One common misconception: When purchasing a guzheng, brand doesn't matter, and branded guzhengs offer low value for money.
Some say that when purchasing a guzheng, it's all about the material, not the brand. The same material in a guzheng with a brand is more expensive, and the extra cost is attributed to brand advertising. There's no need to chase after brands. This seems logical, but it's actually a big misconception. Brand guzhengs have been refined in the market for many years. They have their own systems in product research and development, manufacturing processes, and after-sales services, which are not available from manufacturers of non-branded guzhengs. Although some guzhengs may look the same in terms of material, the same material can produce a guzheng with dramatically different hand feel and sound quality due to different processing techniques and craftsmanship. To illustrate, just like a blank sheet of paper and a box of paints can become a masterpiece in a painter's hands, but in the hands of an ordinary person, it might only turn into a simple doodle.
Myth Two: Do not purchase a zither from a teacher.
Have you ever felt guilty about buying a guzheng from your teacher, worrying that they might be making a lot of money? Rest assured, teachers primarily earn through teaching, which is a long-term and sustainable endeavor. No teacher would risk tarnishing their image with students and parents by selling guzhengs at a higher price. It's not worth it, as prices are generally transparent today. Whether you buy a guzheng from your teacher or find another source, the price difference is minimal. However, if you purchase one independently, you might lack knowledge about brands, sound quality, material, and feel, leading to a less useful instrument and potentially wasting your money.
Myth Three: Purchasing a zither online is cheaper than buying one from a physical store.
Some say that physical stores incur rent and labor costs, making guzheng (a traditional Chinese musical instrument) definitely more expensive than online. However, this is not necessarily true. While online stores don't have rent, they still have to bear the costs of rankings, promotions, and other expenses, which may not be less than those of physical stores. The prices of brand guzheng online are not significantly different from those in physical stores. On the contrary, many "no-name" guzhengs are sold at very low prices online, with beautifully photographed images and videos. But when you receive the actual product, there might be a big difference. It's then very troublesome and passive to seek after-sales service. Guzheng is a musical instrument, with sound quality and handling being the top priorities, followed by appearance. At physical stores, you can play and listen to it firsthand, which is far more real than what you see and hear in videos.
