Sandalwood vs Rosewood?

[chartrekhan]

Hello, I'm thinking of buying a Guan from the Datung Music&Arts eBay site. They offer F key Guan in either Rosewood or Red Sandalwood. What is the difference? Is there a better feel, sound or durability to the rosewood? Because I like the look of the sandalwood more and it's cheaper by about fifty dollars.

[davidmdahl]

Welcome to the forum, chartrekhan. I don't have any experience with guan and so cannot offer specific advice on the relative qualities of the options you listed. However, my guess is that the differences between the red sandalwood and rosewood models are not likely to primarily due to the material. I suggest contacting the vendor though. Hong Wang at Datung should have more informed advice than I can provide.

Best wishes,

David

[edcat7]

Hello Chartrekhan,

I don't know if there is a difference between the various types of tone woods when it comes to the guanzi. What is more important is the quality of the reeds. As I understand it, if you get several reeds only one may be useable.

Can you play the oboe? A friend has the rosewood one from Datung Arts, I tried it and it wasn't as difficult as he claimed. Instead of blowing it like a recorder with your lips outside of your teeth you need to pucker your lips inside your teeth.

Hope this helps.

Ed

[chartrekhan]

Thanks davidmdahl and edcat, I messaged Datung through their eBay page and they said both instruments were the same, other than colour. Apparently the rosewood is actually black sandalwood? The increased price of the black sandalwood must be because of more expensive would I guess.

Edit: I just got this response which is far more detailed:

off course, the rosewood or black sandalwood has better sound than the red sandalwood. If the guanzi made of Indian red sandalwood, it would be better than Vietnam or Indonesian red sandalwood. The red sandalwood guanzi is made of African red sandalwood.

Very interesting