Very special episode today, as we have our first guest appearance! Also, in response to Ortjo’s request, a tone test of a wide variety of koma.
“coincidence” . . . “oh” . . . well that was funny . . . although I thought about a giveaway announcement at the end and was dissapointed (just kidding)
cool flute playing too . . . as for the komas I probably expected more differences than I heard (on my pc speakers anyway) so with regard to getting a first shamisen and starting out playing as a beginner my conclusion would be that I will not need to worry much about whatever koma the shamisen may come with even though I am quite sure I would appreciate the subtle differences and might get to seriously wanting a certain one after I guess a couple of months playing or so . . .
Thank you very much for the episode! It was very clear and had enough varieties of Komas EXCEPT the only thing that left me wondering was that there was no basic plastic koma and i believe the biggest difference lies in plastic and whatever other koma?
And very nice Shinobue playing!
Wow, I really appreciate this episode! It was really great to have all of the koma compared in such a way - and on all of the strings for that matter!!
I was thinking about purchasing a new koma while I was in Japan; I wasn’t sure, and I wish I had watched this prior.
I love your flute playing! And I wish we got to hear you on the Shamisen bro!!
In my opinion, the real differences are when you actually strike the strings. When we were recording them, the volume was too high to get clipped so I was just kind of lightly “picking” the strings. That would explain why the difference may not be obvious especially through some PC speakers.
FINALLY you joined us on the forum Carlo!! 
Dive in! 
Ah, anywho, right. Though I think perhaps the differences might be a little more noticeable with the light picking, as the percussive element doesn’t get in the way of the raw sound of the koma/string.
Slightly off topic… darn I was checking out vids for Kankara and Gottan. Both of them are very interesting. Kankara sounds quite good with Jongara bushi. Kyle, perhaps you might want to have some side topics about how to make some of those as quick DIY projects!
Oh right! Papa and Gerry have suggested that many months ago, but I’ve been lazy or something. I have to learn how to make one first. 
Thanks for the reminder. It will happen. … eventually.
When I was writing in the other topic about string breaking and lubricated notches, I asked myself: why are there no metal komas?
Crap sound? Too much weight for the skin? People thinking it’s not traditional?
well atleast the idea sounds very weird but that sound must be so crisp or something
and there are light metals too… Like Aluminium
Yes. Aluminum might actually be light enough that it may not put too much pressure on the skin. I would guess that to be the main reason metal is mostly not used.
Then again as Karl said… Might be simply a crappy sound.
Or perhaps it was never tested? Or perhaps at the time they were innovating, (which Gerry talks about) the metal materials weren’t that good?
Recently, I saw a mention about an aluminum mandolin saddle in a bluegrass newspaper. Perhaps it’s working for mandolin?
We have quite a bit of metal at Abbott HQ (and not just in my media library). After I finally get this current shamisen done, fabricating an aluminum koma might make for a good blogcast.
Kyle, that sounds like an epic idea If you have enough spare metal, please try with different types of notches and forms of the actual part that goes on the skin. Really looking forward to it! (A bit envious of your workshop)
Will do!
Masahiro established connections with a koma maker (which will hopefully help lower the price). He encouraged me to come up with my own design for koma, as he’d be able to have it professionally made.
It’s such a simple piece that I’m not sure how the shape could be changed much! Maybe something like a radius?