Longfeng guqin

[carol]

I just found out now you can order Longfeng's guqin directly from factory website.

It's a great news for people who want a descent playable guqin in low price.

www.yzlongfeng.com/4.htmz

[Si]

how are these long feng gu qins quality wise, all the shops sell them here in China.

I got mine from some gu qin maker in Jiang su.

[carol]

I think Long Fengs are really good quality factory-made guqins, probably the best factory mades. It probably can't be compared to the qins made by famous makers, but considering the price, it's very descent.

[Charlie Huang]

Longfeng qins are adequate for around three years, then afterwards you'll want a better one.

[Si]

Will people want a new qin because their skill will demand it, or is it cos the cheaper qins get damaged?

[Charlie Huang]

You will want a new qin cos your skill will surpass the capabilities of your first qin.

[calden]

Syburn; CCC:

I went to that longfeng site, and navigated around a bit. I guess my website Chinese isn't as good as I thought - I couldn't find a price for any of the models. Just how much is a bottom-of-the-line entry level qin from this place? Syburn - would you consider helping me buy one there in Shanghai and shipping it to the US?

Just wondering - it's not like I have tune to take on another instrument - but I've always been entranced by the guqin. In studying Chinese, I often watch movies to pick up more stuff and increase my tingli - I again watched "Hero" the other day and - again - was entranced by that great fight scene with the old guy doing guqin.

Carlos

[davidmdahl]

Hello Carlos,

I have been long intrigued by the guqin as well. There is even a teacher in Portland by the name of Jim Binkley, or at least he is so listed by the North American Guqin Assoc. Unfortunately, like you I am already juggling a lot of instruments and other responsibilities.

Best wishes,

David

[Charlie Huang]

I know Jim Binkley! He'll definately teach you if he had the time.

[carol]

I'm going to Shanghai next week, and Long Feng will be one of my stop. It looks like they don't really make guzhengs now, only a few models left.

My old LongFeng guqin sounded ok until I put my hands on the Zheng Chengwei's. I guess there is a big difference between one that's factory-made and one that's hand crafted by master.

[calden]

So! Now I'm REALLY interested in an entry level guqin. What IS the going price for one of these longfeng qins? And how much would shipping be to the US?

Carlos
Oh well, it's better than being addicted to drugs.

[Si]

Well when I was looking for my Qin, I walked down the main music shop road in Shanghai and all are Longfeng brand. Starting price was about 2500rmb, with some at 2800rmb, then a jump to 3000 odd rmb, then 4000 something, then 7000 smething.

I bought mine for 3500rmb at a specialist gu qin shop out side the shanghai conservatory (10 fen yang road). At this shop they have up to 10,000rmb qins on display and the totally clear audible difference between mine and their best one is shocking. I was seriously thinking of splashing out and buying the better ones as the sound was so deep and mellow. They do not sell Longfeng brands - all there qins are made by this bloke in Jiang su Province.

So for about 1000rmb more you can get what I have and as CCC says, it will be OK till your skill improves.

I can try to look into posting you one, but I hate to think how much it will cost and I would actually have to buy it first and take in to the post office - oh man I can imagine the scene now.......

I will ask the specialist shop if they do delivery - i think they do.

Carol - do try to get down to the shop I mentioned above. They sell qin pu's, lots of cd's (ROI label) and the owner will make chinese tea while you browse.

On Saturdays they have alot of people coming and going and playing qin.

Simon

[carol]

Hi Simon:

I think I went to that shop before. It's a small qin shop that you can by pass so easily.
I didn't seriously try the qins there though, since my eyes are always more on the guzheng, and by the time I got to that shop, both my hands were carrying tons of books and CDs from previous stores already.

I'll check the qins out this time.

[calden]

syburn:

Thanks for the information. When I lived in China 20 years ago and visited Shanghai, my wife and I stayed at the Music Conservatory for a week in the summer. I remember a couple of great music shops right in front of the place. Probably the same place! At that time I was only interested in pipa, and managed to buy a used one from a teacher there.

Then, four years ago, I took my family (kids this time) to China, and remember a music-shop street, running east and west, extending west from the area of the Peace Hotel. Not Nanjing lu - I'd have to look at the map to get the name. It was about three or four blocks of music stores, many of which were strictly trad instruments.

I remember also that to ship something to the US I had to go mail it myself, and the shop couldn't do it, but could come and help me do it - something about the owner having to do the paperwork. Next time you go in, I'd appreciate it if you could find out details on buying and shipping and customs stuff on one of the entry level instruments. It might not be cost-effective to do it - it might actually be more efficient and cheaper to buy from somewhere here, but I don't think so!!

Anyway, if you could get that info at your convenience, I'd certainly be willing to compensate you well for your time and efforts if you were able to help get me something at a bargain rate. Those prices, at today's currency exchange rate, are screamingly good for a decent entry-level instrument. Again, syburn, all this is at your convenience, and any information you can get would be greatly appreciated. And if you find that you just don't have time, that's fine, too. Maybe wanting to buy a guqin will be the impetus for me to get my butt back to Shanhai for a visit and some hard-core erhu lessons.

I've already incorporated erhu into traditional American and Celtic music. Why not guqin?

Carlos

[carol]

Hi Carlos:

I think it's called Jin Ling Rd. A few streets south of Nanjing Rd. The price there are more competitive, and you can always bargain at least 30% off the tag price. However, the guzhengs I've seen on Jin Ling Rd. are all basic models. Even the intermediate level guzhengs are hardly seen there.

I've been using some Chinese express carriers based in U.S. They actually can go pick up the instrument at the store in China, prepare all the paper work, and deliver to your house. The rates are really competitive, only about half of what FedEx or UPS would charge.

Carol

[Si]

Yeah, Jin Ling lu. Hardly any shops sell qin there though as qin even in china seems a minority interest.

I think things are alot easier to ship from china these days.

I would try to try some of these Long feng qins in USA first. Try to compare with a special made one. I dont know much about it, but from trying all the qins in my price range in one shop, I was stunned by the difference in each instrument.

They have lovely Er hu's also - I would plan your next holiday to China and maybe even visit giu lin which is really close to the long feng area, where they make the qins.

[carol]

Hi Syburn:

Yesterday, I visited the guqin shop you were talking about. Their guqins are nice. I heard some of those are from a Beijing maker and some are from a Jiangsu maker. The 12000 yuan one I checked has an ancient tone in it and has an overall smooth quality. I like it. The only thing I would complain is that the volume is too small.

I also saw some Long Feng's guqins. They are actually really good buy. The quality has improved a lot from my earlier Long Feng guqin.

[Si]

Carol,

Do they sell Longfeng at that shop?

Do you think the quality is OK then from this small shop - its the only speciallist shop I know off so cant really compare.

I must have just missed you then cos I was in there yeaterday too, haha

[carol]

Hi Syburn:

I got the luxry of sitting in that store again yesterday while I was waiting to go to my guzheng lesson. I enjoyed an old teacher playing there for a whole hour. I think the quality there is excellent!! Both teacher and instrument.
The young owner was really nice and made tea for us.

They don't have Long Feng guqins there. There are some LFs in the shop next door, the Parson Instruments. Actually, I saw a whole lot of guqins in Long Feng factory, and the quality is pretty descent.

[Si]

Hi Carol,

Did you take any pics in the factory - i thought it would be interesting to see how they make them.

Where is the factory - near shanghai?

[carol]

So sad, I forgot to bring my camera.

Long Feng is in Yangzhou, about 4-5 hours from Shanghai. It's an old city and there are lots of sightseeing. It's really nice to have a weekend trip over there.

[Si]

Just interested to know how much did you pay for the ferry down the river from Gui lin?

The travel agent told me it was 100USD!!!!

Are there many other factories making Gu Qin there too?