Minyo Shamisen Set “Hibana”

Light your artistic spark with Hibana (火花)! This instrument is made from tochi karin – that’s karin wood with sparkly figurations (check out the photos!). When light hits the neck you will get mesmerized by the magic shimmer that’s so sought after in the shamisen world.

Hibana is a great choice to get started when you’re not sure what shamisen style you want to play and keep all options open. The style of this shamisen is associated with Minyo style, but it really is very versatile and makes any kind of style fun to play. Playing Tsugaru style is possible, too, because you can adjust the sawari buzz and the instrument has a very full sound. The width makes it comfortable to play no matter what hand size you have, and the thickness/height of the neck makes gripping it feel super easy!

Wood:

The instrument is made from karin wood – the common hardwood for student and beginner instruments. But the extra sparkle – tochi – makes it a premium model.

Accessories and Skins:

I equipped it with a modern geometric doukake (body cover). The light blue neo brings lightness to the mix. Also included in the package is a set of fresh strings, a dougomu, and a tenjin cap.The dou is skinned with Hibiki – the newest generation of synthetic skins with a warm tone that’s closer to the sound of natural skins than any of its predecessors. Hibiki skin is extremely durable and robust. 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 29 mm wide and 30 mm high at the top and widens slightly towards the dou (body). The fingerboard is 28 mm wide and ends in a sharp angle that makes playing high notes up to 20 and beyond possible. The instrument has the standard shamisen neck length. The fingerboard has been freshly planed and is in pristine condition.

The tsukigata (the curved end of the tenjin) is in perfect condition. The neck is crafted in mitsuori style: It can be separated into three parts. This makes travelling with the shamisen very easy – even if you have to get by with light and small luggage. The joints are in fantastic shape and have a very snug fit.

Itomaki:

The itomaki are made from ebony and are carved in the traditional way with extra ridges for extra grip.

Sawari (buzz):

The installed azuma sawari lets you adjust the sawari (buzz) to your liking. This means you can switch it off completely (for modern pieces, pop/rock/metal genres or certain ensembles) and also have the perfect buzz no matter how high or low you tune your shamisen.

More:

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. I also recommend getting an adhesive dougomu or a hizagomu that will prevent the instrument from slipping off your thigh.

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.