reputable sites for buying student erhu

[calden]

Hey all:

I've searched the forum and despite my memory of there being references, I can't seem to find a good general reference for internet stores selling decent beginner erhus.

I know that Cadenza is one, and I can think of several others.

I'm helping a friend buy a beginner instrument (I suggested around US$200) and in recommending different places she look I'd like a comprehensive list.

Request: please post here those internet sites you have had good experiences with. I'm not looking for cheapest, but rather honest and reputable places that give good value for the money.

Also - if you have had a BAD experience I'd like to hear about that, too, and if you feel more comfortable you can email me privately. It's not my intention to slag any company here, just get good info.

Thanks, and keep sawing away,
Carlos

[davidmdahl]

The only Internet source I have purchased erhus from was Cadenza, and that was an excellent experience. I know of other sources, but have not actually ordered from them. If browsing experience counts, I can recommend "The Chinese Arts & Music Center" in San Francisco. They have a web site (www.baymusic.net) but are not really set up to take orders from it. I think it would be best to make your own selection, although it might be worth calling and asking for someone knowledgeable to make a selection given a price range.

Best wishes,

David

[calden]

Thanks, David. That site was included among my recommendations. I'm also asking so other readers can get some idea of good sites.

I know that with something as unique as an erhu there would be lots of people simply navigating their innocent way to eBay and spend more money than they need on something that sounds like when I step on my cat's tail. At the very least a brand new player needs something that's set up well, with the felt in the right place, etc. I know someone who was having a hard time getting good sound from his erhu, so he brought it over. The bridge wasn't even yet installed, and the bow had no rosin on it, among other violations of nature. When I did some initial set-up he was amazed that it could sound so good, even with him, a new player, trying it out. That is the LEAST I expect from a reputable company, even with an entry-level instrument, and that's not what a lot of people get, especially like those of us who do not live near a store who can do this for them.

Carlos

[davidmdahl]

Yes, set-up of an erhu is critical. Even an outstanding erhu can sound really bad if a lot is not set up and adjusted properly. Even something so simple as the felt under the strings is critical to a good sound.

The problem with retailers is that not many of them understand how to set up an erhu. Even with a good shop you would need to be lucky enough to be helped by the "one" who knows. I think it is pretty common for a new bow to come without rosin on it, and a new erhu is likely to come with such a bow.

Ebay is a very risky place for the inexperienced to buy an instrument, although it is possible to get a bargain. The false, misleading, or irrelevant information in many Ebay ads is probably less to do with lack of scruples than with ignorance and apathy (I don't know and I don't care), but the effect is about the same on the unfortunate. I shudder when I see the ads showing a lady posing with an erhu who apparently knows nothing about holding it or the bow correctly.

I have seen erhu-like instruments being offered for sale with nylon strings. How awful is that? I suppose if a musician survives the first erhu purchase with enthusiasm intact, there is enough of an education to learn what is important for the upgrade. <g>

Best wishes,

David

[Charlie Huang]

davidmdahl said:

I shudder when I see the ads showing a lady posing with an erhu who apparently knows nothing about holding it or the bow correctly.

I saw that! I was thinking "can't be bothered to do your research, what does that tell us about your so-called knowledge and expertise of said instrument..." They even hold the pipa improperly, like some guitar...

[Charlie Huang]

Evidence:

[Exhibit A]


[Exhibit B]

[calden]

Thanks for posting those pics. I also thought of that shot as well. It's a miracle she didn't have it held up to her chin! (But it would have been more of a hoot.)

I can almost read her mind....
"Geez, no wonder this errr-ho thing sounds so whiny. They make it so you can't even play it right!"

Carlos

[paulv]

I saw that pix of the girl with an erhu on eBay a few of months ago, and I'm still laughing.

Regards,
Paul Valente

[carol]

hahaha, that's so funny! And she is playing pipa like a guitar.

[paulv]

Charlie's right -- when pictures like those are shown, it does raise a question about the quality/integrity of the seller and instruments.

The pipa pix is funny enough, but at least the person could get a sound out of it. The erhu...... that's another story!

At least the photos are well lighted with a nice flat-white background (any photo experts out there?) and shadows.

I thought about sending that seller an email asking if she had a guzheng for sale -- would have loved to seen that pix. She probably would have had the guzheng standing on end and playing it like a string bass!!

OK, that's enough thrashing -- I've been having a lousy day at work today and looking to take out my frustrations on something/someone.

Regards,
Paul...

[Charlie Huang]

After a tip off, look at what I found:

Evidence:

[Exhibit C]

[adriano]

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhrhrhrhrhrgrrrhh...!

My very beloved erhu experts, I don't even dare to say that I actually ordered the above erhu and THAT TODAY IT JUST ARRIVED AT MY HOME... Well, being a complete beginner in erhu (though rather experienced on classical guitar), I must admit that I didn't know at all what to look for. If only I had found this site earlier / or done some more research previously... But I was soo greedy to try that heartbreakingly sweet instrument, that I just wanted to have one, a cheap one - just for getting an idea.

Well, I must say I paid USD 135.- to Cain Trader caintrader.com/ (Denver, Colorado) via Ebay. I asked the shop some crucial questions e.g. what wood it is made of, if there is a bridge (as on the pictures none is discernible), what the skin is made of (for ecological reasons I don't like the skins from endangered species. The instrument trader Cadenza has its snakes farmed, apparently though) etc. Well, they only answered that it has a bridge, leaving the rest open.

Nevertheless I bought that cheap piece. What I noticed:
1) The bow's hair is black. Apparently black horse hair is different in texture than white horse hair, and black hair is the poorer quality.
2) The skin is plastic. Well, I'm not that unhappy with it (as I said for caring about endangered species), but it's definitely cheap!
3) There is a lot of plastic on this instrument: the rear of the "drum" (how do you call the resonator box properly?) is plastic, the tuners are plastic, the ornaments are plastic, and - I don't like that the most - the "anti-friction cover shield" on the edge of the resonater box where the bow fiddles is plastic (with horrible jigsaw tooths where it was cut back to fit the size)
4) The tone: Hm, I can't say anything at all, as I lack the experience. It's certainly not mellow. But after having read on this forum that I have to tune it to D4 and A4, the sound got enormously better (I WAS 1 OCTAVE BELOW, originally) and it even pleased me.
5) There is quite a difference in sound between the thicker (inner) string and the thinner (outer) string, in all positions.
6) The dynamic range of the instrument is somewhat poor. I think I only can play forte, no piani or pianissimi, and no fortissimo.

Well, seems to be really the CHEAP thing I originally wanted to try. But, as our very wise man Carlos has already pointed out: Also the beginner is very much worth a decent instrument, for it's especially her/him who should get the chance of modulating the sound so that she can control.

But after all, this "fake" instrument could not tear me down: I cannot stop fiddling, I'm rather addicted. To me, being a guitarist and singer, it's so much an expansion: so dynamic, so endless in "breath", so many colors.

So, this was a long text. Thank you for reading down to here.
I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN GOOD INTERNET SITES FOR ORDERING GOOD QUALITY ERHUS TOO, AS I LIVE IN SWITZERLAND, ITS BIGGEST CITY ZURICH HAVING ONLY 500'000 INHABITANTS AND NOT ONE ERHU IN ITS TWO INSTRUMENT SHOPS.
And I don't go to China neither in the foreseeable future.

Love to everyone and everything

Adriano

[davidmdahl]

Welcome, Adriano! It is great to add another erhu enthusiast to our group.

I think that you have managed to get off pretty cheap. Consider that your new erhu is a testing-of-the-waters. You will have the opportunity to get your feet wet and consider what to look for next time. I am repeating myself from an earlier post, but you might consider upgrading the bow, strings, and bridge for now, if you think that the instrument is basically sound. This is actually the route I took.

Way back in November or so of 2004 I purchased some Vietnamese two string fiddles from a Hanoi musician interested in lightening his load before returning home at the conclusion of a USA tour. It turned out that the instruments are not very good, but they were good enough to get me hooked, especially after the upgrades I recommended above. I ordered a truly outstanding erhu from Cadenza and have been having great fun ever since. The funny thing is that a good erhu does not cost that much more than one better suited for firewood.

I recommend www.cadenzamusic.biz

Best wishes,

David

[wfranklin]

Im a complete noob to the erhu (i just started last week in a chinese music ensemble course at my school) and I need an erhu for myself to practice. nothing fancy but i do need a solid instrument. you guys have said that cadenzamusic.biz is a reputable site and i see a variety of erhu's there, but i need to know which one is a good buy for me. How does this one rank? www.cadenzamusic.biz/sw_eh4.htm is it worth the money? what are the concerns i should have in purchasing this sort of thing? there's also one seeling for $98, how is that one? there are many other models on the site too, which one is the best value and why?

[YouLanFengChune]

Hi!

The erhu u see is an OK version for beginners. Nevertheless, i will not be surprsed if you come for an upgrade within 6 months. It is because, being mde as an entry level erhu by Dunhuang, it does not put 2 things into mind.
1) tonal aesthetics.- beauty of sound
2) string resistance - every solid performer's erhu must be strong enough to resist punishment

I recommend the hangzhou series or i have 1 more series on hand, which is not online yet. It is made of high quality Aged Redwood, but made in Singapore, supervised by Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Master. It comes with a money back warranty. It costs only $320 without shipping.

The $98 is a gaohu.

[maaltan]

Why you are at cadenza, pickup a few extra strings... Otherwise you might find yourself playing with dental floss waiting for a replacement (leave me alone, it works for ok for fingering exercises in a jam, it does mess your bowing technique up pretty bad though).

[YouLanFengChune]

Haha... Maaltan is one who really tried everything (almost) i said abt the erhu.

For some reasons, some PEOPLE actually told me to raise the price of strings on my site. Well, I already make a reasonable profit, and the prices i sell to everyone is uniform, unless bulk discounts. So there!

[wfranklin]

youlanfengchune said:

Hi!

The erhu u see is an OK version for beginners. Nevertheless, i will not be surprsed if you come for an upgrade within 6 months. It is because, being mde as an entry level erhu by Dunhuang, it does not put 2 things into mind.
1) tonal aesthetics.- beauty of sound
2) string resistance - every solid performer's erhu must be strong enough to resist punishment

I recommend the hangzhou series or i have 1 more series on hand, which is not online yet. It is made of high quality Aged Redwood, but made in Singapore, supervised by Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Master. It comes with a money back warranty. It costs only $320 without shipping.

The $98 is a gaohu.

thanks for the info. im probably gonna buy the one i asked about and save to get a better one later. i need to get started on practicing asap. but where can i get a hangzhou series erhu for $320? There are some listed on cadenza that are more expensive. i'll also ask my teacher, he would definitely know where to get ahold of a good erhu for cheap.

[YouLanFengChune]

The Hangzhou series for $320 will be online tmr as 10/14 are going to canada bought wholesale by a retailer.

If you ever see a similar erhu exceeding the price, please let me know as I personnally control prices of my instruments.