Kong Huai Ruo Gu sits with Yun Hai at the top of the Dashi series, with a more introverted, deeper character — for traditional repertoire, solo recitals and long-term ownership by senior players.
Assembly and voicing are led by senior technicians, and each instrument is cross-checked by several players before release so the result is not one person's ear. It carries its own serial number and maker's record.
The voice is dense without clumsiness, bright without flightiness, and transitions between vibrato, press and slide are natural — exactly what the nuanced inflections of traditional schools demand.
Traditional repertoire leans heavily on the left hand: use professional finger picks and replace them regularly. Check bridge-to-top contact every six months.
For how performance-grade instruments are specified, see how to choose a performance-grade guzheng.
Buying advice: this model is listed at CNY 28000, which is the top of the range of the 7 models in the Master series (prices run CNY 7300 to CNY 28000).To keep the budget down, start from Misty Peaks (CNY 18000). Sea of Clouds sits at the same price with a different look and voicing — pick on taste. Bulk pricing is explained in How to order.
FAQ: Is the "Master Series" made personally by a master? The series is assembled and voiced under senior luthiers, with critical steps completed by experienced technicians and cross-checked by several players before release. We do not inflate this with personal names — the standard is the actual assembly process.
Suitable for: the Master series spans teaching through performance, suited to training-centre lessons, conservatory teaching and personal advancement. Batch orders for institutions and schools get tiered pricing with a specification list. Tell us your scenario through the enquiry form when you need a programme.
My teacher recommended this series, saying it is good value. Compared with my last one, the difference was obvious straight away, the sound is very clean, with none of that muffled buzz!
The colour is a shade darker than the photos, but it feels better made, after-sales rang me to check it had arrived, which is rare, the manual is too basic, so I learned to tune from a video!
I read through the reviews before buying, and it was not a mistake, it came in a wooden crate packed with thick foam, five days in transit and not a single knock, no extra microphone is needed at performances, and the back rows can hear it, delivery was two days late, and I was getting anxious, very happy overall!
I hesitated for a long time, and ordered during a promotion. The grain on the soundboard looks natural, the finish is thin, and you can tell it was applied by hand. The tone overall is on the warm side, rather than bright, which I prefer.
A friend recommended them, she said hers has given no trouble in three years. Customer service was very patient, and answered every question one by one.
I had been watching this shop for a long time, and finally ordered. It shipped the day after I ordered, delivery was faster than I expected, the seams on the back are very even, and you can tell the work was done with care. Customer service was a little slow to reply, and only answered the second time I asked.
I took it to a lesson, and my teacher said the tone was good too, at this price, value for money is not the point, it is about the wood and the work, I'd buy again.
This is my second purchase here, and the feel is just as I remembered, the edges are finished very cleanly, with no rough spots. There is a slight difference between the colour and the website, but it is acceptable, I'll be back.
This is the first instrument I have bought at this price, and once it arrived I felt reassured, the strings feel a little soft under the fingers, so a child can press them without strain, it feels very solid overall, and it does not shift even when you play hard, it drifted quite often at first, and took three tunings to settle, worth the price.
I compared several sellers, and went with this one, a friend heard it at my place, and asked where I bought it, it looks even better made in person than in the photos, you can see the details far more clearly. It costs a little more than comparable instruments, but the workmanship really is different!
It stands in the living room, and guests ask what it cost the moment they see it, they sent me a video of the actual instrument before shipping, which put my mind at rest, I plan to keep it for my child, I'll be back!
The resonance is better than I expected, and it holds up on something like Fighting the Typhoon, the tuning pins are set just right, neither loose nor stiff. This is one that could be passed down.