Beginner Questions

Angela_Francescini · January 31, 2016, 6:11pm

Hi there Bachido!

I’m an absolute beginner when it comes to shamisen, and I’m looking to acquire my first instrument. There are no other players in this province, or anywhere close from what I can tell, so I’m here for some advice. I’ve got a few questions which I’m hoping you could clarify for me.

i) For shamisen with mitsutori, how much does frequent disassembly/reassembly effect the instrument? I might be disassembling/reassembling 8 or more times per month. I am a frequent traveller, spending more then 6 months of the year away from home, so having an instrument that can travel well with me is important. It will also be helpful in helping me choose a case or alternative. Smaller cases are easier for travel purposes, but I’ll choose something larger to avoid disassembly if necessary.

ii) I know changes in temperature and humidity can stress the skin, which is why I’ll be going with Fibersen for my choice instrument. However, it’s also bound to effect the wood. I do my absolute best to protect my instruments when I travel; they essentially go where I go when I’m on the go. Temperature I can manage fairly well. Despite my best intentions, I can’t really control the varying humidity all that well. Are any of the woods used super sensitive to changes in humidity ? My travels take me from down to humid, warm subtropical conditions all the way up to the low arctic, which is often exceedingly dry.

iii) I’m fortunate enough not to have my budget completely limited to a Beginner’s Shamisen, though I have no prejudice against it if it seems the best one for my purposes. I love the hard hitting, skillful nature of tsugaru music, but I will no doubt also experiment with other genres, including non-traditional, as that’s my tendency. So I’m hoping to find an instrument robust enough to put up with me, that will continue to suit me for many years, and that will travel without suffering too greatly. Does anyone have any particular recommendations? I’ll consider spending a bit more upfront if it avoids upgrading much in the future years.

Thanks so much for all of your help in advance,
Angela

Kyle_Abbott · February 1, 2016, 6:43am

Hi Angela!
Welcome to Bachido!
You’ve made a very good list of questions. A big theme of my answers are “it depends”, but I’ll try to explain as best I can!

This depends on the wood. Basically, every time it’s assembled/disassembled, the joints rub each other, wearing down the tight fitting edges. I think a shamisen with softer would like Karin or Purpleheart would wear down faster. (If disassembled 8 times per month, I can only guess that the joints would stay 100% flush for… a year or two? I could be wrong, it could last much longer) This is not damaging per se, there would just be a hairline crack visible where the joints connect. For this case, shamisen with harder wood (like shitan) would be more advantageous. ( being able to separate your shamisen for flying is soooo convenient)
This is where the soft wood has its advantages. I could be wrong, but I’ve noticed hardwoods are much more prone to cracking in extreme temperature/climate changes, whereas the softwoods can handle it better. Again, that’s more based on observation than scientific research.
With the above two contradictory advantages/disadvantages, it does make choosing an ideal shamisen a little challenging. Shitan wood is a bit softer than kouki, ( yet hard enough that it should last longer through frequent disassembly) so that might be a nice balance. One of the members of my local group shamisen class has a shitan Tsugaru Shamisen (with Fibersen) and it looks and sounds beautiful. The nejiri Itomaki can be swapped out with standard straight hexagonal itomaki, if you’d prefer.

Another good thing to know is despite the superficial blemish, most all cracks are repairable.

Hope that helps! Feel free to write with further questions you may have!
Cheers!
Kyle

Angela_Francescini · February 2, 2016, 1:04pm

Thanks for your feedback, Kyle! By the sound of it, a softer wood shamisen is going to be the ticket for me. When I travel for work it’s usually charter, so I don’t have to be terribly concerned with case size or luggage costs. Having an instrument that is less likely to crack is going to be the most important thing. I could easily use a pack case for the majority of the time, and minimize disassembly.

I’m currently eying the Sakura Shamisen, because it seems to have a lot going for it. If I were to buy a pack case for the Sakura, which one would I buy? It’s kind of tricky to figure out, since there’s next to no dimensions provided for these cases or instruments. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it without having some numbers to relate to!

Though that shitan shamisen is still awfully beautiful, and I like the itomaki just as they are! Ah, so many choices!

Also, is the purchasing procedure described in the shop FAQ accurate? Would the shipping cost be as it’s described on the page, or would be it be calculated after the order has been received? I’m just trying to get an idea of what my final cost is going to be, I know shipping to Newfoundland is often stupidly expensive.

Thanks,
Angela

Kyle_Abbott · February 2, 2016, 5:31pm

Hi Angela!
I agree, softer wood sounds like a good choice. And that’s excellent that luggage fees won’t be a problem! That does make things much easier. Note that even traveling with a long case, dismantling part of the shamisen would be safe. The sao can remain whole, but the dou and itomaki should be removed as they have been known to break in the holes during flight. (Filling the case with clothes or such soft cushioning would be a good idea too) Now, if you can take the long case up in the cabin, then nothing will need to be separated.

Oh yes, the Sakura is a really beautiful shamisen and one of my favorites to play! If you were to get a case for it, please choose the Tsugaru size. ( at some point, I should really explain the sizes better!)

Oh, the shipping cost procedure explained in the FAQ (slightly outdated, my bad!) is actually for the accessories. For large items like cases and instruments, the shipping cost is a fixed rate no matter where its sent in the world, so we just factor that into the price of the shamisen.

Cheers!
Kyle