Looking for a Shakuhachi or bamboo flute-to buy or trade

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:13 pm

Hi Folks,

I would like to try the Shakuhachi flute, and saw some I liked online, but I thought someone here might have one they aren't playing anymore that they wouldn't mind selling or trading. I would prefer the 1.8 or 2.1, 2.4 something in that range (low D, C, B), but not expensive (as in trade for Low Whistle).

Or I would also consider a nice lower key bamboo flute, like low D and below.

They wouldn't necessarily have to be in tune with other instruments as long as they were in tune with themselves. As long as they are made well and of good quality, for learning to play.

I have some low whistles (low Ds, Eb) and one nice high d, that I could trade, or if you prefer, I could buy it outright. Any interest, please email or PM me.

Thank you!

perrins57 · Post by **perrins57** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 2:40 am

I have the ABS Shakuhachi Yuu - its a great way to start learning Shak. Its not that expensive (mine was second hand from Ebay) Its easier to play than most cheap bamboo Shaks, its not as likely to split and its harder to break. If you enjoy it, you might then want to consider investing in a decent Root Bamboo Shak, if you dont get on with it, it will be easy to sell on.

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:23 pm

Thanks, Mark!

I did see those on the web, and it is on my list as a consideration. How do you like the tone of it?

I understand the tuning is right on, but I'm more interested in the tone.

Thanks!

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:43 pm

It's very nice.

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:37 pm

Thanks Jessie!

perrins57 · Post by **perrins57** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:58 am

JessieK wrote:It's very nice.

I agree, it doesn't sound like a lump of plastic. Unfortunately or fortunately, its tone sounds like - how well you play it!
It can be made to look remarkably like a bamboo Shak as well. I wood dyed mine and lacquered the bore, here’s one on the net that looks similar to mine
http://home.earthlink.net/~soundwave1/Inga/yuu.htm .

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:14 pm

How does finger spread compare to a low D whistle

(A person that I know wants to play one, but has very small hands)

PS Thanks for the link to the Yuu.

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:15 pm

It's much easier than the low whistle, because the middle finger isn't used to finger the notes at all.

Thomas-Hastay · Post by **Thomas-Hastay** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:59 am

Http://www.shakuhachi.com/

Monty Levenson (site owner) used to have a selection of used instruments for sale. You could also consider the "Craft Manuals" section and make one of your own(?)

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:14 am

Thomas-Hastay wrote:Http://www.shakuhachi.com/

Monty Levenson (site owner) used to have a selection of used instruments for sale. You could also consider the "Craft Manuals" section and make one of your own(?)

I made one very similar to this a few years ago, and it really played well. Very easy to make (not so easy to learn to play)

http://www.fides.dti.ne.jp/~sogawa/englishpagepvc.html

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:48 pm

Hey Mark, that had occured to me too about putting some wood coloration on it, and the flute in the link you sent looks great!

I'm still not sure about learning Shakuhachi, it seems the consensus is that it's pretty difficult to make it sound good, let alone play it well. At least that is my impression from all the comments I've read so far.

And I still may prefer a bamboo instrument, just because of the tone and the feel, even if I do just get one that is in tune with itself. A friend of mine is generously sending me a bamboo quenacho to see if I like it, which uses a similar end blown embouchure cutout, but with the diatonic scale instead of pentatonic. He played Scarborough Fair/The Selkie on the Clips and Snips "Non-Whistle" page on the quenacho, and also an Andean piece, and it sounded great with him playing it, as usual!

In the low price range I am looking in, I don't think many deal in used instruments, that's basically why I asked here on Chiff.

And as far as making one, it might be a fun project sometime, but I don't have much of a place to work on things like that. Personally, with the difficulty of the instrument, I would rather have someone who knows what they are doing make me one that I know plays well enough so I don't start out with a disadvantage there!

Thanks for your help, people! I don't know where I will end up with this, but I would like to try Shakuhachi because it sounds so beautiful, and also it's such a different instrument and scale, even if it isn't easy!

mukade · Post by **mukade** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:41 am

Monty Levenson's student models are very nice instruments.
They are much better than most cheaper root-end shaks.

My teacher here in Japan ordered one after he played mine, and he uses it for his students. He said it's the only cheap shak he has heard that comes close to playing like an expensive one.

Monty is also a very nice chap.

Mukade

perrins57 · Post by **perrins57** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:19 am

I've made several home plumbing pipe Shaks - one sounded remarkably good. The hard bit it getting the angle of the blowing edge right (especially without the proper tools) But its fun, cheap and well worth a go.
I enjoy playing my Shak, it did take a while to make a decent sound - twenty minutes for my first proper note - but once you've done it, its a lot easier the next time. The main drawback for me is the minor pentatonic scale. I like to play with other musicians and the Shak scale limits what you can play. One day I may get a Shak with seven holes, you can still play the minor pentatonic scale, but you can also play along to a wider range of tunes as well.
Once you've got to the place where you can reliably get notes on a Shak, getting a sound out of Quenas or other ethnic flutes is a cinch! Also the Shak is unparalleled for improving your breathing control. Playing low Shaw's or my Reyburn wide bore C is much easier after you've played Shak for a while. Now when I hear whistle players moan about the breath requirements of some whistles I just think - you wimps you should try a Shak!

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:01 pm

Yes, Mukade, I have been considering one of Monty's Tiger Bamboo Meditation Shaks, I love the look of that Tiger Bamboo he uses! It's also good to know that his student models (not in my price range for now) are highly regarded.

I've also been looking at Perry Yung's meditation Shaks too. He seems to make a quality flute too for either a beginner such as me, or a more serious student or Shak player. Here's his website link:

http://www.yungflutes.com/log/

Mark, I did see one of those hybrids, by David Brown, it looks interesting!, here's a link:

http://www.shakuhachi.com.au/16.html

Someone else had a transverse Pentatonic flute, I imagine there are lots of variations out there. I would rather just get a trusted quality flute even if it is an entry level flute, such as Monty's or Perry's meditation Shaks, if I decide on bamboo to start rather than the more serious student's ABS Yuu. I think it will be one of these for me, unless I get an offer here on Chiff for a used one that someone doesn't play.

It's nice to have choices, but sometimes it takes a while to narrow them down. Thanks everyone for helping me with this!

perrins57 · Post by **perrins57** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 1:06 am

Thanks for the link GSW.
Erik the Flutemaker does transverse pentatonics. eriktheflutemaker.com