Details
Meet beautiful Hina (that’s short for “Hinagiku” which means daisy! She has a medium-sized neck (chuuzao), typically used for Minyou playing style. Thanks to the adjustable azuma sawari, this shamisen can have its delightful buzz no matter how high or low you tune your instrument.
The instrument is made from the especially hard wood “shitan”. Before “koki” came up, shitan was the top choice for all players. The instrument comes with a simple dark blue doukake (sound box cover) and a gorgeous tassled red-and-white neo (string holder). Also included in the package is a set of new strings and a dougomu (rubber mat). 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 26,5 mm wide and 27 mm high/thick at the top and widens slightly towards the dou. The fingerboard ends in a sharp edge which expands the positions you can play on this shamisen. You can play beyond position 20 with this kind of fingerboard.
The tsukigata (the curved end of the tenjin) is in perfect condition, and the instrument’s wood has a beautiful reddish shade and beautiful grain. 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 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 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.
If you have any further questions, reach out and send me a message and I’ll be happy to help.
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. Depending on your personal needs, you might want to consider getting a fujaku strip to mark the positions along the neck. Alternatively, you can mark positions individually or play without any markings.
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.