What does one look for when buying a dizi

[edcat7]

After three years music tuition I'm surprised that I'm asking this question:

When I get a new dizi I immediately get my digital tuner and check the accuracy of every note. A friend who spends hours at a music shop buying a dizi never does; neither so it seems my teacher.
I say this as I swapped my G dizi with my teacher's G dizi. At the time I was overjoyed but when I got home none of the notes are in tune. Now my teacher would never knowingly diddle me; does it mean he considers note accuracy less than other attributes?

(I think I'm going to politely ask for my dizi back! )

[Blue]

There are two philosophy camps on this matter.

One camp weights tone accuracy higher than any other criteria.

Other camp: 笛子要是音色美吹奏起來又省氣力

[edcat7]

And the translation please?

[Blue]

The dizi should have a beautiful response and save your breath at the same time.

In other words, the dizi should be very responsive such that you wouldn't need to waste too much of your breath to get it respond.

[Flolei]

Yes, Ed, when you wrote once that all your C dizis are too low, I realized that I actually didn't know how mine looked like. The question became important only when I wanted to play with my daughter.
For me, relative accuracy between notes is the most important point. If you have to correct each note in comparison with the other, you waste energy, breath, expressiveness... You have to concentrate on things you shouldn't have to.

[thebamboogrove]

I usually go for response first, and they are actually adjustable, using the plug on top of the dizi, but thats a small extent.

The other intonation problems can be solved by 80% using a detailing knife and beeswax to adjust the intonation of every note. The most important issue to me is the level of responsiveness of the dizi in general and the tone balance. Some dizis are too conical (the width of the blowing end and the smallest end differ by too much), causing notes to be distorted. This is largely the only unsolvable problem, other than the dizi is too fresh (not dried enough).