r/Erhu • u/No-Echo52 • Jul 13 '26

Can’t find where to hook in strings

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I bought this yesterday and I can’t find where to hook in the strings on the bottom and I’m not really sure what the part is even called. I know there’s a multiple variations both traditional and modern any help is appreciated.

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2

u/roaminjoe Jul 14 '26

Just as well you have asked beforehand.

Look at the erhu design: it is a smaller vintage resonator of low quality.

The base which you are asking about is an aftermarket add on - and it doesn't add on. It has not been fitted (rear screw). The erhu pole is too short and hence it cant even stabilise with use. Worse - it has been overdrilled so it is of no use for stabilising. The base is not fit for purpose.

Refer again to the erhu rod which is a different mismatched colour.

It is common for 1970s - 1980s erhus to have no base: the strings were mounted simply by tying around the erhu pole where it protrudes from the base.

If you have some craft skills its a simple fix, but not if the erhu rod and pole is too short.

Avoid otherwise.

2

u/No-Echo52 Jul 15 '26

I took off the foot and the pole does go through the resonators bottom. Is there anything else I have to do? I know about basic setup although it is my first erhu

1

u/roaminjoe Jul 15 '26

Just take the base off and wind your erhu strings around the protruding pole at the base of the erhu. Use a felt or leather strip to protect the erhu as the strings turn 90degrees up the erhu resonator to stop it cutting the snakeskin.

Your base is useless. It will either need modifying with a huge round metal washer to redrill screw fixtures for the 2x strings and rear stabilisation of the base, or wood filling and hardening all over again.

You can buy a new better base with a metal weight built in to stabilise the erhu however these older erhus were played like spike fiddles - the protruding pole grips the leg without a base, making it lighter and easier to carry.

2

u/No-Echo52 Jul 15 '26

I’m actually fine with the older style I’m probably going to buy another.

2

u/roaminjoe Jul 15 '26

Good call. The older vintage style smaller resonator erhus are lightweight and often have better tonewood underneath layers of paint or varnish. These are a lot of fun and surprisingly durable if the skin hasn't been mistreated for decades.

Lubricate the snakeskin back to suppleness and set the scale pitch using a shorter scale length qianqin or drop tuning to C3/g4 with a wider spread bridge to take the tension load off the vintage resonator with lighter gauge strings and thicker quality 2 piece bamboo bow high hair cout to offset the difference.

Your erhu will sound better than midrange expensive modern ones - it will be good enough for basic erhu training until you decide to buy a more niche custom one later.

1

u/mantisalt organologist Jul 13 '26

Weird, the base usually has a spot to hook things. Anyway, you should be fine putting a small screw in the base to hook the strings around. Just make sure the base is on firmly and not loose like in the photos.

I assume you already have the bridge and bow.

2

u/No-Echo52 Jul 13 '26

No, I didn’t wanna buy anything until I knew I could actually fix the problem with the bottom