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October 10, 2006
Ivory Utaguchi Replacement
Hi All, I had some fun repairs lately. Chris Moran sent me two old flutes - a seven-hole 2.0 once owned By Masayuki Koga and this old laquered 1.7.
It was cracked along the top and was missing an utaguchi.
I suspected it needed an overhaul on the bindings since they didn't do inlays underneath the rattan in the olden days.
I was right!
After I did the inlays, I had to file away the front facet to get a look at the condition of the bamboo and the shape of the original utaguchi inlay. Chis wanted it to be a refurbished as closely as possibble to what it was before. We assumed it was bone.
Here is a piece of Ivory that was given to me as a going away gift by Saori San of Mejiro Shakuhachi. I didn't have an opportunity to use it until now. I ground and filed the facets to fit the cavity
Utaguchi material can be any hard material such as horns and acrylic. I often use MOP buttons and any other exotic items I can grind into shape.
The angle was pretty steep.
Cut with my Japanese bamboo saw with a super fine kerf.
Filed from inside first.
Filed from inside first.
Filing teh front last provides control over the angles.
Polished.
Chris wanted to leave it looking weathered so no relaquering on the exterior was need. However, the inside needed a thin coat to seal the crack.
Thick Rattan in the way of the Komuso was done over the three inlays. It looked good natural so we left it.
All in a good day work.
Once it was finished, I enjoyed the delicate sound of another era. To paraphrase a shakuhachi player I know, an old flute like this is kinda like a sweet school girl from Kyoto instead of some loud drunk from the big city.
Namaste, Perry
Posted by Perry Yung at 08:27 PM | Comments (1)