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Does anyone know anything about these black bamboo shakuhachi that are proliferating on eBay?. The makers call themselves WhistleHead Shakuhachi.
Long ago I bought a black jinashi 1.6 (not from them) and I love it, but I also have gotten some crappy instruments through eBay.
Any info?.
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Hi Pepe,
I don't know that particular maker but you're new to the forum so you might not have seen this topic:
http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=1846
The better makers allow you to audition the instrument before committing.
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jdanza wrote:
Does anyone know anything about these black bamboo shakuhachi that are proliferating on eBay?.
I have no info aside from an interesting visceral reaction I have to their pictures (and some others) of the bamboo tubes- particularly those wide-angle lens-looking shots of the root ends- oh man! Makes me feel sick. Doesn't look right to me. My apologies to the makers/photographs reading here.
Last edited by madoherty (2008-07-28 19:00:10)
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Thank you Tairaku. I have no problem recognizing "the real thing" but I also own and like to collect funky versions. As long as the mouthpiece and the tuning are right you can always find the particular strength and use for them. I was curious about these ones and asked about them in the community because they do look so nice.
I did buy a very "nice" looking flute on eBay just recently (from Japan) and it turned out to be very crappy. I wrote to the seller and after some back and forth he refunded me more than half the price I paid, and in the meantime, with a file, sandpaper and some glue, I managed to turn it into a very playable and even likable funky thing. It's only suitable for playing softly but it does have the sweetest sound.
Anyway... having played seaweed (or was it Ken?)... you should know all about funkiness
And thanks Michael... I'll take your instincts into account too.
If I give in to temptation and buy one I'll let you guys know the result
Thanks again and best regards...
pepe
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ken has some cool funky flutes. I had the chanse to visit him and play some his flutes.
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jdanza wrote:
Hello Geni
Is Ken the "WhistleHead" guy that posts the black bamboo flutes?.
Ken "Mujitsu" LaCosse, administrator and pharoah of this forum, click the link at the top of this page!
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Please do let us know how the flute is jdanza. I've seen the ones you are talking about. Some look nice, and others look "plain wrong", with root end's turned in the wrong direction, etc. The maker also seems to put holes on nodes, which for some reason, also seems wrong to me (but that might just be me).
One caveat. until recently the maker's little blurb used to say that it took one day to make the flute, so bear that in mind. I don't know how long it takes to make a flute, but I tend to think that part of the "expensvinesss" of shakuhachi has, at least in part, something to do with the amount of time the craftsman spends on the flute, plus of course the bamboo itself, equipment, overhead, etc.
At the risk of sucking up to Ken. His flutes and the flute in question are not the same, as Brian said. Totally different animals. Ken's flutes are really something special. Anyways, I have one of Ken's flutes (the one you see Brian playing on his 2.8 improv on youtube), and I find it both challenging and rewarding, and also aesthetically pleasing. The thing is a real monster of a flute. These taimu flutes have a kind of "body resonance" that you can feel (just as Ken says on the site). It's a kind of a thick absorbing sound that is very satisying (to the player at the very least). You simply can't compare Ken's taimu flutes to a 20 dollar black bamboo flute.
On the upside, if you do get one of these black bamboo ones and it sucks then you have not lost too much cash. Monty also offers black bamboo flutes, as you know. It Would be cool if he did root end ones (for extra cash of course). Anyways, I'm rambling as usual. Let us know how the flute is, I'm quite curious. The maker does seem to be churning them out at a remarkable rate.
Last edited by Lorka (2008-07-29 08:43:04)
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Yes, Ken flutes look amazing. There is a power that comes through just looking at them and I can't wait t try them one of these days.
Monty is also an awesome craftsman, as is Perry (they are both wonderful people too) and I own flutes made by both of them that I love.
Still, as I mentioned in other threads, even though I have some amazing instruments, there's times when I'm drawn to my cheapo ones. They seem to have a very naive quality to them, a true "jinashi", completely unsophisticated sound that I resonate with. My first Shakuhachi (bought in 1979) cost me $60, and I still play it a lot!.
And as you say, the price truly reflects the workmanship and the time being put into them, so nobody is getting ripped off.
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Hi Pepe,
The seaweed shakuhachi appear occasionally, depending on what washes up ashore here! Another favorite during nice weather is the combination shakuhachi / BBQ coal poker! It lives in the backyard. I recommend using the root end only for poking.
Yeah, quality is always important to strive for, but it's also healthy to simultaneously let go of that attachment and appreciate a hollow stick with holes.
Cheers,
Ken
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Yeah, quality is always important to strive for, but it's also healthy to simultaneously let go of that attachment and appreciate a hollow stick with holes.
I'd never get any action if my wife did not adhere to this philosophy.
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What I see as really harsh about seeing 20$ black bamboo flutes on ebay is, I've been working very hard on a black bamboo flute and as it is nearing completeion, I've asked Ken Lacosse what it might be worth if I were to sell it(I'm not going to sell it). Turns out a black bamboo shakuhachi from a no-name maker is workth 20$ (acording to ebay). So if I divide how much time I spent making this flute by 20$, my time spent is worth about 33 cents an hour. I kinda hope (and this will sound horrible I know it) his flutes sound like crap.
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lossafunk,
I couldn't help but wonder-how does one experience a loss of funk. Was it a funkadectomy? Too many Lawrence Welk records? Does it hurt? Just wondering. To find out that I could possibly lose my funk is terrifying. I have so much invested in it. Sorry to hear about your loss.
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Jim Thompson wrote:
I couldn't help but wonder-how does one experience a loss of funk.
We just experienced a big loss of funk recently when James Brown passed away.
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Jim Thompson wrote:
lossafunk,
I couldn't help but wonder-how does one experience a loss of funk. Was it a funkadectomy? Too many Lawrence Welk records? Does it hurt? Just wondering. To find out that I could possibly lose my funk is terrifying. I have so much invested in it. Sorry to hear about your loss.
actually, it's from an e-mail address of mine. I only use lossafunk 'cause lotsafunk was taken. It's all about slurring the word. It was a reference to my bass playing(or maybe my feet not sure which). But you are kinda correct, there has been a loss, when I found shakuhachi, I stopped playing bass. Your condolences is appreciated.
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lossafunk wrote:
Jim Thompson wrote:
lossafunk,
I couldn't help but wonder-how does one experience a loss of funk. Was it a funkadectomy? Too many Lawrence Welk records? Does it hurt? Just wondering. To find out that I could possibly lose my funk is terrifying. I have so much invested in it. Sorry to hear about your loss.actually, it's from an e-mail address of mine. I only use lossafunk 'cause lotsafunk was taken. It's all about slurring the word. It was a reference to my bass playing(or maybe my feet not sure which). But you are kinda correct, there has been a loss, when I found shakuhachi, I stopped playing bass. Your condolences is appreciated.
This is how Lawrence Welk got his funk back.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i48BP1PUoFI
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Whew! What a relief! Glad to hear you're O.K. Maybe Tairaku can council you on the bass/shakuhachi dilema. Ken, you've exposed my musical bigotry. I've been so unfair to Lawrence. I'm embarassed. If you've got a video of James Brown playing a polka I'm going to get some rebirthing therapy and start all over. My perception has obviously gone askew somewhere along the line. Plus we just had an earthquake here(L.A.) This has been a tumultuous day.
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Jim Thompson wrote:
If you've got a video of James Brown playing a polka I'm going to get some rebirthing therapy and start all over. My perception has obviously gone askew somewhere along the line. Plus we just had an earthquake here(L.A.) This has been a tumultuous day.
Are you sure you know tumultuous? Check out the James Brown/Pavarotti collaboration.
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Nothing is weirder than Lou Reed and Pavarotti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXgbN81zNG8
That means I am only one degree removed from Pavarotti. Don't know what to think about that.
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Just don't then, Tairaku. That combination you speak about is not just weird; it's plain musical rape. You can't compare that with shakuhachi! To go back to the subject, did you mean with this comparison to indicate the level of the black bamboo formerly spoken of?.........eh...
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Tairaku wrote:
Nothing is weirder than Lou Reed and Pavarotti.
Boy oh boy you're right about that. That makes no sense AT ALL! It's not hard to spot an idea coming from guys in suits in offices.
Dun Romin, I think this has nothing to do with black flutes and I take full resposibilty for screwing up this thread. My apologies. What about those black flutes?
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Jim Thompson wrote:
Tairaku wrote:
Nothing is weirder than Lou Reed and Pavarotti.
Dun Romin, I think this has nothing to do with black flutes and I take full resposibilty for screwing up this thread. My apologies. What about those black flutes?
Those black bamboo "shakuhachi" are no longer on ebay.
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This one http://cgi.ebay.it/1-8-Ji-Nashi-Nobe-Sh … 3f01305c8a is made with "Speckled Black Bamboo". But the seller has already 3 or 4 of this shakuhachi sold, so I think it's not a hand-crafted Shakuhachi. But if yes, I would to know why it's so cheap!
Last edited by Apparentesistenza (2010-07-07 04:38:20)
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As I know this are hand-crafted Shakuhachi, if you take a look this is a non-root end Shakuhachi and the make is not well known. Another player that I know had a root end Shakuhachi from this maker but I dont know what he think about it but I can ask him...
[edit] I asked the other player, he ownded a root end one and telled me that they are really thinwalled and not made out of madake bamboo [/edit]
If you are looking for a Shakuhachi to get started I can recommend Perry Yungs "earth model" flutes. Also I know that Derek Choice is selling some good flutes this week, you can check them out here.
http://www.hollowbamboo.net/Inga/shakuhachiforsale.htm
I am not a professional and dont evaluate much flutes but it is important to get started with a right flute to grow with, otherwise you will play some months and get a next one and then another and so on. Anyways I also addicted to buy/collect Shakuhachi
The tradional lenght for study will be 1.8.
Be well,
Christopher
Last edited by Christopher B. (2010-07-07 05:09:01)
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Apparentesistenza wrote:
But if yes, I would to know why it's so cheap!
Because it basically a stick of bamboo, and not even a particularly good one, with holes drilled in it. Minimal workmanship involved. It depends on what you want it for. If you plan to take lessons and play more advanced stuff you'll need something better.
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