Hi everyone. I would appreciate if I’d have some feedback on the bachi for tsugaru. Yes the plastic one sucks lol. For long term use (I’m only a beginner btw) which one would be best to use?
Would a soft or normal one be better? Also what kind of flexibility does a bekkou chou bachi have? My shamisen leader says that many people prefer soft ones because it’s easier to use, but he sticks to hard ones.
Any help??
Hi Jasman,
If you go in Bachido Store section where the bachi are, Kyle explained the differences really well.
I never had a bekko bachi but I own 2 faux bekko. I started with a wooden bachi 2 years ago and I was not mentally ready to spend so much money on a plectrum at first but one day I had a bubble going through my head and I decided to purchase a faux bekko on E-bay.
It was more comfortable playing but the biggest difference to me was the sound. It was softer than the wooden one.
I attended Shamicamp in California last April and I bought another faux bekko bachi from Bachido. I couldn’t play more than 3 hours without my wrist feeling tired. I noticed that the balance of my bachi and the Bachido one was different and I bought it. I can play without worries now.
So I would say that it is personal feeling and the sound you’re looking for that makes the difference in your choice.
If you can try someone else’s bachi, it can give you an idea. Also, if you ever plan to go to Shamicamp, you may ask the other participants (and maybe Kyle) about trying their bachi. 
Hello Jacinthe Ma,
I think I know what you mean about the wooden bachi. I have tried it and it feels different from the plastic one. I’ve also tried a full bekkou bachi which had a hard tip. My leader personally prefers to use hard tips.
Maybe it’s time to invest in a faux bekkou bachi.
Thanks for the advice!