How thick is thick?

Building/Repair
#1

I have a Nagauta Shamisen in need of new skins, and I’ve found a supplier of calf skin who will provide whatever thickness I need. My questions…

  1. I read Kyle’s book that thick is better, but was wondering if that was true for Nagauta as well?
  2. The supplier is asking how thick I want in sheets of paper or mm. Anyone know the answer?

I just returned from a family visit to Japan and brought the Shamisen home. I have never played, and just received my copy of Kyle’s book. I do however make acoustic guitars for a hobby having made 7 so far, and I believe I can learn how to restore this one.

Raymond

#2

From an earlier post

Kyle Abbott from Santa Cruz, CA · Sep 10, 2011 · Quote

I get mine from mid-east.com. :slight_smile: 12" calf or goat skin (thick) works nice.

http://www.mid-east.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=CF12-TK&eq=&Tp=
More info about the product in detail. “Flat round piece of calfskin without hair. Thickness: Thick- approximately 0.02 of an inch. This equates to the approximate thickness of 5-6 sheets of printer paper…”

#3

Thanks Mark. I had just read that about the time you responded. I’m assuming this applies to Nagauta size as well?

#4

Hey Raymond,

If you are planning on playing tsugaru style, a thick skin (the thickness Mark said) is necessary, as the skin needs to withstand the beating from the bachi strikes. Nagauta style doesn’t strike the skin the way tsugaru style does, and so a thinner skin is fine.

#5

Thanks for the quick reply.

I’m not familiar with the different styles so I guess I need to listen to some of each. In the meantime, I have some clamps and jigs to make.

#6

Please check out the Shamisen Styles page (http://bachido.com/overview/shamisen-styles) In the text below each shamisen is a link to a youtube video with the style of shamisen played. :slight_smile: You can get a good feel for the sound of each style.

Ah yes, on to clampmaking! Have fun! :slight_smile:

#7

Will do, and thanks.

© 2020 Kyle Abbott