Guzheng Pricing Tiers
(Spot updates May 2023; everything else December 2021)
Jump to: GZA Pricing Tiers | GZA Tier Definitions | Guzheng Store Pricing
Shipping disruptions and other issues from the pandemic have prices and shipping up almost everywhere; guzheng prices have gone up 10-20% on most models. All number below reflect the new prices. See Pandemic Shipping Costs Explained page for more details.
Different stores offer different names for their guzheng’s quality, making it difficult to compare. We can create our own pricing tier by comparing the cost of several particular models. For example, the Dunhuang 696D guzheng is listed as “Class 3”, “Intermediate”, and “Professional” at 3 different stores but prices only vary 10%: $684, $711, and $750.
We can compare prices across four reference models that 3+ stores offers:
Dunhuang 696D: $684, $711, and $750 (<10% variance)
Dunhuang 694KK: $1263, $1350, $1524 (20% variance)
Dunhuang 695T: $2210, $2280, $2544 (15% variance)
Scarlet Bird (Zhuque) 011A: $4880, $4880, $4971 (<2% variance)
This suggests that for reputable sellers in North America, price might be a reasonable way to assess quality. That 20% variance is concerning, but seems to be dominated by a particular seller’s up to 50% price increases. Therefore, particular sellers may trend on the higher side of the following guidelines:
Guzheng Alive Pricing Tiers
Cost after shipping.
Tier 0: <$500
Tier 1: $500-$700
Tier 2: $700-$1,000
Tier 3: $1,000-$1,500
Tier 4: $1,500-$4,000
Tier 5: $4,000-$20,000
Tier 6: $20,000-$100,000
Tier 7: $100,000-$255,000???
Definitions
Tier 0: Compromises are made to reduce price or size. Shortening a guzheng to make it easier to travel with is the most common decision; others can be quality of wood or construction methods that keep the cost down. These are not “Bad” instruments. They are simply prioritizing affordability. That said, you will be able to hear the difference.
Tier 1: Guzheng from reputable sellers that are ideal for students, especially if you are unsure of how committed the student is. Decorations and finishes are simpler to keep costs down but are still beautiful. The individual notes may not be as clear or ring as long as higher tiers but you’ll still have a great time. After about 2 years your ear and skill will have developed enough you might appreciate an upgrade.
Tier 2: These guzheng sound better than Tier 1 guzheng and decorations are more refined. More attention is paid to the soundboards, altering them to produce stronger bass or treble notes. In guzheng talk, people say the sound is “bright” when it has stronger high notes and “dark” when it has stronger low notes. You’'ll want to buy in this price range if you have a very critical ear and/or already know what type of sound you want.
Tier 3: Refined craftsmanship, higher grade materials, and more nuanced and complex sounds. The rough techniques of a new player may obscure some of these qualities, so not recommended for beginners. More advanced players can make them shine. Instrument makers customize the sound characteristics of instruments starting in this range to fit specific tonalities. Buyers should consider the genre of music they prefer to play, the techniques they use, and of course how the guzheng looks.
Tier 4: When Tier 3 isn’t enough. Everything is pushed farther. Custom designs, limited runs, specially treated materials, certification by master craftsmen and more. If a Tier 3 is something you’d be proud to perform a few songs on, a Tier 4 is something you’d be proud to perform a solo concert on.
Tier 5: Oh boy. Tier 5 is… fancy. The cost of a car. We go past the realm of musical quality and into rarity, precious materials, and exclusive, one-off instruments. Maybe it’s a collector’s edition, or an instrument with special history. Maybe the lumber is extra fine. Maybe their are extra qualities to the notes. Whatever the reason, guzheng at this level sound good and cost even more.
Tier 6: Opulence. Luxury. Guzheng that have gone so far beyond the music they are deep into the realm of sculpture. US-seller Sound of China listed a one-of-a-kind Mitsuya Koto for $86,000 in 2019.
Tier 7: For the specially crafted, one-of-a-kind, hyper luxury guzheng. The highest price fetched for a modern guzheng I know of sits at 1,280,000 RMB (~$190,000 USD) for a gold and jade-adorned guzheng produced by Dunhuang for the Music China 2018 trade show. Gossip the day of reported it was sold to Saudi Arabian royalty.
The luxury guzheng brand Xuanguang is all about these upper-tier creations. They made the guzheng featured in a 2019 performance by Wang Zhongshan that they valued at 1.8 Million RMB, or roughly $250,000 USD. I don’t know if it was ever actually sold at that price but a look through their catalog at partner site HKZhengArt shows prices from the solidly Tier 5 65,0-00 HKD (~$8,500 USD) to the Tier 7 $188,000 diamond-studded wedding anniversary edition.
Guzheng Store Pricing
Here is a list of English-Language storefronts and their “grade” naming conventions arranged by price. If shipping costs aren’t included add another $100 to $300 USD.
The Bamboo Grove (not including shipping, ~$125-$330)
Travel-Sized:
Class 2 / Professional: $309
Class 1/Professional: $329
Full:
Concerto: $399
Class 3 Paulownia: $489
Class 2 Paulownia: $899-$1,449
Class 1 Paulownia: $1,199-$3,099
Chinese Culture (not including shipping, ~$100)
(May be outdated; site not updated since 2017.)
Travel-sized
Student: $349
Full
Popular: $499-699
Elegant: $799-999
Best Selling: $999
Rare: $999-$1,099
Exquisite: $1,399
Master’s Favorite Guzheng: $1,299-$3,188
The Guzheng Shop (including shipping in US)
Travel-sized
Advanced: $448-$660
Premium: $805
Professional: $950
Concert: $1,480
Collection: $1,500-$1,550
Full
Advanced: $565-$798
Professional: $698-$950
Concert: $1,398-$2,850
Collection: $3,500-$4,880
Music of May - Canada (Including Shipping in US)
(Converted from Canadian Dollars ranging from CAD$450-$6,300 as of August 2020)
Travel-sized
Travel: $396-436
Full
General: $520-600
Professional: $720-$800
Stage Performance: $960-$1,520
Collection or stage performance: $1,600-$2,960
Top Collection or best stage performance: $3,920-$5,040
Sound of China / Sound of Asia (including shipping in US)
Travel-sized
Travel: $428
Travel Professional: $650
Travel Concert: $1,450-$1,499
Full
Basic: $450-$650
Intermediate: $535-$750
Professional: $750-$1,350
Concert: $980-$1,680
Collection: $1,350-$4,280
Elite: $4,880-$25,000 (+a $68,000 one-of-a-kind)
Toronto Music Pro - ON, Canada
(Converted from CAD $420-$4,200 May 2023)
Travel-Sized (36”-53”)
Entry Level: $311-$392
“Decent” (Premium) Entry Level: $356-$422
Full
Entry Level, General Purpose: $460-$481
Professional: $518-$1,037
Concert: $890-$1,630
Collection: $2,222-$3,112
Stores Outside North America
Eason Music Store - Singapore (not including shipping, ~$330)
(Converted from Singaporean Dollars ranging from SGD$650-$8,000 as of December 2021)
Travel-sized
Portable: $511
Concert: $1,641
Full
Starter: $485
Popular: $597-$821
Professional: $970-$1,120
Concert: $1,343-$1,492
Exquisite: $2,685-$5,966
Eight Tones - Singapore (not including shipping, ~$400-$1,000)
Full
Beginner: $642
Intermediate: $906-$982
Professional: $1,586-$13,219
Red Music Shop - Beijing, China (not including shipping, ~$260)
Travel-sized
Travel: $219
Full
(unknown): $270
Professional: $370-$440
Dunhuang: $600-$900
Sound of Mountain - Taizhou, China (Shipping Included)
Full
Professional: $398-$799
Concert: $715-$1,189
Premium: $2,028-$3,259
Toronto Music Pro - Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Shipping in North America Included)
(Converted from Canadian Dollars December 2021)
Travel-sized
Travel: $318-$389
Full
Entry, For beginners 入门级: $480-$500
Intermediate: $699 (Also labeled Professional)
General Purpose: $700
Professional: $700-$950 (And one at $1,400)
Concert: $1,200-$2,000
Collection: $2,999-$3,999