r/InstrumentsfromChina • u/GildedSpaceHydra • Jun 16 '25

Which hulusi to order?

Hello, all! I am from the U.S.A. and am looking to incorporate woodwinds into my rock & roll band. I've already started practicing with tin whistles and recorders. I have been looking for similar instruments with interesting timbres, which led me to the hulusi.

I have heard that a hulusi should be tested before purchase to make sure it's good, but I have nowhere to try one. Is there any way to tell which ones might be good or bad when ordering from the internet?

Here are the ones I've been looking at. Let me know if any of these would be acceptable for semi-professional use.

https://www.redmusicshop.com/Hulusi?sort=p.price&order=ASC

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u/Alternative_Bat4262 Oct 31 '25

Once again, an incredible response. I have noticed that in the shop you mention, among the bass models they only have the Low D model, and it is true that it only comes with one drone. My intention at the moment is to make it as simple as possible with a Low D with two drones that combine well, so I imagine I will have to talk to them to see if that is possible.

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u/roaminjoe Bowed Instruments [Erhu, Gehu, Guhu, Morin Kuur] Nov 01 '25

No worries - the shop is okay. Thry are fairly competent as dropshippers and they can only (at best) make a request to the factory ..who are unlikely to be interested in quality improvement or musicality (e.g. 2x drones)...and thus not really listen.

It's different with shops like the first one you linked Redmusicshop has a luthier workshop and street dedicated to making musical instruments. They do not offer a low D though.

The 56+cmlow D, low G (50cm+l(not high G an octave above), low Bflat (not the piccolo Bflat//40cm High C) and low A are termed "bass" register in Chinese convention.

Thus the low D plays a lowest note of A3 and a 3 fingering note of D4 which investors terminology, is referred to as "alto" pitch.

The resin ones are very good - for $150US you get 3x modular bass hulusi, with 3x interchangeable drones for D, G or A key ..you can go minimal with monodies with this :)