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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 7, 2012 20:59:51 GMT
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 8, 2012 0:17:27 GMT
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 8, 2012 0:49:38 GMT
Thanks for the comments. I don't use the drones so far, but that might change I suppose. It is not clear to me where the hole is for the drones. A hole on top of the pipes sounds uncomfortable.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 8, 2012 0:52:10 GMT
The vendor who I bought my F hulusi from had agreed to make my next one with my specifications but I just checked he's currently not selling. Earth's Melody.
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 8, 2012 0:55:52 GMT
I'm told by the vendor a hole on the top of the drone is covered by the little finger. This just isn't practical. There are some designs of hulusi where the drone pipes are the same length.
This is fine as the drone pipes can be switched around so that the hole faces downwards.
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 8, 2012 20:16:59 GMT
I have been playing around more with my G and C hulusi and discovered a few things. The chanter and drones, if I may use the terms from bagpipes, are adjustable and not fixed as I had thought. However, when I pull them out a little or a lot, the pitch does not change. So, how is pitch determined, by the adjustment of the reed itself? It appears that I cannot have the control over pitch that I hoped for. When I play tunes with a keyboard, my C hulusi is at times painfully flat, especially when cold. My hope in getting another C hulusi is that it will be closer to standard tuning, so I can play in tune with a keyboard. How realistic is that? <g>
I don't think that the method of turning on the drones is a big item for me. If I play a tune that can use a drone, I will have to practice whatever method I need to, but I don't like the idea that I need to constantly cover a drone hole in order to keep it from sounding.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 8, 2012 23:26:20 GMT
My favourite hulusi is also the cheapest. It is not tunable and it isn't perfectly in tune but it has a lovely tone which even my teacher likes. I've also bought a turkey of a hulusi where note 5 is completely out of tune.
There are some tunes in D and F which require use of the drone and is played at a tremendous speed....and with double toungueing. So the ability to switch on and off the drone quickly is necessary.
When I bought my F, I expressed the same reservations about tuning to the vendor. He emailed me a youtube clip before despatch. So I think the adjustable chanter is less important than when it is tuned by the maker.
I wish I was technologically minded (that was a long word!) then I could post a photo of what I mean.
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 8, 2012 23:27:58 GMT
Oh yes, the tuning can be slightly altered by putting blobs of wax on the reed.
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Post by ziman on Dec 9, 2012 7:53:00 GMT
Oh yes, the tuning can be slightly altered by putting blobs of wax on the reed. Like a sheng, where a red blob of wax is put on the reed? One person in my music group has a hulusi and plays it sometimes. I should take a close look at it sometime. |
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 9, 2012 10:26:06 GMT
Yes, like a sheng
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 10, 2012 21:03:10 GMT
I bet I could really mess up my hulusi with wax. <g> So, where do you put the wax to raise the pitch? I don't have red wax, but recently got some brown wax for replacing a bawu reed. Would that be the wrong stuff?
I will probably wait until January to order a new hulusi, after I see how much there is left in my bank account after Christmas and other bills.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 10, 2012 22:48:45 GMT
You place the blob of wax at the base of the triangle of the reed. However, as I understand it, this lowers the pitch. I've seen my teacher do it with just ordinary white candle wax.
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 10, 2012 22:49:34 GMT
You place the blob of wax at the base of the triangle of the reed. However, as I understand it, this lowers the pitch. I've seen my teacher do it with just ordinary white candle wax.
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 14, 2012 16:55:41 GMT
I looked at the reed on my C hulusi, and it is awfully small. I think it would be very easy to completely mess up my hulusi trying to tune it with globs of wax. After talking about it with my erhu teacher, I am going to hold off ordering another though. My hulusi was brought here by a Chinese musician for a program we did in Fall of 2011. I heard that he didn't bring a good hulusi, since he expected to leave it behind. My teacher will arrange for a better one to be selected and carried over the next time someone travels.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 14, 2012 23:14:22 GMT
That is the best option, provided someone is willing to go shopping for you and bring it back.
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