Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Seth · 2008-06-26 21:32:56

Hey makers and sellers: (Perry, Ken, Monty, Peter, David, Ronnie, Justin, John, Jon, Alcvin, and so many others...)

I was just killing time surfing shakuhachi fluff and I noticed that on the mejiro web site, for the listings of antique flutes they list:

1) The flute weight

2) The flute cap size

and

3) The size at the mid joint.

I am very excited about this as for a while I have known that I just prefer thin, light flutes and here was a seller actually providing this information to potential customers in a very clear manner. And likewise I am sure there are many people who prefer thicker flutes and would prefer a clear measure before an audition as opposed to a general description of "thick" or "thin."

(I have a quick technical question: Mejiro lists 'cap sizes' going from around 3 to 10. What are the units they are using?)

But here is the big question or appeal:

Why shouldn't all sellers / makers of shakuhachi just get in the routine of posting this information all the time for every shakuhachi they sell? For now this information may only be useful for veterans who know what they are looking for, but I think promoting this kind of transparency in shakuhachi sizes and weight will in the long-term really help people find the instruments that best suit their needs and tastes.

Thoughts? Responses?

Tairaku 太楽 · 2008-06-26 22:04:32

Seth wrote:
Why shouldn't all sellers / makers of shakuhachi just get in the routine of posting this information all the time for every shakuhachi they sell? For now this information may only be useful for veterans who know what they are looking for, but I think promoting this kind of transparency in shakuhachi sizes and weight will in the long-term really help people find the instruments that best suit their needs and tastes.

Thoughts? Responses?

Good idea. I usually post a general description of the flute and a pic and then if the customer requests more info send them that in an email.

Why don't you make a template of this information that we can cut and paste so we remember all the pertinent details? And then post in the Buy and Sell section?

Toby · 2008-06-26 23:45:24

AFAIK the cap sizes are not measured in any units. They are standard in Japan (not only Meijiro sells them) and are simply graduated, based on the range of bamboo diameters normally encountered in shakuhachi.

Toby

Seth · 2008-06-29 18:21:33

So here is the requested template.

I can imagine a day where every shakuhachi sold has a document with the following information that goes with it.

________________________________________

Shakuhachi Record of Sale & Lineage

Instrument ID # or Name:

Maker:

Year of construction (or best estimation):

Bore construction: Jiari / Jinashi / Ji Mori / Cast / Other

Length: Key:

Weight: Cap size:

Circumference at mid-joint:

Known previous owners:

Owner Year of Acquisition Sale Price
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Moran from Planet X · 2008-06-30 01:25:40

Just curious. Makers and/or experts: What would the circumference at the mid-joint signify? I could see what the inside diameter of the mid-joint could tell someone about bore width, but I don't see the significance of the outside circumference at that point.

This is neat, Seth. You might want to add utaguchi inlay specification. Kinko, Tozan, Myoan (Meian), Natural (no inlay), Other. Maybe also "Repairs/alteration".

Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

#1 2008-06-26 21:32:56

cap size, joint size and weight

#2 2008-06-26 22:04:32

Re: cap size, joint size and weight

Seth wrote:

#3 2008-06-26 23:45:24

Re: cap size, joint size and weight

#4 2008-06-29 18:21:33

Re: cap size, joint size and weight

#5 2008-06-30 01:25:40

Re: cap size, joint size and weight

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