Online Sellers?

[yudingbon]

Wow, it been a long time since I was here. I still have not gotten myself a guqin, with me picking up the shakuhachi and working on that. But a few days ago, I got the itch again to give the guqin a try.

I have recently been introduced to the world of aliexpress, and ebay-like website that features sellers from China. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the sellers of guqin on this site. My budget for a qin, ideally, would be at most $1000CAD (and not much more).

The idea of buying in person or locally is attractive but neither is feasible; too pricey.

Anyone able to help out?


~Lucian

[edcat7]

Hi Lucian,

I would avoid online sellers that don't accept paypal. If something goes wrong you'll have no comeback.

I would ask Eason or Redmusicshop if they can obtain a good one for you within your budget.

Redmusicshop in particular would be willing to find, and video things which aren't even listed on their website.

[ziman]

Carol Chang from Sound of China (www.chinesezither.net/) is mainly known for guzhengs, but she also has guqin in stock here: (www.soundofasia.com/guqin.html)

Several are within your budget range.

I have not bought from Carol before, but everything I have heard about her and her instruments has been positive. She is a guzheng player, and apparently also plays some guqin, so her instruments are likely to be at least decent.

[davidmdahl]

If I were shopping for a guqin, I would go to Carol (Sound of China). I bought a guzheng from her and it was a good experience. A friend in town plays the guqin very seriously, and has heard good reports about the guqins available at Carol's shop. Try to have someone knowledgeable about the guqin pick one for you if possible, but I think you are more likely to get at least an adequate instrument from Carol than from the next one off the pile from an Ebay-clone vendor. That isn't to say that vendors with Ebay and the others are not reputable, Carol, Eason, and Redmusicshop all sell on Ebay, but dealing at a personal level is best.

[yudingbon]

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping to be able to find a less known seller that may have quality instruments, but if there are none I will stick with asking those three. I have done business with them before, so I know they are good.

Thanks again!