Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hola Henrique,

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

In the case of think about the volume desire, and keeping this in mind before drill the holes, what should work better to a new and good sounding bamboo (no holes)?

I have different processes when making different styles of flutes. My Jiari making is very different from that of Jinashi. I think you are referring to Jinashi making here. With that process, here's what I do after the bore is clean and the utaguchi is cut:

1) fashioning a close to ideal utaguchi shape
2) find the best opening diameter at the bottom of the bamboo.
3) light Spot tuning in the bore.

Once I feel Ro is as best as it can be, I start to drill the holes one by one.

Drill the holes a little down, letting the possibility to make little enlargements on them and also make some bore work, or make the holes with the size and in the place that they should stay, according with maker believes and then add or remove bore materials?

My holes are at least 11mm in diameter (with the exception of #3 - Chi).  I place them where I think they will sound the loudest knowing I may enlarge to 11.5cm. Before I open them up, I may do some Spot Tuning where necessary. My Spot Tuning Method is done for maximum response, playability and tone not pitch - that is decided by the placement. The larger and longer the flute, the bigger the holes. My largest holes can be around 12 - 13mm in diameter on flutes 2.7 - 2.9 (or longer). 

I will look again the other topics here in flutemaking...

Have fun listening to the bamboo! Perry

Hola Henrique,

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

But IF I was talking about jiari, can you tell me the difference in the procedure? It has something to do with with fixed hole measurements along bore places to then make the inside additions needed? I am curious... 
 
A big hug... 
 
Henrique.

I'm sure there are are different approaches and steps to making Jiari but the way I learned it goes something like this:

1) Cut two pieces of hollowed bamboo that will make the desired length when joined together (sometimes a nobekan - one piece).
2) Fashion nakatsuki - joint and fitting.
3) Cut utaguchi
4) Drill holes to predetermined specifications according to length
5) Apply Ji paste. Wait for curing.
6) Clean finger holes, tune bore to predetermined diameters with gauges.
7) Insert utaguchi inlay, adjust angles and dip.
8) Tune by neutral blowing
9) Apply urushi. Wait for curing.
10) Fine tuning. Play shakuhachi music aggressively and search resonance spots with 1cm square wet newspaper.
11) Make rattan joint wrap. Last urushi coat. One month in wet box.
12) Clean, pack and ship.

This process presently takes a little over one year.

A big hug back to you amigo! - Perry