The Guzheng Forum

yukina · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject: The golden Alice strings

I received the Alice strings I bought from Sogeo.com. The string color is all golden. Only the sol strings are in white.
I tried them on, and they sound very different! Sounds more like harp or yangqin. They don't sound like guzheng at all. There are no warmness and sweetness that are usually found on guzheng strings. Actually, the tone is very weired as guzheng strings. But, my God, they are so LOUD!!!!!

My Tianyi youmu guzheng is twice louder than before when I had Dunhuang B strings on. That was my loudest guzheng already, now I really feel embarrassed when playing.

The strings are also very stable. They don't go out of tune at all. I put them on and just tuned them once, then I played for 30 minutes. Then I checked again with the tuner, all the strings are still on the exact pitch. That's quite amazing as guzheng strings. Most guzheng strings go flat immediately when they just got set up.

Another thing to note is they are very hard! So easy to pluck, but impossible to bend. I have to set the bridges about 2 inches to the right than my normal bridge posistion.

jarrelle · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

WOAH! haha they look like steel strings! How is the bass on them?I think that biquan strings sounds the best....hmmm YEh those look hard to bend haha but biquan strings are so easy to bend, I can even bend the very last bass string!haha.

BTW what guzheng do you think will sound best with those ALice guzheng strings? scarlet bird?
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yukina · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

I do like the Baoquan string bass. But I like Dunhuang B string's texture and sound a lot better.
This Alice string is just totally different that you can group all other strings as one group and Alice alone as the other. It doesn't have a deep and bassy bass, but the bass is also a lot louder and stronger than others. It sounds like harp.

I just tried it on my Tianyi. I'll try it on Scarlet Bird later to see if it fits SB as well.

seana · Old Rosewood Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 147

Hi, I don't like these kind of strings for guzheng. One will blur to see the strings if wth a yellowish sound board. The strings lound sounds that will make the taste of guzheng disappeared and because of the long sound trailings mixing them. Maybe one thing good is that it's stability after tuning. Another is they make the yao zhi sounding good.
seana

June · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject:

I have a Tianyi nanmu with Yuesheng strings. Will it sound different or better with Dunhuang B strings?

Tiffany · Old Rosewood Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 142 Location: USA

Hey Yukina,
The website led me to some construction equipment place. How do you spell it again?

yukina · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry. It's www.sogoeo.com .
The guy Lois is in this forum too. Alice strings are not listed on the website. You'll have to email him to find out more.

The ones I tried out are model#M84, which says "Super Concert Professional Use". There is also #M83 that are in similar grade which has mostly white strings and the sol strings in golden. Then there are also many lower grade models.

I do agree the Alice strings make the guzheng doesn't sound like a guzheng at all. There are just these good things that I can't ignore. The volume, the stability, the pureness...... And yes, the tremolo sounds very nice.
I'll try to post some sound clips.

yukina · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject:

Hi June:

Yes, I think Dunhuang B will make the Nanmu sounds a lot better.

jarrelle · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject:

I emailed sogeo and asked him about steel yangqin strings.I asked him how should I compare the thickness so I can use them on guzheng.I dont think he understands my meaning.?.?.? Im not sure if I worded it the right way.Or maybe he hasnt checked his email yet?.haha anyways my laoshi has the round tool he stuck on the string and the string would fit into a certaint size hole(ex.The middle string fits in 12 key)My teacher told me this is the only way I can order steel strings.Is there a way I can order them in america so shipping isnt too expensive?
By the way I turned my OLD CHEAP guzheng into an extra large steel string.I used a sharp blade and stripped the silk and nylon off the steel.
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yukina · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:36 am Post subject:

I recorded a sound clip:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/qozfF1QnODg/

I realized my guzheng really sounds like a harp now. Also good to note that the pick noise is greatly reduced.

wingplum · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:48 am Post subject:

I went to potato and listened, The sound is clear and clean,I like it,Guzhen sound or not.

Tiffany · Old Rosewood Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 142 Location: USA

Sound really nice, pure and round.

But it's true that some of that guzheng essense, maybe the 'delicate' aspect of it gotten played down. Also, that crispness is not so played out with the Alice strings.

It's probably perfect for contemporary guzheng music which gives a fresher feel, but with bending and other guzheng techniques, it still be vibrant.

yukina · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:46 am Post subject:

It actually sounds a lot nicer in the recording. Usually guzheng lost half the voice when recording, but this is just perfect. It sounds too loud when listening live. I mean it doesn't sound robust like a Scarlet Bird, but each string is so loud that hurts my ears.

jarrelle · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:29 am Post subject:

I Love it yukina! It sounds so bright!haha
_________________
what color is the wind?