The python skin of the erhu is an important part of vibration and sound. In order for the erhu to emit a high-pitched, bright, beautiful and moving sound, its python skin must have an appropriate degree of tension. However, after the erhu has been used for a long time, or because the tension of the python skin is not doubled, the python skin will become loose, which is called "collapsed" as the saying goes. After the python skin collapses, the vocalization becomes very muffled, the volume becomes very low, and sometimes noise is produced. A piano whose python skin does not collapse seriously can also be used for practice. If the python skin is severely collapsed, the strings will come into contact with the ends of the qin barrel when the strings are rubbed during performance; such an erhu is simply unusable.

After the erhu's python skin collapses, the erhu maker usually goes to the erhu maker to ask him to make a new python skin. In this way, on the one hand, the piano mainly spends a lot of money, and on the other hand, it will also increase the consumption of python skin, which is already very scarce. The owner's money can be earned back if it is spent, but from the perspective of protecting rare animals, it is indeed very important to minimize the consumption of python skins. Therefore, I have actually experimented once to "rejuvenate" the collapsed python skin. Generally speaking, as long as the python skin has collapsed, but its internal quality is still good, not eaten by moths, and, most importantly, the adhesion between the python skin and the piano tube is still intact, it can be carried out. "Rejuvenation" treatment.

This method is actually very simple, just re-wet the python skin with water and let it dry again naturally. It is only because most people think that the python skin of the erhu is a very "sacred" part, and they dare not touch it rashly, so they are helpless against the collapsed python skin. In fact, if you think about it, you will understand: when the violin maker first covered the python skin, didn't he first fully soak the python skin, and then covered it? Now, the python skin has been glued to the piano tube, as long as you don't get the glue wet, don't affect the bonding state between the python skin and the piano tube, just wet the rest of the python skin What's the harm?

However, it is necessary to be very careful in the specific operation. The specific operation steps are as follows:

The first step is to disassemble the piano barrel and the piano bar (it is also possible to not remove it), and place the piano barrel on the table with the python skin facing up. Find a piece of ordinary white cotton cloth (toilet paper can also be used instead), and cut a piece of the same shape according to the shape of your erhu python's skin (for example, most erhus are hexagonal). Although the shape of the cloth is hexagonal, it should be smaller than the area of the python skin, that is, when the cloth is laid flat on the python skin, its edges are still further from the bonding part between the python skin and the piano barrel. There is a distance of 8-10 mm. Find another piece of flat plastic film (a slightly thicker plastic film is flatter), and cut a piece of plastic film according to the shape and size of the cut cloth just now. In this way, the preparation work is done.

The second step is to wet the cut piece of cloth in water, then take it out and squeeze the water of the piece of cloth with your hands to dry it a little. The moisture in the cloth should not be too much, just like the clothes that are wrung out when washing clothes. Lay the wet cloth flat on the surface of the python skin to make good contact between the cloth and the python skin. Moisture migrates along the python skin to the area of the python skin in the adhesive part causing degumming. At this time, if you feel that the cloth is a little too dry, you can put a total of 4-6 drops of water on each area of the cloth. Then, cover the cut plastic film sheet on the cloth sheet, so that the plastic film sheet and the cloth sheet are in good contact. The purpose of using the plastic film sheet is to prevent the moisture of the cloth sheet from evaporating. In this way, the wetting process of the python skin begins. During this process, do not press anything on the python skin, otherwise, the python skin will collapse seriously and cause complete destruction. The whole python skin moistening process takes about 2-3 hours.

In the third step, after the python skin is fully moistened for 2-3 hours, remove the plastic film and cloth. Use a well wrung wet towel to gently absorb the floating water on the surface of the python skin (do not apply any force to the python skin). Then, place the barrel in a well-ventilated, undisturbed place and allow the python skin to dry naturally. The drying time varies from place to place, ranging from one or two days to four or five days, or even longer. This requires observation and decision.

The fourth step, find a hair dryer (the kind used for hair), adjust the hair dryer to the low-temperature wind, and use hot air to blow the python skin. The temperature of the hot air is about 40 degrees Celsius, and it should not be too high. When blowing, you can loosely cover one hand on the python skin (use your hand as a thermometer), and let the hot air pass between your fingers and blow on the python skin. When blowing hot air, don't blow it straight for a long time, but after blowing it for 10 seconds, remove the hot air for a while, and then blow it for 10 seconds. Do this repeatedly until you feel that the python skin has been stretched very tightly. Alternatively, after two hours have elapsed, the operation of blowing hot air is repeated again.

After such a few steps of processing, your original collapsed python skin has returned to a state of tension, and it is no different from the newly masked python skin. In the whole operation process, you must always be careful, use your brain more, and observe and think more.