Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Can't answer your question David, but man that hunk o' hocchiku you have in your avatar looks nice.

O.K. Here are the dimensions;
Flute length from the blowing edge to the bottom end is 81.5cm
the opening on the top end is 2.2cm
the opening on the root end is 1.5cm
the holes are 1cm

I hope this helps.

david wrote:

O.K. Here are the dimensions;
Flute length from the blowing edge to the bottom end is 81.5cm
the opening on the top end is 2.2cm
the opening on the root end is 1.5cm
the holes are 1cm

I hope this helps.

David,

Assuming these measurements correspond to the actual bore size and are not on protruding nodes, I'd guess the bore is too thin for the length. (Or at least thin enough to make the bottom notes difficult) There is a wide aspect ratio window which will work, but this may be pushing it.

Here is one fix possibility:  It will sharpen ro, but you might try opening up the bottom end. As a result, the holes will need to be bigger and/or undercut more. That will help the tone as well. Two targets, one arrow!

Good luck!

Ken

Tairaku wrote:

it's best not to deviate from that until it really gets necessary (which is different for different people). But you look like a big dude like me and I play straight line holes up to at least 3.0 before offsetting. Kiku Day who is a tiny little thing plays straight line until 2.9.

I agree the straight-line aesthetic looks great. 

Call me a wimp but while I play up to 3.5, beyond 2.5 my flute holes are offset.  (Beginning with only #3, but beyond 3.0, I migrate them all left or right as necessary.  I never play with the pinky because I guess mine is too short to make much of a difference.)  That's a 2.4 in my avatar photo right now and it has an offset #3 from the previous owner.  I could definitely move that back inline, but it's also very comfy played that way, so... meh.

David, if you are going to go the offset route then don't take anyone else's formula for "where" and "how much".  Only your hands can tell you.  Diameter of the flute will also make a difference for any given length how much you feel like offsetting.  For example, I offset a 2.95 (#3 only) the same amount I did a narrower 3.25 and it wasn't enough because of the diameter of that flute -- the 2.95 needed more offset to put my left ring finger in what felt like the "same" comfort zone.

Tairaku wrote:

Nothing scientific about this but I find they sound better with straight line hole placement. Any makers or players have the same observation and care to speculate why?

It's hard to believe non-straightline holes would sound different.  But then it's also hard to believe a few other subtleties about shakuhachi making and yet they are real. 

David, that really is a great looking Zen log you have there.

-Darren.

Tairaku wrote:

Nothing scientific about this but I find they sound better with straight line hole placement. Any makers or players have the same observation and care to speculate why?

I can't say I notice that flutes with inline holes sound better than those with offset holes. However, I do notice that I feel more comfortable playing inline holed shakuhachi. I feel centered. Maybe that makes my playing sound better to me.

Inline/offset hole preferences can be a pickle for a flutemaker. It can be challenging to balance the wide variety of preferences with what I feel is the best design for a particular flute. There is a physical limit for everyone. However, I feel that limit is often underestimated by players without experience playing larger shakuahchi.

It's natural to prefer offset holes if you are not used to the stretch. However, I often urge customers to push their size limit with inline holes for a number of reasons:


*  Offset remorse:  Once your fingers get to know a flute, it becomes much easier to play. This is often when one realizes that offsetting is unnecessary. (When I first made longer shakuahchi I offset the holes dramatically. Sometimes I'll find one of these flutes in a pile and it seems absurd!)

*  Compatibility with other shakuhachi:  Shakuhachi with unnecessary severe offsets can complicate playing when moving from flute to flute.

* Longer, bigger:  Developing a better reach with inline holes can help one develop the ability to play even longer shakuhachi.

* Centering:  This is more of a personal preference. I feel centered playing with inline holes. It gives me a psychological comfort to play this way.


I've increased my limit to 2.9 for thinner shakuhachi and about 2.7 for very wide flutes. Above that I need to offset the holes. When I first started playing, I would have never imagined I could play these lengths without severe offsetting.

Of course we all do what we want to do. These are just some things I've noticed along the way. Hopefully they can be helpful to someone.

Holistically,

Ken

I agree with everything everyone is saying. Right now, I think I am going to offset them. I'm going to keep playing with it a few more weeks maybe, but I already have the holes marked. I think it will be a much more enjoyable flute!
I have a new question which will change the subject matter. Speaking of which...I noticed with this topic thread....Brian, it seems you like to see how many differentdirections you can get one going in (topic thread that is)!...
I want to know the cheapest easiest way to get a recording without installing a program? My computer at home is inop! So thats no good! I use my computer at work, but I am unable to add programs. I heard of using a minidisc recorder (around $25 or so) and record direct onto that. I am able to plug-in certain devices, like an MP3 player or digital camera.
Any suggestions?!

dstone wrote:

But front or back, I'm inclined to believe (based on theory only -- I should shut up soon) that the flute would sound identical.  Or nearly so...

Ed, the idea of inline holes imparting a more centered physical feeling on your sitting/playing is interesting.  I hadn't considered that potential benefit before.  Thanks.

-Darren.

Yes it does seem illogical.

But I did have a 2.7 hocchiku which was originally straight line holes. At some point before I got it it 1 and 3 were offset. I didn't like that so I had Perry plug those holes and reopen the original holes. Perry and I bot thought it sounded better after that. But that could just mean that the original holes had a better shape.

Otherwise I base ALL my observations upon my preferences, which are determined by which flutes I actually pick up and play most frequently and how they sound to me. But with shakuhachi it is amazing how much sound and feel converge.

To answer a question earlier in the thread. I sometimes use a basic MP3 player voice recording to record. The quality is poor but is useful for listening back to oneself. It is also easy to transfer via USB to computer. Most computers have basic players installed which will play the file.

MD players have much better quality but it is more difficult to transfer to computer.

david wrote:

Hey everyone!
I've got a new piece of iron bamboo I'm trying to make into a hocchiku. Very thick walls and therefore very small inside diameter.

David,

What is "iron" bamboo? Is this flute as wide as the club in your photo? If so, the walls must be very thick!

edosan wrote:

I am an offset dude through and through

The beauty of the "round" shakuhachi. You can go at it from any view!

Ken

david wrote:

Here is a definition I found online;

"Iron Bamboo" is the common name for the genus and species Dendrocalamus strictus. Native to India, it is unique in that it is thick-walled, often solid, and known to be one of the strongest bamboos in the world.

Ken, this flute has about a 2" outside diameter.

Another thing i was wondering is if the utaguchi can be too far away? the blowing edge is farther out than usual and I am thinking that could be a big problem! But i can probably add to the utaguchi with sawdust and superglue, then reshape and file...right?

David,

Oh yes, I've picked up a few pieces of this type of bamboo. (David sent me photos of his flute below)  I found the very wide pieces the easiest to work with. I think Brian might still have a funky, thick club shakuhachi made with this bamboo.

The thinner outside diameter pieces (under 2.5 inches) were more of a challenge. I suppose the thin bore/extra thick wall combination makes it tricky. I also found the bore of this bamboo irregular, so success was more of a hit or miss thing.

Thin bore + irregular bore = haywire!  I would guess that is the culprit more than anything.

Ken

It was the utaguchi!!! the blowing edge was too far away! i cut off a little bit of the end of the flute to bring the blowing edge closer. i still need to get it just right, but as soon as i did that, ro came right in!