Looking for a way to buy or make a travel pipa

[annk]

I've been taking pipa lessons for a couple years now. When I travel for vacations, I've been hauling the pipa with me, but it's a pain. I'd like a compact practice/travel instrument I can pack into a padded case, so I can send it with the regular luggage and just forget about it during the flight.

I'm considering trying to either get hold of a modified "practice pipa", more compact than a regular instrument, or to try to modify an inexpensive pipa for the purpose. I'm not interested in sound quality, though being able to hear the notes I'm playing would be a plus.

So: does anyone know of a practice/travel pipa that's already in production? If not, does anyone have pictures of or a link to pictures of what the pipa looks like on the inside? If I end up trying to modify one, I need to know exactly where it's hollow and solid etc before I plan the modifications. I'd use an inexpensive instrument, since sound quality doesn't matter, but even an inexpensive instrument costs something. Don't want to butcher it without knowing exactly what I'm working with.

I got the idea from seeing a travel double bass a former colleague showed me. It had a very slim body, and the width of the instrument is simulated by detachable bits, so the player has the feeling of the true shape while playing. I found the sort of thing I'm describing here online.

I'm in the process of doing the same for guzheng, but that one is proving to be easier (and the original instrument is a lot harder to transport!).

[davidmdahl]

Eason Music lists a Dunhuang child-size pipa, and elsewhere I saw a reference to a travel-size pipa. Maybe they are the same thing. The dimensions are only slightly smaller, so I don't know if that is what you are looking for. You might check with Eason Music directly, or another Dunhuang dealer for information.

Samuel Wong travels a lot with his pipa, but I imagine he takes his good full-size instruments when performing professionally. You might contact Samuel for ideas. I don't think he checks in here regularly. He seems to frequent Facebook more often, so you might friend him there and see what he has to say.

Best wishes,

David

[annk]

Hmmm, that's an idea. I always figured a child-sized pipa would have different dimensions, and therefore not be a good alternative for practicing. But on the other hand, we're talking 2-3 times a year, no more, for maybe a total of 4-5 weeks, so that might be a solution that works well. I'll look for Samuel Wong on FB, thanks for the tips!

Still interested if anyone knows of any good drawings or photos of the inside of a pipa.

[davidmdahl]

Yes, I think that the child-size pipa would have different dimensions, but check with Samuel or Sung Wah for informed advice. Eason Music services and restores instruments of all sorts, including the pipa. Sung Wah may be able to provide some useful information. If you are handy with wood, or have an adventurous luthier at hand, maybe you could buy some parts from Eason Music, such as neck, pegs, and bridges, and build your own body to suit. Maybe Sung Wah or Samuel knows of a workshop that would take a special order.

One of the most touchy parts of a pipa is the bridges. A cheap pipa with poorly set up bridges is not going to be much fun. It takes a lot of painstaking labor to get the bridges positioned correctly and at the right height so that the tuning is good, and the strings don't buzz. Whatever you wind up with, be sure that the bridge setup is up to your needs.

Best wishes,

David

[annk]

My husband and I created a practice guzheng with parts from Eason a few years ago! I still practice on it regularly. It's definitely not a travel instrument, but it serves its purpose (allows me to practice when we spend weekends at the house where the bastard guzheng lives).

Your idea about consulting with a luthier here is a good idea. There is at least one very good guitar maker in the city, so I can take my pipa to him, explain what I'm after, and either ask him to alter an acceptable but inexpensive instrument, or hear what it would take (and cost) to create a travel instrument.

[song]

Hi Ann!

Its good to see you here.

A foldable pipa made from indestructible composite material sounds really interesting! I remembered seeing Dunhuang having these space age designed pipas made from composite materials before. But I doubt they are what you are looking for....

SW

[andyrrgrstevie]

I actually have the indication kids size pipa can't actually perform a full length piece. Can anyone give an idea if the difference beetween kids size and regular pipa is only the dimension?