Buying a Guzheng in the UK

[Tomsima]

My wife and I are moving to the UK next month and are currently deliberating whether to ship her guzheng to the UK or buy a new one in the UK instead. Shipping is obviously very expensive and seems like a waste if she is able to buy a good new one once in the UK. The question is, does anybody know where to buy and what sort of price they sell for in comparison to the Chinese market. For clarification, the ideal guzheng would be made by 敦煌, probably in the 5000rmb range in mainland China.

 

Thanks for any help

[Zeppa]

I have no idea but you could contact Hobgoblin Music in Rathbone Place:

https://www.hobgoblin.com/

There is also a London Youlan Qin society of which I know nothing - whether they can be contacted and advise I don't know.

http://www.ukchinesemusic.com/londonyoulanqin/qintro.htm

[Tomsima]

Thanks for the help, hobgoblin does have guzheng from what I've just seen, but the quality looks pretty bad. Youlan I'm familiar with, they hold 雅集 fairly regularly in London, and there are teachers selling guzheng, but very overpriced. If I find anything more I'll post it here for anyone else interested.

[Luxi]

I don't  know whether this helps, but this firm in Jiangsu seems to offer free worldwide shipping of their guzhengs.

https://www.soundofmountain.com/guzheng/

this is their contact page

https://www.soundofmountain.com/contact-us/

 

They look very beautiful --- and expensive! but some are around the 5000rmb mark.

 

[roddy]

Dunhuang only list three international stockists, in Singapore, LA and Oz. 

http://www.sh-dunhuang.com/dealer.asp

 

I'd assume you're looking at paying VAT when it comes into the UK as well. 

 

This was the only overseas listing of actual prices for Dunhuang instruments I could find. 

http://www.soundofasia.com/guzheng.html

 

 

[Shelley]

I found this but I know nothing about what sort of quality or how the prices stack up against importing yours. As an amateur musician i have to say I would want the instrument I know and love especially if it is of high quality, you don't know what you might end up with.

https://www.soundofmountain.com/guzheng/

[Tomsima]

Thanks for the help everyone. I think we're just gonna bite the bullet and ship the guzheng over instead of buying. The quality to price ratio is really bad, and yes looks like there would also be 2.5% VAT to add on too. 

[DavyJonesLocker]

Can't you not bring it as oversized luggage on the plane ? 

[Tomsima]

Yes, flying on China Southern if you pay 1000rmb you can take it onboard with you. The issue is, the case which the guzheng sits in is...enormous. Due to logistics to and from the airport, and the fact that my wife is about half the size of the guzheng in its case (i will be on a different flight to her so cant help), shipping is a more realistic option right now. For those interested, we were quoted around 2000rmb for it to be shipped (flown) to the UK. 

[NinjaTurtle]

Try asking these people.

 

https://www.cbac-arts.org/

 

From the looks of their webpage, these people should definitely know.

 

I would recommend sending them email in both English and Chinese.