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August 15, 2006
Today's ebay Shakuhachi Repair
I get a lot of shakuhachi repairs through eBay auctions. Today's Ebay special: an old 1.8 with a nakatsuki near the top. It was badly cracked.
The top had to be refitted. Notice the small finger holes, about 8mm.
It came together but there was a small gap and it didn't meet flush.
The owner wanted a binding to hide the joinery.
I had to fill with epoxy and file down after.
The thin nylon thread reveals any sort of uneveness.
I was suprised that the flute played in pitch pretty well considering the size of the tone holes. Chi was sharp and Re was flat. Both easily compensated with meri and kari. The utaguchi was cut a bit perpendicular. This made the blowing a little sluggish. The transitions between the shakuhachi fingerings were bumpy. Probably a result of the utaguchi angle combined with the small holes. Those who do not play with shakuhachi fingerings would probably never know. In the end, the owner got a decent, somewhat functional shakuhachi at an honest price. But beware, sometimes a repair can cost more than the flute. I've had some sent to me that we're not "fixable". You should always ask questions before bidding on an eBay shakuhachi. If you are buying an expensive flute. Ask for an audition. I offer free evaluations as my service to the shakuhachi community.
Posted by Perry Yung at August 15, 2006 11:19 PM
Comments
Your work is truely extraordinary! I've been learning the art of Shakuhachi over the last year. Your site is inspiring and instructive. The further I delve into the craft it seems the less I know, so I comb the web for information. A couple of questions on the repair work you posted: When you say the utaguchi "was cut a bit perpendicular" are you saying it needs to be a sharper angle (it's too close to 90 degrees?)I've seen 30 degrees as a standard, is this what you use? When you refer to meri and kari, what is that, angle of blowing edge to mouth? I'm a rookie, and a visual artist by trade, not a real musician, but i'm capitivated by the Shakuhachi art form. Thanks for an excellent web site!
-regards, namaste
Rich McNeill
Posted by: Rich at September 8, 2006 11:47 AM