Points to note when buying erhu:

timber

There are many kinds of wood used to make erhu, usually used are red sandalwood, ebony, rosewood, old mahogany, new mahogany, ebony, white miscellaneous wood and so on. The most valuable of these is sandalwood. It is famous for Indian red sandalwood and African wood sandalwood. slow growth, material Solid, high hardness, strong toughness, fine structure, uniform texture, strong corrosion resistance. The yield is very small, the trunk is more curved, ten sandalwood is empty, and the material is very small. The heartwood is bright red or orange-red, and turns purple-red-brown after being exposed to the air for a long time; the color of the wood is relatively uniform, usually purple-brown, at least 800 years old, and the growth rings are not obvious. Red sandalwood is known as "gold in wood" because of its preciousness, and it is the top material for making erhu. The erhu made of red sandalwood is noble, elegant and solemn. The sound quality is stable, solid and penetrating, and the tone is pure and gorgeous. It must be the most luxurious erhu, but not necessarily the best.

Ebony, the scientific name of Sulawesi ebony, is a national treasure wood in Indonesia. It grows on the stone island of Sulawesi next to the Indonesian equator. It takes hundreds of years to mature slowly. It sinks immediately after entering the water. The wood structure is extremely dense, the material is hard, heavy and uniform. The wood is black with gray-brown to light red stripes. It is not deformed after wear and drying. It contains grease and has a metallic luster. High-end decoration, craft carving and musical instrument materials, Indonesian ebony, Indian red sandalwood, Hainan huanghuali, the three are recognized as the first of all mahogany, with great collection value.

The erhu made of ebony is solemn and luxurious, and transmits a strong modern atmosphere. The timbre is bright but not dry, soft but not pretentious, responsive and expressive.

The old rosewood (dalbergia cochinchinensis) is produced in the Indo-China Peninsula, and also grows in the Yunnan area of my country. "The best wood, in addition to red sandalwood, should be the most mahogany." Its purplish red color, clear and varied texture and fine structure are incomparable with similar rosewood. The erhu made by old mahogany contains almost all the good quality of erhu. Elegant purplish red, with clear and beautiful texture, feel like warm jade. The sound quality is mellow, quiet, round and clear, like wine and water. Balanced high and low. As far as the quality of the erhu is concerned, the old mahogany erhu is definitely not inferior to the red sandalwood erhu. One thing needs to be explained, old mahogany and new mahogany are not the same kind of wood, and it cannot be understood that new mahogany will become old mahogany after a few years.

New mahogany is a general term for a type of wood, and there may also be old mahogany used for erhu. For other wood species, it is difficult to make a good erhu, so I won't talk about it more.

skin

Erhu is made of python skin, and its quality is also very important. To make high-grade erhu, choose a healthy middle-aged python, and the dorsal skin near the anus is the best. The structure of this part is fine, well-proportioned, good in toughness and high in strength, which is beneficial to the processing of python skin and high-tensile masking. Python scales are not as big as possible. The largest part of the scales is on the abdomen, which is the worst part to be discarded. The identification method is that the scale flower has a strong three-dimensional effect, is smooth and shiny, the finger is elastic, it is important not to be loose, and there is no rancid smell.

fiddlestick

The top grades are white ponytails and gray-white ponytails. The length of the bow is about 85 cm. It is thin, straight, and elastic, with few knots and no scars. Bow hair should be covered with rosin, but not too much.

piano code

There are pine code, mahogany code, sandalwood code, composite code and so on. Don't look at the small size of the piano, the role is very important. The sound quality of an erhu and the speed of its response have a lot to do with it. Compared with the different wood used for the erhu, the elasticity of the skin, the ambient temperature and humidity, the age of the erhu, and even different repertoires, the material, shape, size of the bottom area, height of the piano, the length of the upper cross, the shape of the slope, and the slope are all available. different requirements. Should prepare a few more, try to figure out the adjustment to make it reach the best state.

cloth

Also known as the damping pad, it is also a very important component for removing noise and impurities, and eliminating the tip and warmth of the erhu sound. Do not choose materials such as non-woven fabrics with a hard texture, it is best to use woolen materials.

Exterior

The specific process indicators will not be repeated, horizontal and vertical, and the piano bar is slightly backward. No glue opening, no cracks, no wood pipe holes, and the wood pattern and color of each part are basically the same. High-end erhu does not need paint. The proportion of the piano barrel is uniform, the curve is harmonious and beautiful, the piano shaft is closely matched, and the strings are well wound without running out of strings. Now there are hexagonal, octagonal, round, oval and many kinds of shapes. Mr. Du Donghu, a famous erhu maker, has accumulated many years of experience in violin making, flattered teachers and taught him, and tried hard to create a new work - the six-sided slender-waisted erhu, which is unique in both its internal sound quality, tone and appearance. It basically solves the problem of volume attenuation in the high-pitched area of the erhu, making it easier to play the erhu's playing skills and showing the unique artistic charm of the erhu!

sound quality

It is best to ask professionals to play the piano and listen to the selection, which varies from person to person.

feel

Like warm jade, like water. Smooth and smooth, not stagnant or astringent.

Sensitivity: No matter the priority, it can be reflected in time and accurately; it can be handy when playing various repertoires.

price

Hard to say. Now the Indian lobular rosewood is close to the sky-high price, and there is no stock in the market. Other woods are also rising. It should be said that the old mahogany erhu of one or two thousand yuan is the most suitable cost-effective. African red sandalwood erhu is a good qin of around 3,000 yuan, which is also acceptable.

After-sales service: It is very important to be able to directly contact the manufacturer and obtain technical assistance from the producer in time. The quality of this service is sometimes more important than the material.