, but large hole separation distances? Or should I get the one with unequal finger hole sizes, but same separation distances. (Or should I purchase both).

[Flolei]

I don't like the tone, but anyway.

Allen, are you sure you can play a quenacho? I can't because the finger stretch is so large, especially by the right hand.

For the all size, I think you would cover the both ones. Only the distance between holes is really challenging (like a low D Irish flute or even worth). As you said, that you can't play low dizis, which are really less problematic, I'm really sceptical...

But maybe the situation changed and you have now no problem anymore with low dizis.

[Blue]

What aspect of the tone that you don't like, especially that you have experience with the quenacho?

It's easier for me to reach the higher octave using low dizis than it is for me on higher-pitched dizis. Therefore, blowing into a low pitched dizi is no problem for me at all. The frustration I have for low pitched flutes is the fingering. It seems that my fingers are more designed for low A xiao than for low G xiao because I noticed that sometimes the mistakes I made with the low G xiao isn't the embouchure, but because my fingers do not completely cover up the hole.

Some people-- including a certain acquaintance who loves to play low pitched flutes as well who loves to use certain smiley faces such as and and ;D to brighten up the mood on the forum-- are very adept with the fingering. Sadly, I do not enjoy such talent and other musical talents that the acquaintance has including playing the pipa. I simply cannot develop webbed duck feet like the acquaintance does.

Anyway, since each plastic quenacho/quena costs US$20, maybe I'll order both the equal finger hole size version and the equal hole separation distance version. Life is too short anyway, and I can't travel to South Africa to try those quenachos.

[jock]

I find lots of Plastic Xiao in Shanghai International Expo this time when I visit China, 11th to 14th in October.
It seems quite convenient to carry in my trip. and the tone sounds not very high.
and I also visit some China famous Plastic Xiao Sales Plateform, Such as:Buychina.com display their booth in an obvious position.

[Blue]

Alright, persistent author of threads that somehow lead to a buychina.com . . . . .
Show me a link to a plastic xiao then!

[edcat7]

[jock]

there are lots of plastic xiao in english Taobao(China ebay) as follow:
www.buychina.com/products?keyword=xiao&cid=