Yunzhi Guitars?

[2bornot2bop]

I pressed the “go button” on a new 16” yesterday - exciting times!

I am not clear on the process from here on; how much conversation have others had during the wood selection and build phase?

It’s simple. Express your desires to Ms. Lora. She’s the go to person ordering a Wu. This is already all over the forum.

Wood selection can be upgraded. But don’t act as if you’re ordering a guitar from a Western luthier. It’s not that type of operation. Wu doesn’t have access to the woods of a Western luthier. Understand?

Keep your order to a minimum. Be concise with your request. Communicate as often with Ms. Lora as you have to to limit any misunderstanding. Beyond that the process is very simple. Good luck!

[jzguy]

Turnaround was ~7 months for my Wu. Shipping to the midwest took 15 days.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[sgosnell]

Wu and Yunzhi are not the same entity. Wu is an independent luthier, Yunzhi is a factory.

[2bornot2bop]

RE a Wu vs a Yuhnzhi I’m going with a Wu. Reason being you can communicate with Ms. Lora as often as you need to. You can’t do that with a
Yuhnzhi.

That communication is priceless.

[John A.]

RE a Wu vs a Yuhnzhi I’m going with a Wu. Reason being you can communicate with Ms. Lora as often as you need to. You can’t do that with a
Yuhnzhi.

That communication is priceless.

Are Yunzhi's also made to order, or are they sold off the shelf?

[sgosnell]

Lora also works with Yunzhi.

[Spook410]

My opinions are dated. I haven't bought a new guitar in over 5 years. So bearing in mind this is backward looking...

The workmanship on a Wu, a custom and independent luthier, is better than a Yunzhi. The designs are about the same. Both based on a Benedetto archtop design. However, Yunzhi's are made by a team of factory workers. Some are highly skilled, some less so. And their quality assurance is spotty. You can expect poor fret work, mottled finishes that need a final polish, and other flaws. That in addition to the unusable electronics that has been discussed over the years. Wu, on the other hand, while not having access to good electronics either, won't suffer the workmanship flaws you'll find on a Yunzhi. Nitro finish will be spot free, fret work is decent (though not great) and overall quality is outstanding for the price point. He is a quality craftsman and the extra cost is certainly worth it.

As for sound.. they both sound good. I have six Yunzhi guitars and only one is middling.. an 18" that I find overly bright. The other five, three are quite good and two are really good. As good as any archtop I've played. All of them, even the 18", are more or less as good as any of the reasonable alternatives in the acoustic archtop sub $4K range (at today's inflated prices, used to be $3K.. sigh). And you might get something that can't be improved until you get up into the very expensive US boutique and custom models.

Electric archtop? Well.. that would be a different discussion.

[2bornot2bop]

Lora also works with Yunzhi.

But when she represents WU that guitar isn’t being built in a factory, it’s hands on from WU himself. Who are you going to trust, an archtop built by an apprentice, or one from the former head of a company? Hmm.

[nbevan3]

Turnaround was ~7 months for my Wu.

… and how much communication did you have with ‘them’ once you agreed the specification?
photographs of wood selection?
photographs of bracing (etc)?
photographs of neck and fretboard before assembly onto the body?
photographs of the assembly before finishing?
photographs of final polish ahead of shipment?

I am unclear what I should be expecting in terms of updates on my order and I would like to ‘manage my expectations’

[jzguy]

… and how much communication did you have with ‘them’ once you agreed the specification?
photographs of wood selection?
photographs of bracing (etc)?
photographs of neck and fretboard before assembly onto the body?
photographs of the assembly before finishing?
photographs of final polish ahead of shipment?

I am unclear what I should be expecting in terms of updates on my order and I would like to ‘manage my expectations’

Ms. Lora is good about getting back to answer questions. The photos I received were of the top wood selection to ask about f hole placement, the completed body once the finish was applied, the pickguard and tailpiece and the fully completed/assembled body for approval pre-shipment. I think others have requested and received photos at various stages of the process, so maybe sending her an email with your specific photo request might suffice.

[Jimmy blue note]

Ms. Lora is good about getting back to answer questions. The photos I received were of the top wood selection to ask about f hole placement, the completed body once the finish was applied, the pickguard and tailpiece and the fully completed/assembled body for approval pre-shipment. I think others have requested and received photos at various stages of the process, so maybe sending her an email with your specific photo request might suffice.

They've just started the national New Year's hiatus in China. That, in combination with an unprecedented COVID wave that's been hitting Beijing like a tsunami will be slowing down normal response time. Ms.Lora is very good about answering inquiries and conveying concerns, inquiries and communications to the work teams. Just know, it's holiday time over there and even that, isn't stopping pretty much a total work stoppage in China.
Their attention and communication is normally excellent.

[Spook410]

..
Their attention and communication is normally excellent.

Lora has always been outstanding. However, on my last inquiry, responses became dated. This is no reflection on her company or Wu guitars. Between Covid, the economy re-opening, and the holiday things are probably pretty crazy in China at the moment. Just hope they all stay safe and we can get back to our guitar fix soon.

[Jimmy blue note]

Yes, about a month ago, while China was essentially on lockdown, she wrote and told me nobody was even leaving their homes, public contact was being discouraged...and her young son had just come down with COVID. I sent her my best wishes and told her we'll resume when conditions dictated.
At that time, Mr Wu had retired because post pandemic there was a precipitous drop in interest and orders. I gave her my order, she told me Mr Wu would build recent orders start anew in the new year and now it's the Year of the Rabbit. They'll re-open business after the break.

[caue amaral]

This is my Yunzhi...great archtop!

[2bornot2bop]

… and how much communication did you have with ‘them’ once you agreed the specification?
photographs of wood selection?
photographs of bracing (etc)?
photographs of neck and fretboard before assembly onto the body?
photographs of the assembly before finishing?
photographs of final polish ahead of shipment?

I am unclear what I should be expecting in terms of updates on my order and I would like to ‘manage my expectations’

I received photos of all the above on my 18” WU. Probably one of the nicest he’s ever done. After the final coating, a sunburst, I asked him to go back and darken it. He did so perfectly. I couldn’t have been happier with the results. Lora stays in constant communication throughout. Mine arrived in 5 months.

I couldn’t believe how amazing the headstock inlay, an inlay of my own design, turned out. I was floored.

Edit - I just found the old thread. Amazing inlay work it was.

[2bornot2bop]

This was the final finish after the installation of a Matt Cushman custom wide bridge. We miss you Matt. Hope you’re doing well!

[GuyBoden]

I'd like a Yunzhi built guitar, what is their normal contact/payment method?

[Jimmy blue note]

I'd like a Yunzhi built guitar, what is their normal contact/payment method?

[email protected]
Write to Lora at the above address.
GuyBoden, do read the threads and know what to expect and what people have to say about their experiences.
Note: Don't order one of their guitars hoping to fulfill your fantasies about having a vintage Super 400 Gibson collector's item built for the price of a plywood Asian factory guitar, that would be a huge mistake.
You've been a knowledgable member of this group for a long time, and if you want a custom spec'd guitar you can truly grow with and into, and you know about after purchase set-up and care, I'm as excited as you are.
By the way, I did ask Lora and some importers whether they thought there would be adverse tariff issues. The thought is Not at this time, especially seeing that you're in the UK.

Good luck. Keep us updated!

[GuyBoden]

[email protected]
Write to Lora at the above address.
GuyBoden, do read the threads and know what to expect and what people have to say about their experiences.
Note: Don't order one of their guitars hoping to fulfill your fantasies about having a vintage Super 400 Gibson collector's item built for the price of a plywood Asian factory guitar, that would be a huge mistake.
You've been a knowledgable member of this group for a long time, and if you want a custom spec'd guitar you can truly grow with and into, and you know about after purchase set-up and care, I'm as excited as you are.
By the way, I did ask Lora and some importers whether they thought there would be adverse tariff issues. The thought is Not at this time, especially seeing that you're in the UK.

Good luck. Keep us updated!

Many thanks, I'm still pondering about buying a Yunzhi, but it seem a good way to get a custom guitar. Still, it seems a big a risk, also the resale value would be very low.

[Jimmy blue note]

Many thanks, I'm still pondering about buying a Yunzhi, but it seem a good way to get a custom guitar. Still, it seems a big a risk, also the resale value would be very low.

Ever increasingly, I see two prominent camps of guitar owners and buyers: There are those who are caught up in the romance and mystique of the lore, the history and the fantasy of the archtop as an object of art in itself. These are fueled by unattainable prices and collections behind the proverbial glass of adoration.
Then there are tools of music that are extensions of players, many of whom find it more and more elusive to buy something that allows them to fully realize their voices and talents. Really good player's guitars can be very expensive.

Now there's plenty of overlap in these two groups, but there's also a mistake that buyers make hoping to get a cheap collectors item (the Find of a Lifetime guitar) and I don't see Chinese custom guitars in that category. I think the happiest Yunzhi/Wu/Musoo buyers are the ones who play enough to appreciate the utility of a well made custom guitar without the prestige price bump.
Definitely the buyers with the best SOUNDING Chinese customs are the players who put in the long hours needed to break one in and patient enough to be part of the instruments curing phase. That ain't gonna happen in a case or sitting in a display.

So if your musicality is dedicated enough to warrant a partnership with a custom guitar built for YOUR needs, it's a blessing that you can get that from China. But I don't fool myself, or the people who I advise to get one: they're a specialty purchase well suited for the player.

What are your reservations? I've found that letting them know you're serious and know what you want keeps a dialogue open with the builder. They're putting a LOT of hard work and hours into making that guitar. THEY don't want you to be unhappy. This is months of their lives and these guitars show pride and skilled workmanship. Ask to be kept current with their builds, approve their photo documentation and let them know the guy who'll take possession of their creation will be a worthy partner. That's worked for me, and I do a bit of finish work after I unpack a guitar from them.
Still, every one that has passed through my hands has been a keeper for the player who bought it.

Hope you find your match.

[GuyBoden]

Ever increasingly, I see two prominent camps of guitar owners and buyers: There are those who are caught up in the romance and mystique of the lore, the history and the fantasy of the archtop as an object of art in itself. These are fueled by unattainable prices and collections behind the proverbial glass of adoration.
Then there are tools of music that are extensions of players, many of whom find it more and more elusive to buy something that allows them to fully realize their voices and talents. Really good player's guitars can be very expensive.

Now there's plenty of overlap in these two groups, but there's also a mistake that buyers make hoping to get a cheap collectors item (the Find of a Lifetime guitar) and I don't see Chinese custom guitars in that category. I think the happiest Yunzhi/Wu/Musoo buyers are the ones who play enough to appreciate the utility of a well made custom guitar without the prestige price bump.
Definitely the buyers with the best SOUNDING Chinese customs are the players who put in the long hours needed to break one in and patient enough to be part of the instruments curing phase. That ain't gonna happen in a case or sitting in a display.

So if your musicality is dedicated enough to warrant a partnership with a custom guitar built for YOUR needs, it's a blessing that you can get that from China. But I don't fool myself, or the people who I advise to get one: they're a specialty purchase well suited for the player.

What are your reservations? I've found that letting them know you're serious and know what you want keeps a dialogue open with the builder. They're putting a LOT of hard work and hours into making that guitar. THEY don't want you to be unhappy. This is months of their lives and these guitars show pride and skilled workmanship. Ask to be kept current with their builds, approve their photo documentation and let them know the guy who'll take possession of their creation will be a worthy partner. That's worked for me, and I do a bit of finish work after I unpack a guitar from them.
Still, every one that has passed through my hands has been a keeper for the player who bought it.

Hope you find your match.

I think that an 18inch Yunzhi archtop guitar would be interesting, because there are not many 18inch Archtops available at this price.

[2bornot2bop]

I think that an 18inch Yunzhi archtop guitar would be interesting, because there are not many 18inch Archtops available at this price.

My 18” was built by Wu. But I bought it in 2016 before prices nearly doubled. If you’ve no problem paying $2k for one you’re in. But for that price you can find a lot of very solid guitars available for sale. As an example there’s a Guild X170 on the forum ads available for $1800 that would run circles around any Yunzhi.

[GuyBoden]

My 18” was built by Wu. But I bought it in 2016 before prices nearly doubled. If you’ve no problem paying $2k for one you’re in. But for that price you can find a lot of very solid guitars available for sale. As an example there’s a Guild X170 on the forum ads available for $1800 that would run circles around any Yunzhi.

Many thanks, it's interesting that you think a carved top Yunzhi isn't as good a guitar as a Guild X170 laminate, which I owned and played for many years in the 1990's.

Edit:
But yes, you are correct, I could buy this Cranmer:
Cranmer Archtop UK sale £1900

[Spook410]

My 18” was built by Wu. But I bought it in 2016 before prices nearly doubled. If you’ve no problem paying $2k for one you’re in. But for that price you can find a lot of very solid guitars available for sale. As an example there’s a Guild X170 on the forum ads available for $1800 that would run circles around any Yunzhi.

Thinking a Guild X170 and a Benedetto pattern solid carved anything are going to be apples and oranges. I really like my Gibson ES175 but find it to be a great electric guitar without the acoustic component of a Yunzhi or Wu. Of course, I put some effort into extracting an acoustic tone with strings, pickups, and amplification and I'm pretty tolerant of their flaws.

Maybe if I got a Trenier I would play the Wu/Yunzhi's less. And maybe because mine have seen a lot of play time they are broken in as Jimmy Blue Note articulated the need for. Just don't think laminates do what solid carved does for guitar tone.

[Spook410]

Ever increasingly, I see two prominent camps of guitar owners and buyers: There are those who are caught up in the romance and mystique of the lore, the history and the fantasy of the archtop as an object of art in itself. These are fueled by unattainable prices and collections behind the proverbial glass of adoration.
Then there are tools of music that are extensions of players, many of whom find it more and more elusive to buy something that allows them to fully realize their voices and talents. Really good player's guitars can be very expensive.

Side note: You write pretty well Jimmy..