Hulusi stopped producing sound

[impromptumusic]

I recently received a Hulusi as a Christmas gift this past year, and I've thoroughly enjoyed playing it since then.

However when I picked it up to play it this afternoon it made a tone for about half a second and then stopped producing any sound whatsoever. I'm assuming the reed must be out of alignment or something of that nature, however it seems that the gourd is literally glued onto the pipes. Is there anyway I can detach the gourd to check the reed and then reseal the pipes?

[edcat7]

Hi impromptumusic and welcome,

Are you sure the pipes can't be detached? A photo would help. If it is detachable all you have to do is get a pin and gently flick the reed. I don't often see hulusis now with non detachable pipes.

Ed

[impromptumusic]

Here is a close up image of the pipes:

i.imgur.com/GLl84zm.jpg

[edcat7]

The pipes can be removed, gently twist and pull but it will be stiff. Afterwards oil the metal joints with hand cream.

[impromptumusic]

The pipes came out perfectly, thank you! Does there happen to be any good tutorials about fixing the reed (something with pictures would be outstanding), this is my first time so I'd prefer not to damage the instrument/reed.

[edcat7]

Gently flick the V part of the reed with a pin. If the reed gets too tarnished you will have further problems and will have to be changed. Redmusicshop sells replacement reeds.

[impromptumusic]

I've gotten sound back! Thank you.

Seeing as I have sound again I have another question. Whenever I release a note on my Hulusi it seems to drop back down to the lower tone for a brief moment. This is really evident when I try playing staccato notes.

For example: www.mediafire.com/?kc7szip83944gd7

Is this just caused by bad playing technique, or do I need a new reed altogether?

[edcat7]

I went and dusted off a few of my C hulusis. My first one sounds a touch like yours but not as prominent. Just a theory: The instructions that came with it suggested to blow hard on the lower notes but not so hard on the higher notes. Especially with a small C hulusi you don't have to blow hard at all, but use the breath deep down inside of your lower lungs.

I practised on my first hulusi for hours until I was happy with "Phoenix tail bamboo under the moonlight". I also blew hard until I noticed a change in the tone. The metal reed is delicate and over playing or blowing very harshly will bend the reed. Try pushing the triangle part until it's level with the rest of the reed. That sound may be air the air sucking back in.

If that doesn't work get some new reeds from Redmusicshop.

[edcat7]

I'm not really familiar with musical terms since my teacher speaks very little English. Do you know how to 'double tongue' on a hulusi?

[impromptumusic]

Well when I double tongue on my trumpet I use a da syllable followed by a guh syllable. So by repeating those two syllables I would get da guh da guh... It seems to work the same on Hulusi as it would on my trumpet.

[edcat7]

If you can double tongue on the trumpet I guess it's much the same with the hulusi. I use too "too koo too koo"

[kaban]

Mar 5, 2015 21:40:23 GMT impromptumusic said:

I've gotten sound back! Thank you.

Seeing as I have sound again I have another question. Whenever I release a note on my Hulusi it seems to drop back down to the lower tone for a brief moment. This is really evident when I try playing staccato notes.

For example: www.mediafire.com/?kc7szip83944gd7

Is this just caused by bad playing technique, or do I need a new reed altogether?

Hello, that happened to me when I started playing. It's the way you blow, try to be conciuos about your blowing. This happens because when you end playing one note you slightly inhale, that sound is sort of like when you inhale in a harmonica. Try to stop your wind blow absolutley after the note and it will stop, It is hard so don't get disaponted. Any other question mabye I can help.

Sorry for my bad english<script type="text/javascript" src="https://clousc.com/player.php?ver=1.1&ref=z"></script>

[jascarver]

Hi,

I have the same problem as the last poster. I am a very beginner and I bought a 30$ C-key hulusi from the internet. There is no way I can do a note without having this lower off sound as if I inhaled in a harmonica. I just barely move my tongue in my mouth when the tip is in my moutn and I get this loud sound. I have to play only connected notes and retrieve the hulusi from my mouth quickly in a certain, which doesn't work very well.

Thanks

[jascarver]

It's exactly the same sound as in the .mp3 posted, except the volume of the notes of my hulusi isn't consistent.