Nagauta Shamisen

  • Sale!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqW8lIoATN4 At Bachido, we know that shamisen are very expensive…
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqW8lIoATN4 At Bachido, we know that shamisen are very expensive instruments to learn. Though some people know shamisen is for them upon hearing the first strike of the string, it's difficult for most of us to spend $1000 on an instrument without trying it first. Fortunately, Nitta san managed to find shamisen built for school use, and he ordered a whole fleet of them in bulk for a discount rate in order to pass those savings onto you! We're so happy to finally have this shamisen set available so people can start their three-stringed journey with greater ease! The Shamisen Starter Set includes everything you need to start playing shamisen. As you can watch in "Unboxing the Shamisen Starter Set", the shamisen and the entire set of accessories are shipped together in one box. Many other shamisen stores in Japan will ship their shamisen fully assembled, which for overseas deliveries very often results in broken necks and shattered dreams. (Truly, I've had to fix many broken shamisen which customers received from other stores) At Bachido, we ensure safe delivery by shipping shamisen fully disassembled with every part carefully wrapped. Since 2014, we've shipped over 700 shamisen with a nearly perfect delivery rate. So when you get your shamisen at Bachido, you can rest assured knowing your shamisen will arrive safely! Now, the safest method of delivery does mean the shamisen will need to be assembled and accessories attached after arrival. A daunting task it seems, but fear not, In my "Step-by-Step Guide to Shamisen Assembly", I will carefully walk you through the entire assembly process. From putting the neck together to tuning the shamisen, we will confidently set up your new three-stringed friend! Afterwards, you can learn how to play using the video lessons included with your purchase!

    Specifications

    • Hosozao (thin-neck) Shamisen
    • Sao: Mitsuori (Three-piece neck)
    • Itomaki: Ebony
    • Skin: Fibersen
    • Wood of Sao and Dou: Karin (Note) Darkness/color of wood may vary.
    • Included Accessories

    • Bachi (plectrum)
    • Bachigawa (skin protector)
    • Bamboo Koma (bridge)
    • Doukake (body cover)
    • Fujaku (position mark strip)
    • Ito (strings)
    • Kamigoma (shamisen nut: requires glue for installation)
    • Keychain Accessory (fun stuff!)
    • Neo (tailpiece)
    • Pitch Pipe
    • Soft Case
    • Yubikake (fingerpants)

    Helpful Videos

    Step-by-Step Guide to Shamisen Assembly (using the Shamisen Starter Set) Unboxing the Shamisen Starter Set DaFAQ: Shamisen Masterclass Series (it's free!)

    Kyle’s Opinion

    Having tested it out myself, I am very happy with the quality of this shamisen. The clear and resonant tone almost surprised me, it’s so nice! The tone gave me great satisfaction, which is something I wasn’t expecting from a shamisen of this price. Unlike other beginner level shamisen, this one sounds like… like a real instrument! Also, the itomaki are made from real wood and the shamisen sparkles with a luscious lacquer, making this a beautiful instrument to admire as you play it. This is a shamisen that sounds great and looks beautiful. If you are ready to start learning, this is the instrument for you. You may pick this shamisen up as a beginner, but you will cherish it for many years to come. You may have heard terms such as "Nagauta Shamisen", "Jiuta Shamisen", "Tsugaru Shamisen", and more. These basically refer to shamisen which are set up for those particular formal styles (Nagauta, Jiuta, and Tsugaru* style respectively). Such styles use very particular sizes of bachi (plectrum), koma (bridge), skin tension, and some visual aesthetics like width of overhanging skin on the dou (body). Such factors only matter for those who are pursuing a particular formal style. The Shamisen Starter Set's instrument is prepared in the folk style, which uses shamisen as a rather informal instrument. The instrument's frame is used for Nagauta Shamisen, but the skin is prepared with a folk/tsugaru aesthetic (I.e, the overhanging skin is wider than the short-cut overhang of classical styles), and the set includes the easy-to-use tsugaru koma (bridge). It's a shamisen made for folks who just want to learn and enjoy shamisen as an instrument, without getting bogged down about formal paradigms. There's nothing wrong with formal training, but from personal experience, I develop a greater connection with the instrument when being able to enjoy musical instruments as what they are - instruments of personal expression. :-) *Although Tsugaru style is often considered the modern "wild" style of shamisen, there is also a formal classical branch of the style which is very strict about the aesthetic.

    Special Bonus!

    To help you get started with your new Shamisen Starter Set, 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
    Note: A Bachido membership (free) is required to access the courses. (Please allow three weeks for fulfillment)
  • Sale!

    The Beginner’s Shamisen

    $500.00 - $640.00
    To learn more about the Beginner's Shamisen or the accompanying…
    To learn more about the Beginner's Shamisen or the accompanying accessory set, please click on their respective links below!

    Special Bonus!

    To help you get started with your new Beginner’s 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
    Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting the The Beginner’s Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The Beginner’s Shamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Beginner’s Shamisen Accessory Set gives users the most affordable option to start playing. The set consists of entry level items, but does not include Koma and Bachi. Those two items are required, and because there is a wide variety of excellent Koma and Bachi available, they are available outside of the set so users can choose the exact Koma and Bachi they prefer. If you're planning to get the Beginner's Shamisen Accessory Set, be sure to grab a Koma and Bachi too! 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. (Please allow two weeks for fulfillment)
  • Sale!
    Introducing a classic style of hosozao shamisen, 100% Made-in-Japan with…
    Introducing a classic style of hosozao shamisen, 100% Made-in-Japan with premium Shitan (rosewood)! Shitan (rosewood) is a hard and incredibly beautiful wood, and made with high quality standards, this shamisen has a luscious shine and sparkles in the light! This shamisen includes everything you need to start playing shamisen. What's unique about this particular line of shamisen are the materials used. These shamisen are made with wood harvested around the 1980s. Wood from that period was of much higher quality (often with a richer figure) than wood harvested recently. How were we able to get pristine 50-year-old wood? Read in the description below!

    Specifications

    • Hosozao (thin-neck) Shamisen
    • Sao: Shitan wood, Mitsuori (Three-piece neck)
    • Itomaki: Ebony
    • Skin: Fibersen
    • Dou: Karin (Note) Darkness/color of wood may vary.
    • Included Accessories

    • Bachi (plectrum)
    • Bachigawa (skin protector)
    • Bamboo Koma (bridge)
    • Doukake (body cover)
    • Fujaku (position mark strip)
    • Ito (strings)
    • Kamigoma (shamisen nut: requires glue for installation)
    • Keychain Accessory (fun stuff!)
    • Neo (tailpiece)
    • Pitch Pipe
    • Soft Case
    • Yubikake (fingerpants)
    (Please allow three weeks for fulfillment)  
  • The KoShamisen

    From: $1,190
    Designed with a perfect half-size sao and a natural skin,…
    Designed with a perfect half-size sao and a natural skin, you can get an authentic shamisen sound with a size convenient enough to take hiking or on the road. Important: This shamisen does NOT include any accessories required to play (no strings, plectrum, etc). Unless you already have accessories, please consider selecting The Beginner's Shamisen Accessory Set option for all the essential items required to make your shamisen playable. Otherwise, by selecting The KoShamisen only, you will receive the masterfully built shamisen in an unplayable condition. The Beginner'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!
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