Futozao Shamisen Set | Kappa

package includes:

  • futozao shamisen (sao width: 31mm, height: 33,5mm)
  • Skinned with black hibiki synthetic skins
  • neo
  • leather doukake
  • fujaku strip
  • dougomu
  • strings

885,00 

Out of stock

Details

A shamisen like no other! I named this shamisen “Kappa”, because it reminds me  of the famous Japanese water demon with its black skin and doukake and the colorful green neo.

This shamisen is a fine beginner futozao shamisen (wide neck) with synthetic skins and a three part neck, typically used for Tsugaru playing style.

The instrument is made from karin wood – an established choice for beginner instruments. The upside of karin wood is the lighter weight, which makes it more comfortable to carry it around. The instrument comes with a green neo and a black leather doukake that matches the black skin. Also included in the package are a set of attached strings, a dougomu, and a fujaku strip. 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.

This neck is 31 mm wide and 33,5 mm high at the top and widens slightly towards the dou. 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.

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.

The ebio (the curved end of the tenjin) is in perfect condition. The neck is crafted in mitsuori style: It can be separated into three pieces and makes travelling with the instrument super easy even if you have to travel with small luggage. The joints are very well crafted which will provide an extra tight fit.

The itomaki (tuning pegs) are made from ebony wood and have some white residue in their pores.

All you need to add to your set to start playing are a koma, a bachi and a yubisuri. Yubisuri come in different sizes and colors, so you can either match your shamisen’s look or have a colorfur contrasting highlight. There’s a variety of different koma and bachi you can choose from in the shop.

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.

Get a first impression of Kappa’s sound: