How to determine the quality of a guzheng soundboard?
Soundboard is the most important factor that determines the sound quality of a guzheng. Soundboard is the media that transmit the sound wave into the sound box. Therefore, the quality of the sound board is really important for a guzheng instrument. Most guzhengs have paulownia as the sound board. Although some innovative makers start using spruce for the sound boards, most makers still use paulownia as the sound boards. “Sound of China” distinguishes the quality of paulownia sound board into 4 grades, and we strictly require our makers to follow this standard. The elite grade is a quartersawn-cut piece that offer the straightest grains. Grains are straight and evenly spaced. Since sound transmit along the edge of the grains into the sound box, the sound of a quartersawn-cut piece yields the most clear sound. The first grade is the one taken from the most center piece of a flatsawn cut. The quality of this piece resembles a quartersawn-cut wood. The wood grains are tight, straight, and
