hello,
I bought a shamisen on Ebay, but I can not identify the type of shamisen.
The seller told me that this is one of Futozao. Because of Sao 1.1 inches wide, I have my doubts.
When do you think?
thank you
No, that’s not a futozao (Tsugaru) that’s a nagauta. You can tell by the itomaki and the shape of the hatomune, as well as the size. That’s definitely a nagauta.
And no way would you pay 114 US dollars for a futozao in any shape. Even a decrepit futozao would cost at least 500 bucks.
That’s a decent little nagauta, though. Nice doukake, comes with TWO koma, fukuro, a set of strings, and it even has the little end caps for traveling. I think you got a good deal, even though it’s not a futozao.
The width of Sao seems normal for nagauta?
The width of the sao is futozao (if it has been well measured). The shape of the hatomune is nagauta (or could it be a hidden gidayuu ?) I myself have a nagauta but my teacher confirms it is a shuuzao. So let’s throw labels and classifications… Congratulations. Lorraine is right, it is a good deal anyway.
I will take photo and dimensions once received.
The width of the sao is futozao (if it has been well measured). The shape of the hatomune is nagauta (or could it be a hidden gidayuu ?) I myself have a nagauta but my teacher confirms it is a shuuzao. So let’s throw labels and classifications… Congratulations. Lorraine is right, it is a good deal anyway.
shuuzao ?
Chuuzao and not shuuzao. Sorry
You know, sometimes these estate guys on eBay throw parts together and “create” a … Frankenshamisen? lol For instance, right now, there is a nagauta-like shamisen on eBay, but it has Okinawan itomaki on it. I think sometimes they evade definition. I got one last month where the sao only breaks into two pieces. I’ve never seen one like that before.
As long as you love it, love the sound, and how it plays, that’s all that matters. Maybe we will have to invent a whole new name for these cobbled together shamisen, LOL!
But YA, you did good! Had I seen that one, I might have bought it myself!
You should be careful when purchasing from Ebay, or even Rakuten. You could end up with a Gidayu (No offense to Gidayu players. I just don’t particularly prefer the sound) when you wanted a Tsugaru. I remember once finding this “Training Shamisen” on Gidayu that looked cool. It turned out to be a Gidayu when I was really looking for a Nagauta. Glad thing I didn’t buy it, but if I did, I’d have a problem.
The Shamisen you are looking at is most likely a custom made. The neck is thick like a Tsugaru but it swoops down like a Nagauta and the tuning pegs are thinner. It seems as if the maker wanted to play Nagauta but was used to Tsugaru so he thickened the neck. You should buy it, reskin it with the correct skin, and try it out. 
actually it would be nice a Gidayu
http://www.tikuyu-shamisen.com/cgi-bin/tikuyu-shamisen/siteup.cgi?category=1&page=4
Hello
the skin sold on ebay for a shamisen is ok?
shamisen received!
I confirm measurements shamisen given by seller
Sao width(top) :2.6cm/1.02 inches width(bottom) :2.8cm/1.1 inches
Sao moves at the beginning of the body, this is normal?
That’ s finally a nice “chuuzao nagauta”. The bottom of the “kyouguchi” doesn’t seem to fit perfectly with the sao. Is that what you mean by
Sao moves at the beginning of the body, this is normal?