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January 13, 2006
Retuning Antique Shakuhachi Flutes.
Here is a repair I'm presently working on. It is an old Myoan style Shakuhachi.
The tuning on these old flutes were usually never spot on since the makers back then did not play to digital tuners like we do today. There was no need for A=440hz when sitting alone in a temple before dawn. As a Jinashi instrument, it was in Ok tuning, not great. "What is OK tunning you ask"? To me , it means I can play it in tune but with a little effort. A beginner will not be able to play it in tune. Re and Ii - the thumb hole was flat. I enlarged them to bring them up to picth. Chi, however, was very sharp so the only way to correct that is by moving the hole. On old flutes like this, I sometimes hesitiate to do this type of work but Re is almost a semi tone sharp. Doing bore work to correct this would mean refashioning the entire bore. That would be a mistake on a lovely old flute like this. It has a gentle yet vibrant voice
Here is how it sounds by just shading the Re. No meri except in Kan. Many people learn how a flutes like to be play so they make all sorts of adjustments to find the sweet spots. I'll wait from the owner on how to proceed.
More to come...
A week later:
Ok, We've deicide to move Chi.
This requires careful fitting. It was also a hair misplaced to the right making it feel a bit akward. I moved it to the left a bit so it felt straight.
Hear this flute after Chi was moved and Ri and Ii openned.
Namaste, Perry
Posted by Perry Yung at January 13, 2006 10:25 AM
Comments
Hi Perry. How are you ? I had posted this guestion on the Shakuhachi Forum,but got no response.But since thiss pertains to you'r blog I'll ask you.I've been wondering what makes a Myoan Shakuhachi a Myoan Shakuhachi? Are they Jinashi? Are they often out of tune?I guess I'm just wondering what gives them that particuler sound.Thanks alot.
Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Jones at January 25, 2006 11:24 PM