All well made hand tapered bore shakuhachi sound different. Even if they are made by the same maker. A great maker can produce shakuhachi within a trademark sound. But still, each flute is distinct within that ballpark. Having said this, a well made antique (at least 100 years old) shakuhachi should have a more open, warm bambooey sound. This is the sound I try to recreate with my shakuhachi. The modern shakuhachi has a painstakingly hand worked bore so that the pitches can play at exact western standard pitches. This is so the flute can play with other western tuned instruments. It is usually a louder and brighter flute than the antique shakuhachi.
Helpful Guides
Shakuhachi Buying Questions
Shakuhachi Articles
More Shakuhachi Articles on my Blog
Testimonials & Endorsements
"...I've only seen two of Perry's Tensei flutes so far, but they certainly won't be the last I'll be getting for my students. Knowing Perry's penchant for perfection, I can comfortably give his flutes my highest recommendation."- Riley Lee, Dai Shihan, Organizer of the World Shakuhachi Festival, Sydney, Australia
""I suggest that while you are in New York you contact Perry Yung, who is making excellent instruments right here in New York, and some of them are very reasonably priced. Perry is a wonderful person...You could visit him, pick a flute, and take an introductory lesson, or maybe two or three lessons before you leave New York."- Ralph Samuelson, Kinko Master New York City
"Perry Yung is a rare man to find in the Shakuhachi World today. Perry may well prove to be one of the handful of non-Japanese that can make a Shakuhachi in the traditional style - equal to the best of the Japanese makers themselves. There's just no stopping him and his talents!"- Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin, Grandmaster