Erhu Quality vs. Price

[gtbehary]

I was in the violin trade for many years and finally got to retire the business due to Covid. Not by choice, but it was time. I was always interested in the erhu and actually have two of them that on a rare occasion, would bring out and squawk a few tunes on. Just as I used to tell prospective violin customers to buy the best instrument that they could afford, I am thinking of a professional grade erhu. I went on Eason music’s site and with all the crazy discounts, they don’t seem to sell an instrument over $100.00 US. Some instruments, including professional grade, are discounted 85%. Are they truly professional grade or is this a come on? Should I be looking else where?
Thanks in advance

[edcat7]

Hello gtbehary,

Welcome back after a long hiatus. I don't understand you, I've just looked at Eason's site and there is no sale. If there is one I'd like you to post the link so I can get something.

Since you were in the violin trade for many years I'm assuming you can play the violin. Your advice to prospective violin customers about buying the best they afford is the same what I would give but with one proviso:

Get tuition first, face to face would be ideal but on-line is ok. I would never dream of buying a violin and then teaching myself but there are many who think they can teach themselves a Chinese musical instrument.

For those who already play the violin getting the best erhu possible makes sense as the transition from violin to erhu is not difficult. There's a fine erhu player on YT who I'm sure is already an accomplished violinist.

Having tuition is a major motivator for me. My dizi teacher had been on two weeks holiday and now he's having a month's break because of work pressures. I've hardly touched my dizi in that time but have instead concentrated on my erhu ( erhu teacher: "Practise, practise, practise!!!")

If I was a professional brands I would consider that are available on-line are Lu Lin Sheng (5* and above) Yu Kai Ming and Hu Han Ru.

My erhu teacher doesn't know what erhus I play but she much prefers my HHR to my 4* LLS.

Best wishes,

Ed

[gtbehary]

Hello Ed
I think maybe the site I was going to is not Eason's real site. I may not have typed it in correctly.
Here is where I am going:
www.eason-music.com/bowed/erhu/
It is showing instruments at 85% discount. It looks like a scam sote took it over.
I want to buy an erquan erhu but want to make sure I am dealing with Eason and not a scammer.
regards
george

[gtbehary]

I am pretty much playing by ear now. I am not sure how to find a local erhu teacher and after covid it seems as if violin teachers are hard to come by. I am in South Florida (Palm Beach)

[gtbehary]

I found the “real” Eason website. Why can’t the fake site be removed. I knew something was wrong when I saw the extremely low prices. Enough of my rant. Now to look for a teacher in South Florida that is willing to take on an old man.

[edcat7]

Yesterday I spoke to Sung Wah, owner of Eason and he's well aware of the scam website. He has complained to the police and it seems they're powerless in removing the website.

Shouldn't most people now know that if it's too good to be true it should be avoided.

As regards getting an erquan erhu, I wouldn't unless you're ready to play Erquan Yingyue. I bought a modestly priced one and it's dimensions were exactly the same as my other erhus! Also it isn't very responsive and so haven't touched my in over a decade.

An alternative would be stringing up a spare erhu with erquan strings.

Ed

[lightningduck]

Aug 15, 2023 23:45:47 GMT edcat7 said:

I would never dream of buying a violin and then teaching myself but there are many who think they can teach themselves a Chinese musical instrument.

I would be one. I've played bass guitar for over 3 decades and started on acoustic guitar before that so it's been pretty natural to transfer the skills across.  I cheated a bit though as the small and big Sanxian are traditionally tuned ADa and GCg respectively, I tune them all fourths like my bass and a traditional western guitar (ADg and GCf) so all my scales and patterns and such still work from muscle memory. I had to switch to a pick because of the string spacing, hence why the guitar experience helps, too 

There's a lot of mechanical adjustments to make of the physical differences, but first day out of the box and tuned up, I could play scales, melodies, warm up exercises, etc... (note: superficially, the Large sanxian looks like a three string fretless Chinese bass, but it doesn't play a bass role in Chinese music, but I play six string bass and can solo like a sax player so I can use the sanxian as a melody and solo instrument)

I've done a bunch of rehearsals and a few live performances with a local traditional Chinese music ensemble and they like it; also a bunch of personal recording projects (an American jazz tune with sanxian, a modern pop/rock progressive original with multiple sanxian melodies and solos, a very traditional styled cover of an Erhu original and now I'm trying to create a Chinese styled rendition of a Tchaikovsky peace)

I don't think it would work for most, though...I watch a few players on YT to study physical techniques and listen to Chinese melodies, but I really don't need a tutor in how to make music on this new instruments

For those who already play the violin getting the best erhu possible makes sense as the transition from violin to erhu is not difficult. 

Yeah, hence all the above. The musical execution transition from bass guitar to sanxian was smooth though I had to learn to adjust to physical, mechanical difference

There's a fine erhu player on YT who I'm sure is already an accomplished violinist.

Jia Peng Fang?  He's a master Erhu player and I did a cover of "Silent Moon" on Sanxians, but he's an established Chinese musician who happens to have his material on YT so maybe not who you are thinking