What do you think about this shamisen?

Store/Sales
#1

I have been seeing this shamisen some months ago. I want to buy one but I usually don´t buy musical instruments in ebay, because it is like playing lottery, but I think is a good price for a shamisen. How can I know this shamisen is good for begin playing shamisen?

As I saw in the pictures, it not seems like a good shamisen, but its cheap. Usually its better to wait and buy a better one, but as I see prices and shamisens, I am loosing my patience! :frowning: Anyway, it would serve me when I try to build a shamisen by myself (If I take the courage to do by myself).

I need to think about expend more money and take a better one, but I will appreciate the expert´s opinion. Thanks in advance! :slight_smile:

#2

Link?

#3

Looks great, Paco! I especially like how the bachi has a built-in espresso maker! :slight_smile:

#4

Huh? . . .

On another note, Kyle and Paco, did you guys ever get ahold of Masahiro’s schedule in Spain? I’m curious to find out if you have a chance to see mr. Nitta while he is in your country!?

#5

Masahiro’s News page hasn’t been updated in a month, so I wrote him this morning. Waiting for a response.

#6

lol I forgot to put the link… :blush:

Its nice you like the bachi! jajaja

so… I talk about this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shamisen-with-soft-case-and-Bachi-Japanes-3-string-instrument-hand-made-/390445346020?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae85b2ce4

I have search the net but I didnt found anything about Masahiro´s concert. I hope he answer to you soon Kyle :slight_smile:

#7

i’m not sure about the actual instrument, but when i asked about a bachi they had for sale they were really rude to me.

#8

what the…? wht they tell to you? I never understand a rude seller, it seems than they didnt like to do her job…

#9

yes, i asked what the wood on the bachi was made from as i was concerned that it would be too soft. I got a message back just saying: it’s on the listing.

no hello, thank you for your enquiry, no explanation of what i asked or any other information.
To me it was rude i might just be over sensitive though. I was curious as to the wood so i could check it on the hardness scale for durability.

#10

There was a discussion on that item somewhere here already. In short, (as far as I can remember) for it to sound more like shamisen you’ll need a new set of strings.

#11

I think its rude, because you can say if the wood its soft or not, you don`t need to know…

@K H: so if you change the strings its a good one to start? nice! I will try to win this bid :slight_smile: and buy strings from bachido’ store

as I can see it is not tsugaru right? the itomaki are too short for tsugaru isn`t it?

#12

It looks like a gidayu shamisen

http://bachido.com/learn/pages/shamisen-styles

which is used for such terrible things like this

#13

ahh the delights of the chanted art form!
came accross this stuff when i was looking at different shamisen styles…it is certainly different, i say that i rather prefer kabuki and super kabuki to this early style though XD

#14

which is used for such terrible things like this

KH: Terrible things? What the hell?! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
Man, a live gidayu show is really cool. I saw one a few years ago. It’s very powerful, especially with male singers (no offense, ladies)

So, about that ebay Chinese-made shamisen. The way the skin is pulled over looks like a gidayu shamisen, but it’s not a gidayu shamisen at all. I’m pretty sure the dou is the wrong size, the kamigoma (nut) is made out of wood, and not skinned the same. I’m sure it’s great for the price, but can’t be compared with shamisen made to the standards for the particular style.

#15

That was a joke. I do much more terrible things with my shamisen, which I’m going to share soon in video of my progress.

#16

Kyle, dude, the teaser at the end of your video was—dare I say—EPIC!

#17

Wow I hope you find it Kyle! :slight_smile:

I was thinking about this shamisen, and you need to buy strings, surely a bachi, Doukake, Fukuro… If I need to buy all of this, surely it´s better to buy a better shamisen, a little more expensive, but with all of the things this one is missing.

#18

KH: Ah, I see. :wink: Gidayu ain’t the most widely-accessible, so I just figured. :wink: Awesome!!! Can’t wait to see your videos!! :smiley:

Chet: We sure made use of the cinematic soundtracks. :wink:

Paco: Indeed, I did. 50 Shakuhachi Yuus in our attic, which we’ve yet to sell. Papa wants to save them… for some reason.

Marvin Asato recently pimped out his ebay shamisen (the same one you’re looking at) with ito, koma, and other goodies from the Bachido Store. :slight_smile:

That’s true, you do have to account the costs of replacing the strings, bachi, etc. (doukake may not be too necessary, unless you sweat heavily) You may end up paying the same amount for a legit-but-used nagauta shamisen. Definitely something to consider.

#19

If you wear a long sleeved shirt you won’t have to worry about the sweat, unless it’s off the chart. However, I couldn’t hold my shamisen correctly without a doukake, so you might have to hold it up a bit with your left hand when playing and that isn’t very good. But it’s doable.

#20

@Kyle 50 Shakuhachi ? only 50?? les than 100 are useless for me… :stuck_out_tongue:

hey where is this bid? or it is finished now?

yeah thats the way I suppouse I need to follow. A better one, not too much, but better that this one.

@Karl: thanks for the info! If I find a cheap shamisen and only didn´t have the doukake it will be good, I will try without it and if does not work I would bouy one. but this shamisen… this one didnt have anything.

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