Yunzhi Guitars?

[2bornot2bop]

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.

Yes, obviously they’re entirely different guitars. But the differences don’t end there. The workmanship on a Guild from the 90’s is absolutely superb. There are zero cosmetic flaws with a Guild. But of course you have to learn to live with certain things on a Chinese built archtop. On my guitar I didn’t want the typical wood binding, so I insisted on a white binding so typical of American built guitars. I was dismayed when the guitar arrived because the binding they used was far narrower than say what Gibson or Heritage used, and I thought, hey it’s China, they don’t have the supplies commonly used in the states.

And there was an additional $900 to be spent on finishing the guitar right, with a pickup, electronics, correctly wiring the guitar, a wood pick guard, completely correcting the frets…it ads up.

Plekking the fretboard made such a huge difference. It truly was like night and day. Mo’ money, yes, but worth it.

The guitar still exceeded what I anticipated coming out of China. But it took work to truly finish it. And I wonder if many even consider that while buying a Chinese guitar.

[Spook410]

Yunzhi, and even Wu, came with a certain amount of risk. I do my own guitar tech stuff up to a point. Add electronics would always be necessary. Frets leveling sometimes. Other than that just the normal new guitar set up. The part of the guitar I cared about, how well it was put together without rattles and gaps, attention to the bracing, and the carve, were always quite good. One guitar (a $750 gypsy jazz) had an odd gouge the width of the headstock that was not reparable. And a couple of the tuning pegs fell apart. Ironically, it may be the best sounding of the lot. On another I had to cut some relief under the bridge wheels to get it low enough for the geometry of the guitar. On another the bridge has to be set way high making the saddle look like it's on stilts. On all of them I think the bridges, while commercial standard, are a bit small in footprint. And then there was the end block that was too deep for a proper end jack. To avoid modding the guitar it required a brass strap extender, a grinder, and some fitting but finally got there. I've learned to level frets, deal with tuning issues, nut height.. and the Yunzhi's require more of this than my Gibson's. But there are no cracks, loose braces, yellowing finish, separations, warping, bulging, or caving. Every one of the seven (no, really.. seven in different sizes, shapes, and materials) is still solid and sounds better now than when I got it.

It's been a long time since I bought mine so I'm in no position to recommend anything to anybody. But, mine have turned out to be very good guitars and I was lucky to get them back when all the wood was stunning and the price was crazy cheap.

[nbevan3]

I was talking to Ms Lora from Yolandateam, and the Mr Wu guitars are today priced higher, US$1500.
She offered the Younzhi regular model priced US$ 1100.
Have anyone experienced those Younzhi not made my Mr Wu?
Thank you!

There are a few threads relating to Yunzhi/Wu, one is here:

Mr Wu / Yunzhi / Ms Lora

[GuyBoden]

Having read various related threads, I do think that the present price of a Yunzhi custom built guitar is expensive considering the risk in quality.

Fret levelling and electrics are easy to fix, but any structural defects are not.

[Woody Sound]

Having read various related threads, I do think that the present price of a Yunzhi custom built guitar is expensive considering the risk in quality.

Fret levelling and electrics are easy to fix, but any structural defects are not.

+1, Fret levelling and electrics are easy to fix, but any structural defects are not.

[nbevan3]

+1, Fret levelling and electrics are easy to fix, but any structural defects are not.

My guitar had no structural defects (was I lucky?) but I think that the cost (in the U.K.) is unbeatable if you get a good Yunzhi.

It really does come down to “how much risk are you prepared to take?”

[Jimmy blue note]

My guitar had no structural defects (was I lucky?) but I think that the cost (in the U.K.) is unbeatable if you get a good Yunzhi.

It really does come down to “how much risk are you prepared to take?”

+1 Agree fully. Of course I'm a luthier so if I don't like the sound of the guitar, I can (and have) regraduated a Yunzhi. It was fine before. It was stellar after. But really, I write to Lora and the workmen making my guitar and they put the care in. I can feel it.
Who knows? Maybe they like me and the senior guy in the shop says "I got this one.", they're a human operation but I do believe in them, and they know that and I've never been disappointed.

To that note, I've had Gibsons that were built heavier than others of that vintage, two Johnny Smiths that I've played by the way, similar serial number vintage, but one felt cautious (graduated on the heavier side), and one that was dangerously well carved and tuned (I say dangerous because you don't carve that thin unless you REALLY know your game and your fingers know what you're looking for).
So in any shop, there will be senior luthiers and maybe supervised journeyman level builders.

In a Chinese factory I've had good experience but I don't know what happens on the other end of the spectrum. Mr Wu, is one man, a master builder and I KNOW he knows what he's doing. He is also the ONLY one doing all the work (even the tedious stuff) which is why he wanted to quit and why his instruments are among the best. Period. Yunzhi has builders of that caliber too, but grunt work is done by others, so it's less expensive. More hands on the instrument when it's got the Yunzhi name on. They both work from the same aesthetic and specs as a baseline.

I can see where it seems like a risk at that price point. If you're a player who can be happy with an instrument that has a much greater quality control record, definitely don't go for a Chinese custom... until as a player, you get to the point that you NEED a custom guitar; then look at all your options. That's my feeling.

[nbevan3]

... at that price point.

... and with a 25% Trump Trade Tariff on the way, the price point differential disappears in the USA.

[Jimmy blue note]

... and with a 25% Trump Trade Tariff on the way, the price point differential disappears in the USA.

It will be interesting to see what this does with the custom guitar market. It's not clear whether tariffs are across the board, whether they effect companies that have a presence state side, whether there is anything under the radar or what. Stay tuned.
So if all guitars are so expensive that Gibson's prices become the normalized, everybody who wants a guitar will buy a Gibson and the Nashville factory can afford to hire a full staff and make archtops better than they ever did. That's the thinking, right?
I did write to several of my contacts in China to ask how they thought prices might be effected. They've been pretty upfront with me. They said the policy is not really clear because it changes so often.
Who would've thought that such a simple solution would offer such an elegant solution a country's GAS issues?

[GuyBoden]

I've ordered a Yunzhi ebony bridge in a Jimmy D'Aquisto style for my Jimmy D'Aquisto Centura copy.

It will be interesting to see the bridge when it is delivered. If it's a good ebony bridge, I'll order a Yunzhi guitar.

Below is a picture of an original Jimmy D'Aquisto bridge.

[Jimmy blue note]

I've ordered a Yunzhi ebony bridge in a Jimmy D'Aquisto style for my Jimmy D'Aquisto Centura copy.

It will be interesting to see the bridge when it is delivered. If it's a good ebony bridge, I'll order a Yunzhi guitar.

Who'll do the foot/top fitting? This is a custom bridge for an existing guitar? You know they need to be hand fitted to each individual guitar, right? Why did you choose Yunzhi over Daniel at Muzoo? He builds those bridges in that style on all his guitars. He's really good at it.
Looks like an exciting addition!

[GuyBoden]

Who'll do the foot/top fitting? This is a custom bridge for an existing guitar? You know they need to be hand fitted to each individual guitar, right? Why did you choose Yunzhi over Daniel at Muzoo? He builds those bridges in that style on all his guitars. He's really good at it.
Looks like an exciting addition!

Hopefully, I'll fit the ebony bridge myself, with a piece of sandpaper stuck on the top of the guitar with masking tape. Then sand the bottom of the bridge base until it nearly fits (very slight gap to allow for string tension).

"Daniel at Muzoo", thanks for the info.

[Rickco]

Hopefully, I'll fit the ebony bridge myself, with a piece of sandpaper stuck on the top of the guitar with masking tape. Then sand the bottom of the bridge base until it nearly fits (very slight gap to allow for string tension).

"Daniel at Muzoo", thanks for the info.

Id love to see a pic of that bridge when it comes in, whats "Muzoo" I googled it and just got giant on line store? If its in US how to contact Daniel?
Thanks, I want one!

[GuyBoden]

Id love to see a pic of that bridge when it comes in, whats "Muzoo" I googled it and just got giant on line store? If its in US how to contact Daniel?
Thanks, I want one!

I'm guessing that Jimmy means Musoo Guitars in China.
Musoo Guitars here:
Archtop Guitar-Product-Beijing Palace Musical Instrument CO.,LTD

[Spook410]

I would like one as well if there are ordering instructions available..

[GuyBoden]

I would like one as well if there are ordering instructions available..

Jimmy must mean "Dan Li" at Musoo Guitars China.

Contact Here:
Contact-Beijing Palace Musical Instrument CO.,LTD

See screen grab picture below:

[Spook410]

So.. it's as simple as 'Hiya Dan Li.. howabout one of those cool bridges?'

[GuyBoden]

Why did you choose Yunzhi over Daniel at Muzoo? He builds those bridges in that style on all his guitars. He's really good at it.

So.. it's as simple as 'Hiya Dan Li.. howabout one of those cool bridges?'

Maybe it is, I'd ask Jimmy blue note.

Edit: Yunzhi are making my D'Aquisto type bridge, when it's delivered I'll post a picture here, then you can assess the quality.

[mrwoland]

Hi!
I have an Aria D'Aquisto Centura bridge, if someone is interested let me know!

[Mick-7]

Here is Yunzhi's Reverb page -- Beijing Yunzhi Music Instruments - Reverb.com

"Head logo: none or custom (30 USD extra cost)"

Custom... um, how about Gibson?

[Jimmy blue note]

Maybe it is, I'd ask Jimmy blue note.

Edit: Yunzhi are making my D'Aquisto type bridge, when it's delivered I'll post a picture here, then you can assess the quality.

This is Daniel's work. They sell for $1200 with a AAA solid spruce top. Solid wood all around. Solid workmanship and a slightly longer (like Johnny Smith) scale which gives them a nice projection.

NEW BRAND AAA-Hand-carved Archtop 17" Jazz Guitar | eBay

He makes them in 15", 16", 17" and maybe 18" I'm not sure. They're all custom so you can certainly change your specs, or get it in a 7 string if you want, and have the colour you want.
It's got the stick plane bridge as you can see, or you can get thumbwheels if you'd prefer.

They're their own beast. Don't even think about them if you're trying to recreate somebody else's work for cheap.

You can ask them if they'll make a bridge for you.

[Jimmy blue note]

"Head logo: none or custom (30 USD extra cost)"

Custom... um, how about Gibson?

Chibson? Sure. Some nice "Gibsons" coming out of China, some beautiful "Martins", some beautiful Leicas, Hassalblads, Rolexes with real fine inner workings.
I was heartbroken when the turned the SS United States luxury liner into an off shore reef. Guess now my only choice is to have one built for me in China.

[Christian Miller]

Oh that is a beautiful ship :-(

[GuyBoden]

This is Daniel's work. They sell for $1200 with a AAA solid spruce top. Solid wood all around. Solid workmanship and a slightly longer (like Johnny Smith) scale which gives them a nice projection.

NEW BRAND AAA-Hand-carved Archtop 17" Jazz Guitar | eBay

He makes them in 15", 16", 17" and maybe 18" I'm not sure. They're all custom so you can certainly change your specs, or get it in a 7 string if you want, and have the colour you want.
It's got the stick plane bridge as you can see, or you can get thumbwheels if you'd prefer.

They're their own beast. Don't even think about them if you're trying to recreate somebody else's work for cheap.

You can ask them if they'll make a bridge for you.

Yes, that's a nice guitar, similar to the guitar I'm thinking of ordering from Yunzhi. (I'm waiting for my bridge from Yunzhi.)

Here: Yunzhi Carved Top Jazz Guitar

[GuyBoden]

Yunzhi have built the D'Aquisto type ebony bridge I ordered. Looks good in the photos.

I'm waiting for the bridge to be shipped.

Here are the ebony bridge pictures Yunzhi sent to me:


https://yunzhimusic.en.alibaba.com/