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Chinese Guqin (Zither) Scratch Build


Kaizen

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I've been quiet on the forum lately as I've been focusing on other neglected things like house/yard renos and repairs.

 

I thought I'd post an off topic thread about my build in progress of a Guqin.

Firstly to test out Imgur for photo uploading, as a place of reference and documentation of the build process and to share a bit of Chinese culture with you all.

 

This is an example of what I'm trying to replicate.

 

http://i.imgur.com/RfUraRv.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/C7f6usj.jpg

 

 

I watch a lot of Chinese TV drama series which are always set in ancient China.

Every few episodes or so, someone is playing a Guqin.

 

This is the trailer for the current series I'm watching.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrkOMB1eZ2Q

 

 

I decided I'd like to learn to play it myself so I ordered one from China off Ebay for $170.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gu-Qin-ChineseTraditional-Paulownia-Wood-Guqin-Chinese-Zither-Harp-Koto-Black2-/252987111844

 

These are cheap mass produced items that come out of China and are similar in quality to any guitar you would buy off Ebay for around $150.

I'm not expecting too much from it but it should do to get me started.

 

The Guqin has it own Tab Notation made up from parts of different Chinese Characters coded into a single Glyph, normally one character will represent one word where the notation character gives multiple commands for which string on which marker in what style etc...

I've memorised about 30% of the notation so far but it will be much easier with an instrument in front of me, here's an example of a classic piece call Liu Shui (Flowing Water) with western music score added in.

 

http://i.imgur.com/ZM1f6pE.gif

 

 

 

 

So in the mean time while I wait another two weeks or more for it to arrive I thought I'd see if I can build one myself.

With Google guiding the way I managed to get some decent images and drawings with dimensions to go off.

I chose to do a Confucian Style, it kind of looks like a sword.:cool:

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/gvVByVL.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/5oQ3bDz.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/TIVvBYE.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/PztdqwU.jpg

 

 

I have a few floor joists that were removed from under the house after the floods in 2011 and have been seasoning for the last six years.

 

http://i.imgur.com/nptu78q.jpg

 

I cut a length to size, had it's thickness reduced down to 37mm (1 1/2"), put a slight taper to it then set about routing the side profile.

 

http://i.imgur.com/Qg8etk3.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/4OKnmvO.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/EAx5Uz7.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/G8XSLWI.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/qG3AK91.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/46tRVeT.jpg

 

 

There's a rounded profile to the top of a Guqin so I fabricated a jig for the router to roll across the top of the board and give me a 250mm radius curve.

 

http://i.imgur.com/Ng4BKF6.jpg

 

This is similar to the process that's used to do guitar necks.

 

http://i.imgur.com/vqt7Md9.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/cndmm38.jpg

 

There's a little bit more side profile work left to do before I create the top curve but it should be done within two days.

 

The next big challenge is hollowing out the inside to an even 10mm thickness following the top profile.

 

http://i.imgur.com/l5cxHO5.jpg

 

 

There is also a bottom 'sound' board that needs to be made and will eventually be glued to the top board.

 

That's about where I'm up to with the build process, so far I've spent about 8 hours on it over the last 4 days.

 

More to come...

Edited by Kaizen
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A quick update...

 

I've refined the jig a bit and made some channels for it to glide lengthways over the wood.

 

http://i.imgur.com/Ahs13lD.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/nR6JKBJ.jpg

 

I ran out of light and only got one channel done, I'll continue on tomorrow.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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