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    Handmade Tsugaru Shamisen (Kinbozo, Ayasugi, Highest-Grade Tochi Kouki)

    $6,000.00
    This is an incredibly exceptional Tsugaru Shamisen. This beauty was…
    This is an incredibly exceptional Tsugaru Shamisen. This beauty was hand crafted in Japan. It was purchased direct from the maker about 25 years ago, and all this time it's never been played. The joints fit as tightly as the day it was completed, and the itomaki fit as tight as if they were freshly fitted. These days most all Tsugaru Shamisen are partially made by machine, so to have a brand new tsugaru shamisen made entirely by hand is a rarity! This shamisen features Kinbozo (gold fittings in joints), Komochi Ayasugi (herring bone pattern in dou), Natural Skin, and Tsugaru-Nuri Doukake. The fantastic amount of high quality tochi figuring on the sao is almost impossible to find on brand new kouki shamisen these days, because the newly harvested kouki rarely has any figuring. Can be fitted with a free set of Elite Itomaki upon request!
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  • Kouki Tsugaru Shamisen

    $5,754.00
    This is a standard kouki shamisen, made in Japan. Honestly,…
    This is a standard kouki shamisen, made in Japan. Honestly, I would recommend checking out the Rose Shamisen, which is also made from kouki but has more customization options and has more information, pictures, and video available.
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  • Sale!
    Rose Shamisen

    The Rose Shamisen

    $3,500.00 – $5000.00
    This is a very high-end Tsugaru Shamisen made-to-order by Tokyo…
    This is a very high-end Tsugaru Shamisen made-to-order by Tokyo Wagakki, the oldest and most respected shamisen workshop in Japan. To learn more about the Rose Shamisen please click on the link below!s

    Special Bonus!

    To help you get started with your brand-new Rose Shamisen, I am including several learning materials for free!
    • Bachido Shamisen Crash Course
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Sakura
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Ringo Bushi
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Yasaburo Bushi
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Tosa no Sunayama
    Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Tsugaru Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The Rose Shamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Tsugaru's Shamisen Accessory Set consists of entry level items so users can get the most affordable option to start playing. If you'd like to select your own accessories (to get preferred colors, choose particular bachi, add extra strings, etc), please go to Essentials and choose the best items for yourself. Need help in curating your shopping list? Learn about the most essential items here! Note: A Bachido membership (free) is required to access the courses. (Note: Each shamisen is built per order. Please allow nine to eleven weeks for construction, and feel free to contact store (at) bachido (dot) com if you have questions :-) )
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  • Nitta Model: Size 7 Tsugaru Shamisen

    $2,000.00 – $3,500.00
    This shamisen features a Size 7 dou, which is the…
    This shamisen features a Size 7 dou, which is the largest dou available for shamisen. (Not a very common size, and doukake have to be custom made)
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  • Sale!

    The Eclipse: Special Edition

    From $3,300 to $3,500
    It's no question we love all shamisen, but for me…
    It's no question we love all shamisen, but for me the Eclipse has a special place in my heart. Not only is the color contrast of the tochikarin and shitan fingerboard stunning, and not only was the Eclipse our first model to incorporate the shitan flowing into the tenjin, but the tone balance of the medium-hardness neck with the harder fingerboard makes it a shamisen I still regularly play to this day! In celebration of the Eclipse's return to the Bachido Store, we've released a Special Edition model! What are the perks of this new model? Read below! Note: The Non-Slip Itomaki shown in the pictures are optional add-ons. They are super useful and offers it at half-price for new shamisen, so consider selecting it in the dropdown box! More information about Non-Slip Itomaki below!

    Color Will Vary

    As you can see in the photo, the left Eclipse has a redder hue than the right Eclipse. There is no difference in quality nor tone, but it's simply the natural color of the polished wood. As stated above, the Eclipse uses no stain or lacquers, so please know that any particular Eclipse shamisen might be redder or tanner than another.

    Special Bonus!

    To help you get started with your brand-new Eclipse, I am including several learning materials for free!
    • Bachido Shamisen Crash Course
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Tsugaru Jonkara Bushi (Kyu)
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Tsugaru Jonkara Bushi (Shin)
    • Premium Shamisen Course: The Nitta Ryu Intensive Technique Pack
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Advanced Kamashi
    Note: A Bachido membership (free) is required to access the courses.
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  • Sale!

    The Akatsuki Shamisen

    From $3,000 to $3,500
    The Akatsuki Shamisen, made by the legendary makers at Tokyo…
    The Akatsuki Shamisen, made by the legendary makers at Tokyo Wagakki (the oldest and most respected shamisen workshop in Japan). Includes Ayasugi and Non-Slip Itomaki as optional upgrades. Read below to get all the details about this shamisen!

    Special Bonus!

    To help you get started with your brand-new Akatsuki, I am including several learning materials for free!
    • Bachido Shamisen Crash Course
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Tsugaru Jonkara Bushi (Kyu)
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Tsugaru Jonkara Bushi (Shin)
    • Premium Shamisen Course: The Nitta Ryu Intensive Technique Pack
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Advanced Kamashi
    Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Tsugaru Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The Akatsuki Shamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Tsugaru's Shamisen Accessory Set consists of entry level items so users can get the most affordable option to start playing. If you'd like to select your own accessories (to get preferred colors, choose particular bachi, add extra strings, etc), please go to Essentials and choose the best items for yourself. Need help in curating your shopping list? Learn about the most essential items here! Note: A Bachido membership (free) is required to access the courses. (Note: Each shamisen is built per order. Please allow six to eight weeks for construction)
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  • Kyle’s Recommended Tsugaru Shamisen Set

    $2,947.00
    This set includes a Tsugaru Shamisen as well as all…
    This set includes a Tsugaru Shamisen as well as all the accessories (including a higher end bachi) needed for a very comfortable playing experience.
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  • Shitan Tsugaru Shamisen

    $2,633.00
    This Shitan Tsugaru Shamisen is made from Shitan wood, which…
    This Shitan Tsugaru Shamisen is made from Shitan wood, which is higher quality and heavier than Karin wood.
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  • Sale!

    The Eclipse Shamisen

    From $2500 to $2700
    One of our first and most popular shamisen has finally…
    One of our first and most popular shamisen has finally returned! The Eclipse has been absent for many years due to the unavailability of tochikarin (highly figured Karin) in matching colors. For example, the lumber for sao wood was tan and the lumber for the tenjin would be brownish-pink. Why does this matter? Well, unlike other shamisen which can be stained or colored with tinted urushi, the Eclipse is finished with Tokyo Wagakki's renowned polishing technique, which takes two weeks to apply and uses no lacquers nor colorings. Such a polish gives the entire shamisen a deep warm glow, but retains the colors of the natural wood. Thus, while a shamisen with different color tones wouldn't affect the sound, the craftsmen at Tokyo Wagakki weren't pleased with the visual aesthetic, and so we paused production of this model... until now! After many years, tochikarin wood in matching colors came back in stock, and we're finally able to bring the Eclipse back to the Bachido Store! Read more about this exciting shamisen below! Also, check out our exciting new Eclipse: Special Edition!

    Color Will Vary

    As you can see in the photo, the left Eclipse has a redder hue than the right Eclipse. There is no difference in quality nor tone, but it's simply the natural color of the polished wood. As stated above, the Eclipse uses no stain or lacquers, so please know that any particular Eclipse shamisen might be redder or tanner than another.
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  • SH-0266 Tsugaru Shamisen (Kouki wood – deluxe set)

    $1,950.00
    Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all…
    Everything you need to play! Suitable for beginners and all skill levels. Wood: Kouki Sao and Tenjin Bachi: Premium stage bachi, practice wood bachi, and dual bachi case Itomaki: Ebony Skin: Hakuho, White (synthetic skin) Sawari: Azuma Sawari Neck: Futozao (thick neck) Condition: In near perfect condition Includes: Everything shown in pictures (Doukake, 2 Bachi, Yubikake, Ito Set, Dou Gomu, Neo, Koma, Naga Fukuro)
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  • Sale!

    The Raven Shamisen

    $1,950.00 - $2,450.00
    Easily our most popular model on Bachido! Made by one…
    Easily our most popular model on Bachido! Made by one of the finest shamisen workshops in Japan (Tokyo Wagakki) the Raven is made with Shitan wood and expertly lacquered with jet black urushi. Although the urushi is black, the Raven's color changes depending on the light! The darkness of the black urushi is strong when illuminated, and when the light is gentle, the natural browns of Shitan will emerge. An incredibly cool element of this shamisen! Product Updates: The red acrylic itomaki are now available in both Soragara style (star-shape) and standard Hexagon, and the optional Ayasugi (intricate carving inside the dou) is now available! Note, the Ayasugi option is shown in the product photos. If you choose "No" in the Ayasugi box, the inside of your dou will be smooth. Custom Options: Would you like the itomaki in a different color, shape, or material? Or perhaps a different wood or size? Each shamisen is made to order direct from Tokyo Wagakki, so we can easily accept custom requests! Please send your Custom Raven requests to me via the Contact Us page and let's have a fun chat about the options available! To learn more about the Raven please click on the below link!

    Special Bonus!

    To help you get started with your brand-new Raven Shamisen, I am including several learning materials for free!
    • Bachido Shamisen Crash Course
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Sakura
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Tosa no Sunayama
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Kase no Yakko Odori
    • Premium Shamisen Course: Advanced Kamashi
    Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Tsugaru Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The Raven Shamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Tsugaru's Shamisen Accessory Set consists of entry level items so users can get the most affordable option to start playing. If you'd like to select your own accessories (to get preferred colors, choose particular bachi, add extra strings, etc), please go to Essentials and choose the best items for yourself. Need help in curating your shopping list? Learn about the most essential items here! Note: A Bachido membership (free) is required to access the courses. (Note: Each shamisen is built per order. Please allow six to eight weeks for construction)
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  • Shamisen DIY Kit #9 (Red Gum)

    $1,400.00 – $1,780.00
    Whether you've dreamed of building your own shamisen or already…
    Whether you've dreamed of building your own shamisen or already aspire to become a shamisen luthier, these kits provide all the wood and parts you need to create a high-level instrument! (Please note: the kit does NOT include tools, glues, or finishes.) After selecting your favorite set, be sure to pick up a fingerboard (available in the main 'Shamisen DIY Kits' page) to achieve the best tone and a stunning appearance!

    Each kit includes roughly shaped shamisen parts (Tenjin, Sao, Nakago, Dou), all of the gold fittings (Rindo, Azuma Sawari, Kamigoma, and Zagane), Elite Itomaki (sanding and polishing required), and a copy of Shamisen of Japan.

    These kits are designed for individuals who want the complete experience of building a shamisen and either have a workshop or plan to obtain their own tools. The kits consist primarily of curated materials that are minimally processed to provide the maker with a full hands-on building experience. The quality of the final product depends on your skill and craftsmanship. Be sure to read the main description on the Shamisen DIY Kit category page for full details and general information about these kits.

    Add-Ons

    Want an even smoother building experience? Here's a few optional services which could be useful!
    1. Building Templates These templates are cut from high quality acrylic and are sized for a standard futozao (Tsugaru) shamisen with a Size 5 dou. Although the included book Shamisen of Japan has paper templates for you, the paper does wear down after multiple tracings. If you plan to build multiple shamisen, having durable acrylic templates on hand is very delightful.
    2. One-on-One Video Calls with Kyle (Four 30-minute video calls) Although building shamisen is overall an incredible journey, specific aspects (especially joints making) can be quite frustrating. And in those times, sometimes having a teacher present can make a huge difference! With this service, Kyle can be available on video to answer your questions and offer tricks and solutions to challenging obstacles.

    Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page Details
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