My first Erhu?

[melmoth]

Hi all,

I have recently decided to commit to buying an Erhu, I love the sound of the instrument and I'm already playing violin so hopefully some of my experience of playing a bowed instrument will translate to the Erhu.

Of course I'm completely new to Erhu and Chinese instruments so feel a bit lost as my background is in bass guitar and violin.

Having done an internet search I have come up with this instrument...https://www.hobgoblin.com/local/sales/products/GR36023/atlas-erhu-high-quality/#AvailabilityLink

I can see they do a cheaper budget model but from previous experience of buying beginner/budget instruments they are usually harder to play and take away the enjoyment of learning an instrument so I am prepared to pay more for a decent instrument.

What are your thoughts of the instrument in the link above, do you have any other recommendations?

Thanks!

[edcat7]

Hi Melmoth and welcome.

I had a quick look at the link and it looks ok to me. Although it says free delivery, try to play it in person first. There are better erhus, Eason in Singapore for example, but postage and customs tax will bump up the cost.

Even though you play the violin it would be a good idea to have a couple of lessons with an erhu teacher to get you started and help you understand Chinese notation or jianpo.

btw. Where are you in the UK? I might be persuaded to part with either my ebony Man Rui Xing or my sandalwood Lu Lin Sheng.

Best wishes,

Ed

[melmoth]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the response, I will gladly do some more investigation into different brands, I've just done a quick Google search and came up with this site so assume it is the same Eason you were referring too?

www.easonmusicstore.com


Also I'm in Gloucestershire, I assume Man Rui Sing and Lu Lin Sheng are two different types of Erhu's?

Thanks

[edcat7]

Yes that's the site. Pity Gloucestershire is too far away from London. MRX and LLS are two acclaimed erhu makers but sadly MRX is no longer here. Investigate YKM, another forum member had just got one and it looks wonderful.

[hhxevo]

I just bought my erhu from Eason and very happy about it.

Too bad I cannot go to Eason by myself, so I asked my friend who travel to S'pore during new year holiday to carry it for me.

Sung Wah the owner and also this forum member is very responsive and he gave an excellent service, he deliver the erhu to my friend's hotel and deliver the extra qianjin several days after to another hotel since my friend moved from the hotel before.

You can see the said erhu in my post.

[melmoth]

Thanks for the replies again!

I've had a look at the Eason website and the YKM erhu's were the ones that caught my interest.

hhxevo - I had a look at your thread and saw you went with the YKM3, is that the same one listed at this link... www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Concert-Grade-Premium-Aged-Rosewood(III)-Erhu-by-YKM/14

[edcat7]

Jan 22, 2017 12:04:22 GMT melmoth said:

Thanks for the replies again!

I've had a look at the Eason website and the YKM erhu's were the ones that caught my interest.

hhxevo - I had a look at your thread and saw you went with the YKM3, is that the same one listed at this link... www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Concert-Grade-Premium-Aged-Rosewood(III)-Erhu-by-YKM/14

That looks like the same one. Since I've been on this forum (5/6 years) the cost of musical instruments at Eason have steadily increased. My Ming Qin rosewood HHR has increased by $400 in the last two years.

There are other ways to buy musical instruments, like direct from China using Alibaba; but what you're getting from Eason is peace of mind and a guaranteed instrument.

[melmoth]

Yeah, admittedly that Erhu is a couple of hundred more than I was planning on spending but I really want to start out with a quality instrument so I am prepared to pay for it. It was only the month I paid just under £700 for a new Yamaha violin - it's been an expensive year for me so far!

I'm going to put some money aside over the next couple of pay checks so I don't clear myself out too much in one month, I've had a look at shipping costs on Eason so have taken that into account as well. There is an option to ship in a card box box - how is it packaged otherwise?

I have looked at other places to buy Erhu's from but after reading all the positive comments about Eason on this forum in regards to previous transactions I would feel safer buying from there.

[edcat7]

Also the weakness of the Pound makes buying abroad more expensive.

[hhxevo]

Jan 22, 2017 12:04:22 GMT melmoth said:

Thanks for the replies again!

I've had a look at the Eason website and the YKM erhu's were the ones that caught my interest.

hhxevo - I had a look at your thread and saw you went with the YKM3, is that the same one listed at this link... www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Concert-Grade-Premium-Aged-Rosewood(III)-Erhu-by-YKM/14

Yes, it is YKM3, but you have to note that there is no YKM marking on the sound box as he one in the picture, Sung Wah told me that the new YKM erhus have no marking even for the usd1000s. But SW offered to issue a certificate from YKM himself. Good luck with your search for new erhu.

[hhxevo]

Jan 22, 2017 14:55:46 GMT edcat7 said:

Jan 22, 2017 12:04:22 GMT melmoth said:

Thanks for the replies again!

I've had a look at the Eason website and the YKM erhu's were the ones that caught my interest.

hhxevo - I had a look at your thread and saw you went with the YKM3, is that the same one listed at this link... www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Concert-Grade-Premium-Aged-Rosewood(III)-Erhu-by-YKM/14

That looks like the same one. Since I've been on this forum (5/6 years) the cost of musical instruments at Eason have steadily increased. My Ming Qin rosewood HHR has increased by $400 in the last two years.

There are other ways to buy musical instruments, like direct from China using Alibaba; but what you're getting from Eason is peace of mind and a guaranteed instrument.

$400 is huge! Must be due to the scarcity of the materials.