Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hi Lance, welcome to the forum. I like the fact that your introduction to flutes were ones you made yourself. Another forum member recently pointed me to a website that has instructions on how to make PVC shakuhachi, http://www.navaching.com/shaku/shakuindex.html

I don't want to steer you away from the Yuu, but since you say you don't intend to take lessons, I'd like to point out that there are bamboo alternatives available for about the same price from respected makers. There a couple advantages to those instruments. One is that most people like bamboo better than plastic. Even if you don't mind playing plastic yourself, people you talk to about what you're playing will usually display some kind of non-verbal reaction that indicates they are less impressed as soon as you tell them you're playing a plastic instrument. And having a shakuhachi is kind of like having a puppy, if you bring it outside to play almost inevitably someone will approach you to talk to you about it. If it's a plastic instrument you made youself you might gain some points though. Another advantage is that the low-end bamboo instruments are lighter, I understand that the Yuu's are kind of heavy.  The only problem with the low-end bamboo instruments is that you can't take lessons on them, and just because you don't have intentions of taking lessons doesn't necessarily mean you won't eventually change your mind.   

I'm sure you'll find a lot of answers to your questions here, it's one of the most valuable and fun forums I've participated in.

Last edited by radi0gnome (2008-01-19 03:15:08)