While there are lots of great accessories to enhance your shamisen experience, the items in Essentials are the most important for making your shamisen playable. If you’re getting a new shamisen and it doesn’t include accessories, you will definitely want to check out Essentials and get one Koma, one Bachi, one Neo, an Ito Set Pack, and a Yubikake. Also, a Doukake, Dou Gomu, and Fujaku are highly recommended. (links to all) It’s also worth checking out categories like “Cases and Fukuro” and “Scorebooks and Media” to enhance your experience, but it’s not required.
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Flex Options: Hard: This is very rigid, almost like Plastic…Flex Options: Hard: This is very rigid, almost like Plastic Bachi, or cheaper bekko bachi. Only choose this if you are accustomed to hard bachi and especially prefer it. Medium: This is a similar level to the Faux Bekko Bachi, as well as most bekko bachi available. Soft: This is ideal for beginners. (Flex level has no connection to skill level – many professional players use soft bachi) Soft bachi are comparable to high end bekko bachi, as very flexible shell are reserved for expensive bachi. (Hard/Medium bachi can be high end as well, but it’s much harder to find natural soft flex in the lower price ranges) The extra flex makes it very comfortable to get a satisfying percussive snap against the skin, and unlike stiffer bachi, it doesn’t get caught in the strings as much. Masahiro Nitta’s personal bachi has a similar flexibility as this, and it’s my favorite as well. Size options: (Length x Width) Large 167mm×93mm Medium 164mm×88mm Small 161mm×83mm -
Get closer to your shamisen idols! The Signature Bachi are…Get closer to your shamisen idols! The Signature Bachi are made in collaboration with the hottest shamisen stars of today. Every star player involved has given us their preferred weight, balance and shape of their favorite bachi, and the maker creates them with synthetic bekko called Neoko. Check out the exact weight and measurements of each bachi below! -
The weight and balance of this bachi can be customized…The weight and balance of this bachi can be customized to your personal preference! -
Unleash the Wow Factor with this dazzling LED Acrylic Bachi!…Unleash the Wow Factor with this dazzling LED Acrylic Bachi! Similar to the Adjustable Weight model, this Bachi radiates brilliance with an integrated LED light, adjustable at a button's press. Equipped with four 5g weights for balance customization and an acrylic blade etched with Wave and Sakura designs. To switch blades, unscrew and separate the handle. The LED Bachi has a slightly thicker handle due to the light source. It weighs 100g, with a 170mm length, 25mm base handle width/depth, and a 94mm blade width. -
Length: 170mm Blade Width: 86mm Handle Width (Base): 25.5mm Handle…Length: 170mm Blade Width: 86mm Handle Width (Base): 25.5mm Handle Width (Blade*): 32mm Handle Height (Base): 25.5mm Handle Height (Blade*): 9mm *The feathered edge where blade and handle first connect, (towards middle of handle, not the edge of handle) -
The classic Faux Bekko Bachi. Features a similar flexibility as…The classic Faux Bekko Bachi. Features a similar flexibility as natural shell while being 100% synthetic. -
Ironically, although the plastic bachi is the most affordable bachi…Ironically, although the plastic bachi is the most affordable bachi available, it isn't the easiest for beginners due to it's extreme hardness. That being said, it is usable and better than nothing! -
Size Options 9cm x 16.5cm (Regular) – Normal size for…Size Options 9cm x 16.5cm (Regular) – Normal size for Tsugaru style. 7cm x 15cm (Trimmed) – Ideal if you have average size hands but tend to find tsugaru bachi unwieldy. 6cm x 13cm (Small) – Best for kids or small hands. -
Want to represent Bachido on your wooden bachi? Now you…Want to represent Bachido on your wooden bachi? Now you can! This is a standard Wooden Bachi (Oak) with the Bachido logo laser-cut into the handle. Sexy time! -
Enjoy a higher strata of elegance with this Premium Wooden…Enjoy a higher strata of elegance with this Premium Wooden Bachi made by Nitta san’s friends of his Sapporo music group Ezon! The handle has a Marquetry-style inlay which brightens your bachi with an artsy brilliance! -
Made out of clear acrylic and looks very stylish. Perfect…Made out of clear acrylic and looks very stylish. Perfect for that clean look in your performance. -
Made out of clear acrylic with a colored tint.Made out of clear acrylic with a colored tint. -
This is the cheapest koma available, both in price and…This is the cheapest koma available, both in price and quality. It's okay if it's all you can afford, but the tone and strength of koma made with bamboo or wood (or anything other than plastic koma) are far superior, and worth the extra cost. -
This koma is made entirely of bamboo (Madake). While it…This koma is made entirely of bamboo (Madake). While it is technically sized for Tsugaru style, it can be used with any shamisen type. -
This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and…This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and a bone-tipped saddle. While it is technically sized for Tsugaru style, it can be used with any shamisen type. -
This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and…This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and a bone-tipped saddle. While it is technically sized for Tsugaru style, it can be used with any shamisen type. -
This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and…This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and a bone saddle. While it is technically sized for Tsugaru style, it can be used with any shamisen type. -
Neighbors keeping your sound levels down? Desperately wanting to play…Neighbors keeping your sound levels down? Desperately wanting to play shamisen now but still recovering from that hangover? The shinobi koma (Stealth Bridge) is made for you! Replacing your normal koma with the Shinobi Koma will lower the sound level tremendously. -
Prepare for extra-awesome! Compared to the regular Shinobi Koma, the…Prepare for extra-awesome! Compared to the regular Shinobi Koma, the Shinobi Koma - Deluxe is loaded with extra features! -
This Shinobi Koma - Kobashiki is the best Shinobi Koma…This Shinobi Koma - Kobashiki is the best Shinobi Koma available. -
This is a very special set of ito made by…This is a very special set of ito made by Marusan Hishimoto Co. (the most trusted maker of shamisen strings, and the only brand of string I sell in the Bachido Store) In the Tsugaru Ito Set - Black all strings are dyed black and look very striking against a white shamisen skin. Just be careful when playing shamisen in the dark! -
This is a very special set of ito made by…This is a very special set of ito made by Marusan Hishimoto Co. (the most trusted maker of shamisen strings, and the only brand of string I sell in the Bachido Store) All strings are dyed red and look very striking against a white shamisen skin. -
This is the Fujiito brand of ito. They are the…This is the Fujiito brand of ito. They are the most common brand of string for shamisen. It’s considered to be average quality for ‘practice use’, but I use them for performance and nobody notices the difference! -
The Gokujo ito are the considered to be the highest…The Gokujo ito are the considered to be the highest quality string for shamisen, and ideal for stage use. Note: The ichi no ito will not fit in a nagauta/jiuta shamisen, as the diameter of the string holes in the itomaki are smaller. It can be done if you widen the string hole first, but I've tried using such a thick string on a nagauta shamisen as an experiment, and feel that the tone of the thinner string balances much better with the smaller size of the nagauta shamisen. -
This is the Tsugaru Ito Set (Fujiito). They are the…This is the Tsugaru Ito Set (Fujiito). They are the most common string used for shamisen. It’s considered to be average quality for ‘practice use’, but I use them for performance and nobody notices the difference! -
One set of strings for Nagauta style. Contains one silk…One set of strings for Nagauta style. Contains one silk Ichi no ito, one silk ni no ito, and one nylon san no ito. -
The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest…The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest of the three). Fujiito brand, material is silk, and it's available in sizes for both Tsugaru and Nagauta styles. -
This is a double-length Ichi no Ito (the first string…This is a double-length Ichi no Ito (the first string on the shamisen, which is the thickest of the three). There is a red mark in the middle of the string length, indicating where the string can be cut in half. -
The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle…The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle string). Fujiito brand - Tetron (synthetic). -
San no Ito (Fujiito) string. The thinnest string. Material –… -
The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest…The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest of the three). Gintsuki brand, material is silk, and it's available in size for Tsugaru style only. -
The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle…The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle string). Gintsuki brand. Can be used for Tsugaru, Jiuta, and Nagauta style. Sold as a pack of two strings. -
The third string on the shamisen (which is the thinnest…The third string on the shamisen (which is the thinnest string). Gintsuki brand. Can be used for Nagauta style and Jiuta style (and technically Tsugaru style as well, but note that the aggressive style might break the silk strings quickly). Sold as a pack of five silk strings. -
The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest…The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest of the three). Gokujo brand, material is silk, and it's available in size for Tsugaru style only. Contains one string. -
The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle…The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle string). Gokujo brand. Can be used for Tsugaru, Jiuta, and Nagauta style. Sold as a pack of two strings. -
The third string on the shamisen (which is the thinnest…The third string on the shamisen (which is the thinnest string). Gokujo brand. Can be used for Nagauta style and Jiuta style (and technically Tsugaru style as well, but note that the aggressive style might break the silk strings quickly). Sold as a pack of five silk strings.