I put this in playing/techniques because I think the way I play has been doing this, but check this out:
I just got the second bachi, and I haven’t even had it for a month and the same crack appears, at the same location. Anyone else run into this? And if so, how did they adjust their playing style to not blow up their bachi? I wonder if I’m just playing too hard, or putting pressure in the wrong areas. One of those bachi has the same crack on the other side as well.
Think we’ve seen such images on Bachido. Possible cause could be low quality bachi or bearing a bit too hard on the skin? But may be hard to avoid for tsugaru players for what I know.
Where do you keep your thumb while playing? I suppose it makes some difference how the pressure is applied.
You may want to search for broken bachi threads.
Whoa snap! (no pun intended)
I’m not sure what these bachi are made of, but it’s been very hit or miss. Some last for a really long time, and others have spontaneously split after a month or two. :-S
Your bachi are insured and can be replaced. Fortunately, it’s only cracked at the base, so as a temporary fix, I’d like you to put superglue along the crack to keep it from spreading. After I get back from Japan next month, we can work on getting them replaced for you.
Well that’s awesome. I’ll find some superglue in the interim then. Also, I’ll post up some pics of how I’m holding it as well, FOR SCIENCE!
Very strange. I actually have never seen cracks in a Bachi in that particular spot. And for them to appear very similarly in two different Bachi. Woa! Honestly I can’t imagine what you must be doing or have done to get that result. Are you gripping the Bachi in those spots? That might potentially cause something like that (putting pressure etc.) . If it’s an issue with your technique and/or how you are holding and striking with the Bachi I would like to suggest that you try your best to develop a more stable bachi technique soon, otherwise even with replacements or a quick fix the issue might still continue on into the future. I find that proper Bachi technique is somewhat of a paradox. The crazy thing is that you need to keep your hand relaxed. Just tense enough to keep a steady grip. Other than that keep the striking hand 100% totally relaxed. Ironically this produces a much more powerful tone than when you tense up or try to use brute strength or muscle force etc. Try not to put any pressure on, around or into the actual Bachi as you play and just let the weight of the Bachi work for you. In other words let it fall into the strings with a relaxed touch. Hope you find your way through this and hope the future will yield better Bachi results for ya!
Bachi On my friend!