Futozao Shamisen Beginner Set | Taiga

I named this Tsugaru shamisen “Taiga” (大河) because the name conveys the steady strength and natural power of a great river. This model is considered a beginner instrument, and I equipped it with all the things you need to get started: A position marker, a dougomu (anti slip mat), a doukake, tenjin cap, and strings. The only things you need to add are koma, bachi, and yubisuri (see below).

The instrument is in very good condition – so go all out!

Wood:

The instrument is made from karin wood – an established choice for beginner instruments.

Accessories and Skins:

The instrument comes with a classic purple neo and a matching purple doukake. Also included in the package are a set of fresh strings, a tenjin cap, a fujaku strip (position marker) and a dougomu. A full set indeed!

The dou is skinned with Fibersen – an older generation of synthetic skins. These skins are still very common. The skin tension is not very high, so the instrument is not too noisy. A fine choice when you have sensitive neighbors or a small room to practice where the sound harshly bounces off the walls. If you ever feel you want a fuller sound, you can always get the front skin redone with a more tightly stretched skin to add more boom to your music.

In comparison to natural skin, you don’t have to worry about humidity or sudden rain when playing the shamisen outdoors (you’ll still want to try to avoid both to protect the wood though). This means, you won’t need to use a washi bag to protect your shamisen’s skin.

Neck:

This neck is 32,75 mm wide and 33,25 mm high at the top and widens slightly towards the dou. The fingerboard is 30,5 mm wide at the narrow end. Its hatomune – the part where the neck enters the sound box – ends in a sharp edge that makes it possible to play up to position 20 and slightly beyond on this instrument. This shamisen is “nobezao” style – that means the neck is made from one piece and can not be taken apart.

Itomaki:

The itomaki (tuning pegs) are made from ebony wood and are carved in a traditional way that makes them easy to grip despite their slender built.

Sawari (buzz):

Unlike higher priced futozao shamisen, this shamisen does not have an installed azuma sawari but a fixed sawari. If you want to adjust the buzz, you can do so with a piece of tape or paper (ask me if you want to know more about that!). The lack of the azuma sawari lowers the price because there’s less material and labor involved.

More:

The tsukigata (the curved end of the tenjin) has a little nick – this happens when you bump the head to hard against a hard surface such as a table top. The tenjin cap will cover it nicely and will protect it from any further chipping.

All you need to add to your set to start playing are a koma, a bachi and a yubisuri. Depending on the style you intend to play and your personal preferences, you want to pick a certain kind of koma and bachi. Yubisuri come in different sizes, and I didn’t want to deprive you of the difficult yet fun choice between all the wonderful colors.

If you need help with picking the right additions to this set, don’t hesitate to send a message and we will find the perfect match for you together.

If you have any further questions, reach out and send me a message and I’ll be happy to help.