Some wooden Bachi seem to have an inlaid section of wood near the middle.
But, aside from its pleasing appearance, does this have a function? Would there be any difference between the sound of a solid wood vs an inlaid Bachi?
I think it is probably there for extra weight so the bachi has a better “feel.” Wood is usually lighter than ivory so it’s probably to make it feel the same as using an ivory bachi.
It would be easier to make a bachi without that and it’s not for strength since it is impossible that even the heaviest playing would snap a bachi. I also don’t believe it’s for appearance since I recently saw a bachi where the maker carefully tried to hide the wood strip in the middle.
Most bachi are weighted with a lot of lead. The wooden ones are usually filled from the side and a thin piece of wood covers this. Plastic bachi are cast around a lead core. The horn handled bachi are layered so the lead is concealed this way. Ivory is about 50% more dense than ebony so it is quite heavy and is not usually weighted. I have found that a heavy bachi is actually easier to use.
That makes complete sense. It also explains why inlaid wooden Bachi are disproportionately heavier than if were all wood, and why they’re not perfectly balanced.