at the wrapping end. Recent issues on strings Although the future of metal-nylon string manufacture is secure, the manufacture situation of silk strings is not. Throughout the ages, particularly the political disturbances of the twentieth century as well as the popularity of the metal-nylon strings, has seen silk string manufacture decline. Plus the difficulty in obtaining the best quality silk and the difficulty in obtaining a high quality throughout has brought about only short phases now and again of silk string manufacture. There has been efforts to produce silk strings to the quality and standard that they were before the disruptions. Wong Shu-chee led the first serious undertaking to produce good quality silk strings around the turn of the century producing his strings under the Taigu brand (defunct around 2009). Since then there has been the revived Jinyu brand (under the supervision of one of the last silk string makers of the former era) and the Huqiu brand, improved from a decade ago. Also, Japanese silk string makers have attempted making strings for the qin. Since 2013, there are around half a dozen of so groups researching on traditional silk string making in the hope of producing silk strings to the best standard and quality. The pros and cons of silk and metal-nylon strings To summarise, here are the pros and cons of silk and metal-nylon strings: Silk Pros Uniqueness: has a special quality and sound that metal-nylon strings cannot fully embody. Harmonics purer than on metal-nylon. Elegance: more elegant and ancient to use. Preferred by the traditionalists. Re-usability: one string can be re-used several times before it must be replaced. Less harmful: does not damage the instrument or wear down the lacquer to a greater extent than metal-nylon. Stringing: easier to string than metal-nylon. Environmental: bio-degradable and natural. Renewable source. Can last centuries. Cons Stability: tends to de-tune from time to time and requires re-stringing or re-adjusting. Also, the climate plays a part in its playability. Strength: tends to break more often and more easily than metal-nylon. Not suitable for excessively hard play. Volume: very quiet and requires you to be in a near perfect environment in order to hear yourself play. Usage: more difficult to play. Weaknesses in play become more noticeable. Sound: some may find the scratchy sounds during the slides not to their taste. Also, buzzing sounds can occur, but that arises from the player plucking