About the Erhu
An erhu is a two-string Chinese bowed instrument, played sitting with the small drum-shaped body on your lap. This full-size erhu is described as working and tested, and the designer's video shows it being built and played. Until now it was on our Wanted list.
Most parts can be PLA, though stronger filaments are recommended. The drum skin is best printed in TPU (a hard skin might work, but it's untested). The parts are two tuning pegs, two body pegs, two string-connector pegs, six stem sections, a base, the drum, the skin and the bridge. Sand or hot-glue joints that are loose or tight, and sand the tuning pegs until they go in. The bridge sits in the middle of the skin. Tie a rope round the neck under the tuning pegs, as shown in the designer's photos. Facing the skin, the D string is on the left and A on the right. There's also an untested skin holder: stretch and glue the skin over the sound hole, then hammer the holder on.
You'll need erhu strings, an erhu bow (its hair passes between the strings) and rosin.
What you'll need
Printed parts
- 2 tuning pegs, 2 body pegs, 2 string-connector pegs
- Stems 1–6, base, drum, drum skin (TPU) and bridge
- Optional: skin holder (untested)
Bought parts
- Erhu D and A strings
- An erhu bow and rosin
- Rope (around the neck)
- Hot glue
Tools
- Sandpaper
- Hammer (for the skin holder)
Video
Play video: 3D printing an erhu (Chinese violin) (loads YouTube)
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Photos
Thingiverse doesn't let us fetch its gallery, so the photos stay on Thingiverse. See them on Thingiverse ↗