Erhu soundbox... and Chinese writing meaning.

[albertogmtz]

Hi guys, I recently purchased an old erhu soundbox as a project in order to make it functional again.

The soundbox looks very old and I think will be the perfect way to learn how to reskin a soundbox.

Also the soundbox itself is smaller than a regular erhu.. what kind of erhu is this? It came with a stamp in chinese but Google translate misses the bottom characters. There is someone in this forum that can translate it?

Pictures are uploaded on the following link:
photos.app.goo.gl/WyBFvn25ew6vpaJc9

Thanks!!

[d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid]

The stamp says:
"福玉華樂器號
臺灣省臺北市
延平北路二段124號"
Fu Yuhua Musical Instruments
Taipei, Taiwan
No. 124, Section 2, Yanping North Road

It is all contact information for the instrument. I think the company is discontinued...

The huqin you carry might be a jing erhu?, used to accompany the jinghu in traditional Beijing opera bands...

[d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid]

also redmusicshop sells synthetic leather(no CITES certificate stuff), for erhu and jing erhu, if you are in need for new skin...there are also others on eBay

www.redmusicshop.com/Accessories/Others/Synthetic%20Leather%20for%20Jing%20Erhu,%20Ping%20Erhu

[albertogmtz]

Aug 16, 2018 5:56:51 GMT d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid said:

also redmusicshop sells synthetic leather(no CITES certificate stuff), for erhu and jing erhu, if you are in need for new skin...there are also others on eBay

www.redmusicshop.com/Accessories/Others/Synthetic%20Leather%20for%20Jing%20Erhu,%20Ping%20Erhu

Thanks for the fast reply. Yes I think that I will start with synthetic skin with this jing erhu. For the price 8 usd, there is almost nothing to lose.

[d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid]

Aug 17, 2018 6:10:18 GMT albertogmtz said:

Aug 16, 2018 5:56:51 GMT d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid said:

also redmusicshop sells synthetic leather(no CITES certificate stuff), for erhu and jing erhu, if you are in need for new skin...there are also others on eBay

www.redmusicshop.com/Accessories/Others/Synthetic%20Leather%20for%20Jing%20Erhu,%20Ping%20Erhu

Thanks for the fast reply. Yes I think that I will start with synthetic skin with this jing erhu. For the price 8 usd, there is almost nothing to lose.

ur welcome

also keep in mind the dimensions of the skin mentioned in the site to make sure it fits

[paulv]

Here's a YouTube link that shows a master jinghu maker -- this should give you some idea of replacing the skin (real or synthetic) on a resonator box.

Gook luck, and please post how your project came out. Thx.

Master Jinghu Maker

Regards,

paul...

[d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid]

Aug 20, 2018 13:43:23 GMT paulv said:

Here's a YouTube link that shows a master jinghu maker -- this should give you some idea of replacing the skin (real or synthetic) on a resonator box.

Gook luck, and please post how your project came out. Thx.

Master Jinghu Maker

Regards,

paul...

In addition, there's this video on how to assemble the rest of the instrument, as well as the skinning

youtube.com/watch?v=NLSW9lnybvg

Edit: bamboogroveorientalmusic.blogspot.com/2014/04/erhu-making-how-not-to-make-erhu.html?m=1

This link points out everything wrong with this video. Apologies

[paulv]

David,

Thx for posting that video -- it will be helpful for people who are willing to attempt skin replacement.

Regards,

paul...

[jones]

Aug 17, 2018 6:10:18 GMT albertogmtz said:

Aug 16, 2018 5:56:51 GMT d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid said:

also redmusicshop sells synthetic leather(no CITES certificate stuff), for erhu and jing erhu, if you are in need for new skin...there are also others on eBay

www.redmusicshop.com/Accessories/Others/Synthetic%20Leather%20for%20Jing%20Erhu,%20Ping%20Erhu

Thanks for the fast reply. Yes I think that I will start with synthetic skin with this jing erhu. For the price 8 usd, there is almost nothing to lose.

Have you already tried to reskin the erhu with the sythetic skin? And if you did, could you explain how you did it? I've ordered one of those synthetic skins but it is not flexible at all (it feels like a sheet of plastic) so I wonder how to put it on the box and if the skin maybe needs some kind of preparation. I'd appreciate if you or anybody else could share their experiences with synthetic skins.

Cheers

[d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid]

Dec 29, 2018 13:14:53 GMT jones said:

Aug 17, 2018 6:10:18 GMT albertogmtz said:

Thanks for the fast reply. Yes I think that I will start with synthetic skin with this jing erhu. For the price 8 usd, there is almost nothing to lose.

Have you already tried to reskin the erhu with the sythetic skin? And if you did, could you explain how you did it? I've ordered one of those synthetic skins but it is not flexible at all (it feels like a sheet of plastic) so I wonder how to put it on the box and if the skin maybe needs some kind of preparation. I'd appreciate if you or anybody else could share their experiences with synthetic skins.

Cheers

youtu.be/_olrsPx8Y64

please check out this video on reskinning a jinghu (another huqin)
I think u have to make cuts before applying the skin

[jones]

Dec 29, 2018 17:43:56 GMT d̗̰̗͆͘ǎ͔̱͈̰̬̫ͨ̌ͮͥ͗ͭ̕vid said:

Dec 29, 2018 13:14:53 GMT jones said:

Have you already tried to reskin the erhu with the sythetic skin? And if you did, could you explain how you did it? I've ordered one of those synthetic skins but it is not flexible at all (it feels like a sheet of plastic) so I wonder how to put it on the box and if the skin maybe needs some kind of preparation. I'd appreciate if you or anybody else could share their experiences with synthetic skins.

Cheers

youtu.be/_olrsPx8Y64

please check out this video on reskinning a jinghu (another huqin)
I think u have to make cuts before applying the skin

Thank you very much, David. That helps quite a lot. Bad thing is, I don't understand Chinese. As far as I can see it, the metal ring is attached above the cable strap. In the press, the ring is pressed down on the cable strap, which puts the tension on the membrane. Can you, or somebody else, tell me if I'm on the right track?

By the way, if anybody can provide some more links on building and/or repairing erhus I'd be very thankfull.

Thanks again

Cheers