Hey Volks,
I’m done with the construction of a Tsugaru Shamisen thanks to Kyles awesome book “Shamisen of Japan”. It was pretty much work ( & fun 
and took a lot of time but at the end, it turned out what it should be: a shamisen !!
I’m very satisfied and lucky !
Thanks a lot to all the bachido members who helped me out with it,
especially Kyle and Lorraine 
At last some images !
Regards Phil
Big congratulations! Looks great! Now play it!
Congratulations, Phil!! Man, it looks beautiful. It’s been very fun to watch the progression of the shamisen’s construction, and you should be very proud of your achievement!
Wow! It’s really really Great! Yes! Can we hear how it sounds?
Thank you all for the nice words !! At the moment it sounds very warm and deep like an accoustic guitar. The calf skin is stretched to the limit but still not tight enough. So I’m restretching it right know with synthetic skin from Remo. Maybe it will sound more “shamisen- like” afterwards.
Awesome!
Thanks ! Right into kawahari I have to say that the synthetic skin can be stretched very very tight !! 
By the way I removed the lacquer of the shamisen to give it an oil finish ! Kyle recommended it but I had such a nice violin lacquer standing around 
Anyway, now it looks even more awesome after oiling it with some extra fine german wood oil !!
Fotos following ^^
. . . awesome the whole thing! a german wood oil? what is it called? as this might be available in austria too . . . I used a wood / furniture polish oil called Estalin commonly available around here after a guitar repair shop guy had recommended it and although I have no comparison it looks fine to me . . .
Nothing wrong with a luscious wood oil! I have a friend who makes violins and mandolins, and he only uses oil for his mandolins (amber for violins). He said lacquer tends to make the sound too bright for his tastes, whereas oil makes a deeper, warmer tone.
Of course, the thickness of wood on a mandolin is about 5mm, so this won’t matter for a shamisen who’s soundbox is five times thicker.
Can’t wait to see!
Sorry guys for the late answer !! B H the oil is called “Drechsler-Öl” from the brand “Steinert”,its from the “Erzgebirge” the home of wood crafting in germany. It now looks not so shiny but has a very nice touch while playing. I’m totally satisfied !!
The syntethic skin works so fine that I actually started playing the shamisen the sound is much more crispy than before. So now I have the back side skinned with calf (very tight) and the front side with Remo skin (even tighter).
Finally some images again
Beautiful work, Phil!
May I ask, what glue did you use for the Remo skin? I have a friend who’s trying to do the same.
awesome and thanks for the oil info will keep my eyes open for this
Thank u guys ! I used coated Remoskin (had to roughen the glue area) and JB weld cold welding glue. It’s a two component glue. I felt like the whole kawahari process is much more “tricky” if you use synthetic stuff. It’s not so clean neither nice to be fitted. If that makes any sense.
Anyway I could stretch it till the limits of the steel clamps and the glue worked very well, except some problems with the edges and the color of the skin (I whitened it thinly).
At last I have to say that NO other glue worked for me because of the awful plastic skin
This is the first time I am seeing this. I’m so glad I was able to help! WOWWOWWOW!! This shamisen is BEAUTIFUL!!! Congrats Phil! Now, question for you - Where did you get the Remoskin?