Playing on good qins

[Si]

I dont like to bring my qin to my lesson now - especially when i can play on a 30,000rmb wang peng.

Must admit though - i am not so hot on owning one with all the crack lines. It just seems to feel false and maybe have more problems later.

I most get a new qin - but seems so risky to select a good one. How will I be satisfied ever!

[Charlie Huang]

WP creates those cracks by heating the qin up to a hight temperature than putting it in ice/snow. The wood retracts and so cracks the hard lacquer. I think he lets the lacquer cure for over two years, so so I'm told, so the lacquer is very hard by then, so it cracks. More young lacquer would not crack as much, and recently lacquered ones will wrinkle rather than crack.

That's my guess.