Shamisen Dream

General
#1

I had a dream last night that I was playing a shamisen for an event at school. I got the shamisen used from the bachido store, except it wasn’t an ordinary shamisen. It looked just like a regular kouki shamisen, except the kamigoma was replaced with a minature brass bridge and it was strung the same way as an electric guitar. Instead of itomaki it had mechanical brass tuners installed in the longer than average nakago, erhu style, that looked similar to azuma sawari knobs. The tuners were slotted into cavities cut into the nakago, and could slide out so the (mitsutori) shamisen could be disassembled. So it had no neo or itomaki. Also I think it was electric and had fibersen. Unfortunately I woke up before going on stage, so I don’t know how good I played.

Not sure why I would want a shamisen strung backwards like that, just thought it would be cool to share :slight_smile:

#2

Whoa! That’s not a dream, that’s a vision!

Very interesting. By nakago, do you mean the spike going through the dou? The tuners were set there?

If you are one of those wickedly fast artists (arteests), any chance you’d like to make a quick sketch (even if it’s just 10 seconds spent drawn on a napkin)? It’d be cool to see what you imagined. Who knows, it could be possible!

I fell asleep for about 10~20 minutes on the plane. I dreamed I was on the volleyball court and the ball was coming at me but I was too far back. So I jumped forward in the dream, and woke up kicking forward. :wink: Fortunately, I didn’t kick the seat.

#3

I’m too busy at work to draw anything, but this picture is a pretty good visual:

Very interesting. By nakago, do you mean the spike going through the dou? The tuners were set there?

Yep, they were like the ones in this pic, except they were slightly tapered and had a star shaped profile to keep them from falling out. Other than that they were removable. The “kamigoma” was just a chunk of brass through which the strings could be run.

I fell asleep for about 10~20 minutes on the plane. I dreamed I was on the volleyball court and the ball was coming at me but I was too far back. So I jumped forward in the dream, and woke up kicking forward. :wink: Fortunately, I didn’t kick the seat.

I’m pretty sure the people sitting around you got a kick out of that.

#4

If it makes any sense, imagine the tuner like a regular Azuma sawari device, but instead of moving up and down it twists left and right to tighten the strings. Instead of being straight sided and glued in place it is tapered and wedges in place. To keep it from slipping it has ridged sides that fit into a bushing/collar attached to the nakago. So basically it’s shape alone holds it in place and it can easily be popped out for disassembly, but not easy enough for it to happen on accident. Hope all that makes sense.

#5

Ah… very interesting. It makes total sense, I wonder if that could actually work? If no itomaki were needed on top, then that’s room for something artsy (especially thinking of the metal shamisen, where the itomaki seem to get in the way of adding horns or such)

Of course, the one hiccup is that if it goes out of tune, you have to completely stop playing for the bachi hand to reach down to the tuners. With the itomaki on the left side, the left hand can operate them while still playing.

Still, it’s good for potentially inspiring new ideas! :slight_smile:

#6

Oh…oh…oh…This is Amazing! Never underestimate the vision/meaning and ideas and all of that which can come from a dream!

#7

great dream

#8

Woow, what a realistic dream you (Cody) had！(◎_◎;) I am envious!

#9

While looking through the StewMac website I found this guitar done the same way:

If no itomaki were needed on top, then that’s room for something artsy (especially thinking of the metal shamisen, where the itomaki seem to get in the way of adding horns or such)

The idea is to carve the tenjin into the shape of an oni mask like this:

Of course, the one hiccup is that if it goes out of tune, you have to completely stop playing for the bachi hand to reach down to the tuners. With the itomaki on the left side, the left hand can operate them while still playing.

That’s why they are mechanical :stuck_out_tongue:

© 2020 Kyle Abbott