The buying guide - when?

General
#1

Hi all,

I’m currently considering starting to play the shamisen. It’s my first post so a little introduction: My name is Karl Hedlund and I live in Sweden. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 and I’ve always loved the shamisen sound but until now I haven’t had the thought about getting one.

The shamisen scene in Sweden seems to be non existing, and I guess that’s not strange considering I saw an estimate on these forums that said that there are probably around 150 players altogether in the US.

I’ve watched the videos at the site, which without having the actual instrument are still very informative and from what I can tell you will want to have quality gear even if you are just starting with it. When I go and look at the beginner models of the tsugaru shamisen they are still quite pricy - I saw one at 10k$, and then you need to add more strings, the bachi and most likely a hardcase etc etc. This makes me hesitant of buying the beginner model if you pay that much money and still don’t get all the features, like the little buzz mechanism on the thick string. At the same time I’m worried about paying a lot of money for something I haven’t had the chance to even try out.

So I’m interested in a buying guide where I get all the features you need while not paying for prestige brands and so on. I saw that there will be such a guide at bachido.com but it isn’t up yet so I’m wondering when it will be released.

PS. I’m also wondering if you can play the shamisen properly and not disturb your neighbours (daytime, obviously) if you live in an apartment :slight_smile:

Thanks,
Karl Hedlund

#2

All i can say is that you CAN play shamisen without disturbing your neighbours, but you won’t get the rampaging feeling when playing quietly :DD

#3

Hi Karl,

Glad you are here! It’s time we got you started playing! :slight_smile:

I guess that’s not strange considering I saw an estimate on these forums that said that there are probably around 150 players altogether in the US.

I should note that figure was the amount of Shamisen of Japan book customers I had (though now it’s over 200). There are many, many more uncounted for, who may still think they are alone in the shamisen world.

  • I saw one at 10k$, and then you need to add more strings, the bachi and most likely a hardcase etc etc.

Hmm… do you mean $1,000? 10k is $10,000, which will get you a super high-end shamisen.

The beginner shamisen we will offer is about $517, and comes with everything you need, including a soft case. Though it will still have a buzz, it doesn’t come with an azuma sawari (the buzzing mechanism) to adjust the amount of buzz. Azuma Sawari, along with dog skin, will be offered in the next shamisen level (between $800~$1500)

I’m hoping to get the Bachido Store ready in October. I was quite optimistic with my original release date of September. :wink:

I’m also wondering if you can play the shamisen properly and not disturb your neighbours (daytime, obviously) if you live in an apartment :slight_smile:

Ditto what Ortjo said. :wink: You can also buy a “stealth bridge” which dampens the sound a bit. That will be available as well.

Little note, my dad used to live in Sweden, and his name’s Carl (with a C instead of a K). :wink:

#4

Oh so you are planning on hosting a shop on your own? Will you be making these shamisen yourself or will they be imported from Japan? Maybe there is a descriptive forum thread that I can check out.

Yes I meant 1000$, my bad! These do not seem to have the azuma sawari though (will try to remember the term).

When you say dog skin, do you mean a real dog’s skin? Not that I am a hardcore animal rights person but it just feels a little bit of an odd choice? Why dog?

I took a look at some of the stores online and I looked for the azuma sawari and the bridge to see that it was at least not a very cheap model and they were being sold at around 1600$ - How do you beat them so cheap as 800-1500$? Since I’ve already been active with playing music and seeing your description of the azuma sawari in the video I definately know that I will need that feature because that optimal buzz is IMO one of the characteristics of the shamisen sound that I love!

It definately sounds interesting and will give me some more time to consider the investment. The stealth bridge sounds like a great thing too, since the thing I was worried about if not being able to go all out like Pierre Ono was that you won’t achieve the proper drum technique.

If I may ask, where did your father live and what made him come here? As for the C part I think a third or so of all K(C)arls are spelling it with C so it’s not so odd as one might think :slight_smile:

And thanks for answering my questions!

#5

Will you be making these shamisen yourself or will they be imported from Japan? Maybe there is a descriptive forum thread that I can check out.

These shamisen will be imported from Japan. Masahiro Nitta (http://masahironitta.com/top.html) and I are working together to make shamisen (and it’s accessories) easily accessible for everyone in the world. :slight_smile: There’s a little blurb on the main page (http://bachido.com/)

Yes I meant 1000$, my bad! These do not seem to have the azuma sawari though (will try to remember the term).

I’ll talk with him about it. If possible to get a azuma sawari on a shamisen at a lower price, we should. Just to note, though the cheaper shamisen don’t have the device, they will still have the buzzing sound, like all shamisen. So you won’t be getting shortchanged. :wink:
Don’t worry about the term. My dad still calls it the “buzzy thing.” :wink:

Not that I am a hardcore animal rights person but it just feels a little bit of an odd choice? Why dog?

Excellent question. Well, I assume the tradition started because they simply had a lot of dogs in Japan at the time. (cats were used before that, and python skin before that) It does have quite a unique sound. Sharper and crisper than calf skin (which normally used for banjos and drums).

Talking about the skin is always a PR nightmare for shamisen players. :wink: I’d rather not get involved in the debate myself, but I inform that it’s commonly used.

How do you beat them so cheap as 800-1500$?

Masahiro sent me prices of two shamisen (one about $800 and the other about $1500). I know the $800 model has dog skin, but not sure if it has an azuma sawari. I’m sure the $1500 model has both. Masahiro is working personally with shamisen makers on making them, so that may help bring the price down.

If I may ask, where did your father live and what made him come here?

My dad had traveled around the world for 15 years in his younger days. He met a Swedish girl in Majorca. They married and moved to Broby where her parents lived. He was a postman in Stockholm.

#6

I’ll just have to wait and see what you and Masahiro can offer then. Since you’ve taken your time with good videos I presume you also believe that videos showing the shamisen you are selling and recording their sound is the way to go, at least I do :slight_smile:

And it’s tough being a postman in Sweden where it rains a lot. I used to work as a postman during summer breaks and christmas breaks before I got my graduation. I still feel bad for postmen when there’s bad weather going on. Scarred for life hehe :slight_smile:

#7

Oh yes. :slight_smile: My vision is that there will be videos of all the shamisen demonstrated. Also, there will also be videos for how to use each product. (How to put on the yubikake, for example)

Interesting! Ah yes. The thing he hated the most was when he had to deliver a single postcard to the last flat of a tall housing building. He ended up leaving them on the first floor or throwing them away. :wink: So if you missed some mail in the early 60s, you know who to blame. :wink:

#8

You can also purchase a matt that goes over the skin on top and deadens the percussion. It allows you to still play full force with little noise. Also, the are Shamisen that have been developed with an internal mic. You can just plug in your headphones to it and rock away,.

#9

Since I’m considering of buying shamisen with azuma sawari at the moment, I’ve been to lots of shamisen shop websites, then found cheapest ones available from US$550. Sounds like $650 is common though. Hope i didn’t get currency wrong :frowning:

#10

Sorry, thought i better add a bit more information, The cheap shamisen with azuma sawari I was talking about come with Karin wood on Sao, and man made skin on Dou.

#11

Do you have any links to these websites? I would be very interested in checking them out! I also presume you don’t mean that there is human skin on the Dou :smiley:

#12

Kyle, have you received any indication on how much time it will take for the shamisen to be ready for shipping after an order has been made in the shop you are setting up? I have no idea if the makers create shamisen and have them ready for shipping or if they only start working on them after an order has been placed. I also don’t know how much time it takes for an experienced/master shamisen craftsman to create one. My fingers are just itching to get a Shamisen, so I’m trying to find out for how much more time I must endure :slight_smile:

#13

Hey Karl,

Well, it will depend on the shamisen you want. If it’s the $517 (roughly, not including shipping) model, they are available now. I think the med-range may be ready now as well.

I was hoping not to start sales until the website is ready, but I simply can’t leave a shamisen enthusiast without a shamisen! So I can sell you one now, if you want. I’ll send you a PM about it.

This goes for anyone else wanting a shamisen too. :slight_smile:

#14

I’m really torn between trying to build a shamisen or whether to bite the bullet and buy one to begin with. I still like the idea of trying to construct one but I feel it’d take me a good long while and I’m keen to start playing. Hrrmm!

#15

Building one is a lot of fun, but I would say it would be better to buy one first, just so you can start playing and enjoying it. It’s hard to patiently build something carefully when there’s a yearning to get it done to play. :wink: Having a shamisen will satisfy your desire to play, and thus be able to enjoy the construction more.

#16

Hi Kyle,

Thanks :slight_smile: That’s pretty much what I was thinking. I wouldn’t want to rush the process of building a shamisen just to get it done and ready for playing. I’d much rather enjoy the building for its own sake; and at the moment my thoughts are definitely more on starting to learn to play!

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