Guqins from Szechuan

[guzhenglover]

Hi

Just wondering if guqins made by famous Szechuan mastermakers are ever fitted with one those tuning devices at the back of the instrument, and/or whether all Szechuan (shu) guqins esp. by masters all come with their signature stamp/chop inscribed at the back?

Thanks - GZL

[Charlie Huang]

Erm, I think it is a matter of asking. Either they do or they don't.

For they tuning device, I know ZCW fits them on his qins.

As for makers seals, some do some don't (ZCW doesn't, his inscription inside the qin is all that is needed). You'll have to ask.

[guzhenglover]

When you say "inside the qin", do you mean in the belly of the qin hidden from view?

The tuning pegs on this qin that I looked at are quite well built and sturdy; however the problem is that the space between the pegs are not equidistant i.e. they are set up as 2 X 3 X 2. This seems deliberate rather than a sign of poor craftsmanship. If you turn the qin back to its normal position, the space between the 7 strings from the tuning bridge are equidistant.

Does ZCW make his qin pegs like this?

Sept 26, 2008 3:35:49 GMT guzhenglover said:

Hi

Just wondering if guqins made by famous Szechuan mastermakers are ever fitted with one those tuning devices at the back of the instrument, and/or whether all Szechuan (shu) guqins esp. by masters all come with their signature stamp/chop inscribed at the back?

Thanks - GZL

[Charlie Huang]

I think he buys them off someone.

The pegs should be set alternating, four one side, three the other equally spaced in zigzag or however you describe it. Either way, the placement odf the pegs won't have any effect on the sound. The peg box must be securely fitted to the goose feet however. My one has a very thick wire/rod in a shape of a triange that hooks onto both feet. Some other devices use a block of wood at the end of the box to hook both feet.

[charliecharlieecho]

Sept 26, 2008 3:35:49 GMT guzhenglover said:

Hi

Just wondering if guqins made by famous Szechuan mastermakers are ever fitted with one those tuning devices at the back of the instrument, and/or whether all Szechuan (shu) guqins esp. by masters all come with their signature stamp/chop inscribed at the back?

Thanks - GZL

People in Shanghai once told me that for a qin maker to give any indication of his/her identity on the outside of a qin is considered to be vulgar or, as we say in the UK, 'common'. Makers' names should be inside the qin and readable through the larger sound hole.

[Charlie Huang]

A point of advice.

I would avoid/get rid off the tuning device as it is really better to know how to string traditionally. Plus, it sounds better without (and this is from personal experience).