Ebay advice please!

Store/Sales
#1

Hi all! I’m looking to buy a used or entry level shamisen to learn with for a couple years before spoiling myself with a top notch tsugaru. I found an ebay listing that I might shoot for, but any advice would make the decision easier. It looks like a nice quality nagauta, which I’d be more than happy with as a starter, and it also seems to come with all the needed fixtures to play.

Does this look like a decent instrument, or is it covered with stop signs that can only be seen by eyes more trained than my own?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Vintage-SHAMISEN-Classic-Stringed-Instrument-0323-/151107305753

Thanks for any pointers. I’m stoked to finally begin my shamisen journey!

#2

Its seems ok but have a lift in the skin (like the glue is over or something? I am not an expert, so I can´t tell), you will have problems in the future but I think its a very good shamisen for this price. If you take a good care of this instrument I think this wouldn´t be a problem.

I bought my shamisen to this seller so, I can say its a very good seller.

The coma its a plastic one, I suppouse you need to change it in the future.

#3

I’m not an expert either but I have now a little experience in internet sales. I agree with Paco for the level of quality of the shamisen. I have a doubt on kouki for the sao but even shitan at this price is honest (Kyle, Nick and Cody have been very helpful when I had a wood identification question). Good luck anyway.

#4

Thanks for the feedback! I’m feeling more confident about the offer now, so I’ll probably place a bid after mulling it over for another day.

Paco - Thanks for pointing out the issue with the skin! I have Kyle’s “Shamisen of Japan” book, so I’ll see if that has any guidance for gluing the lift back down. I’m glad to hear you had good results with the seller too! He has good reviews, but I wasn’t sure if anyone actually played his shamisen or just displayed them as wall hangers.

Patrick - The price does look lower than I’d expect with kouki sao, but maybe it’s just a lucky find! Hopefully I’ll get a few more opinions on the wood type/quality before buying, but if not I’ll post more pictures once it arrives.

#5

Except for the skin being a little loose, it looks nice! I like the fact that they’re throwing in the fukuro, strings, koma, etc AND the bachi pouch! (Those things are 50 bucks by themselves).

The skin doesn’t look as if it’ll last much longer, that’s probably why the price is so inexpensive. I actually almost went for that one, except that I already have a nagauta.

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