Questions Regarding the Personalization of an Erhu

[naicha]

Hello! I've really liked erhus for a few years now. I recently got an erhu (but the next available class cycle is later this year) and I've been wondering for a while now about personalizing an erhu. I've seen a girl online who has a pink erhu with dampers that I'm pretty sure she made herself. Is it ok to paint my own erhu, or should I commission one later on? Can dampers be made with felt & stuffing, or should it just be felt? and how thick should dampers be? Sorry for not knowing anything, please help me if you could!

Thanks in advance, and thank you for bothering to read this.

Maxine

[davidmdahl]

Welcome to the forum, Maxine. I prefer the look of natural wood, so I would not much in favor of painting an erhu. If you don't do it correctly, the results might not be what you hope for. The existing finish will need to be stripped or the new paint will not stick properly. You will need to remove the strings and carefully cover the snake skin. I don't recommend painting the pegs, or getting anything in the peg holes. I would be very concerned with the feel of the paint on the neck, where you move your left hand around the positions while fingering notes. If the paint is tacky at all, it will make moving your hand around a challenge. Certainly don't do this on a good instrument.

I believe that I saw erhus in various colors in a music store in San Francisco. If you want a colored erhu, then I highly suggest getting one already done up like you want. Another option is finding some fun stickers to put on the resonator. That way, you will not do anything that could not be undone.

I am not sure what you mean by dampers.

Best wishes,

David

[naicha]

Thank you so much for your information! Recently, I have seen people referring to the cloth/foam you put under the bridge as a damper.

[gustyvbc]

Naicha, regarding the dampener, you may be able to find a dense felt that is patterned or a fun color. My erhu came with bright green felt (though I would prefer black). You could try making a little stuffed pillow with pretty fabric, and playing around with the thickness and density, just make sure you're getting the same sound as with the regular damper.

Another option is, when you want to purchase a new erhu, eco erhu, made from synthetic skin, can be customized to any image you like. My erhu skin looks like my display picture.