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To learn more about The Heirloom Rose Shamisen or the…To learn more about The Heirloom Rose Shamisen or the accompanying accessory set, please click on their respective links below! 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 Heirloom 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! -
The No-Limits Shamisen! An otherwise standard high quality Karin shamisen…The No-Limits Shamisen! An otherwise standard high quality Karin shamisen with a unique base of the sao which extends to the edge of the dou, as opposed to swooping down (the shape which is called Hatomune) 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 "No Limits" 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! -
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! -
This is a standard type of Shamisen for Tsugaru style.…This is a standard type of Shamisen for Tsugaru style. 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 Karin Tsugaru 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! -
Looking to have your broken natural shamisen skin replaced with…Looking to have your broken natural shamisen skin replaced with a synthetic shamisen skin? No problem at all! All you have to do is send your dou (soundbox) to Kyle and he will remove the old skins and replace them with Hibiki: Advanced Synthetic Skin! After you order the service, Kyle will send you the shipping information and will start working on your repair as soon as he receives your dou.Possible extra costs
- Broken Dou: The glue on vintage shamisen is known to fail due to age. Sometimes, the corner joints of the dou are already separated and are simply held together by the skins alone! When this happens, the dou must be reglued before reskinning. Please note there may be a $50 to $100 extra fee if this happens.
- Rubber Pad (Dou Gomu): If your dou has a rubber pad (dou gomu) attached to it, please remove it before shipping. Unlike new dou gomu, (which peel off easily and cleanly) the rubber of old dou gomu are often partially disintegrated and crumble when trying to remove it. It's a considerable hassle, and there may be $20 extra fee to remove it.
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Looking to have the skins of your shamisen replaced with…Looking to have the skins of your shamisen replaced with a fresh natural skin? No problem at all! All you have to do is send your dou (soundbox) to Kyle and he will remove the old skins and replace them with new natural skins. After you order the service, Kyle will send you the shipping information and will start working on your repair as soon as he receives your dou. Note:Â Currently, Kyle is replacing natural skin for nagauta and jiuta shamisen. For those wanting high tension natural skin for tsugaru shamisen, he will connect you with his partner in Japan.Possible extra costs
- Broken Dou: The glue on vintage shamisen is known to fail due to age. Sometimes, the corner joints of the dou are already separated and are simply held together by the skins alone! When this happens, the dou must be reglued before reskinning. Please note there may be a $50 to $100 extra fee if this happens.
- Rubber Pad (Dou Gomu): If your dou has a rubber pad (dou gomu) attached to it, please remove it before shipping. Unlike new dou gomu, (which peel off easily and cleanly) the rubber of old dou gomu are often partially disintegrated and crumble when trying to remove it. It's a considerable hassle, and there may be $20 extra fee to remove it.
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If you play your shamisen and notice particular notes sounding…If you play your shamisen and notice particular notes sounding especially dull or harshly buzzy, there's a good chance your sao has kanberi. Kanberi is basically wear-and-tear naturally caused by the act of pressing the string against the sao repeatedly over the course of years. Releveling the sao completely removes this wear and restores the full resonance of a shamisen, making it sound brand new again. After purchasing this service, Kyle will send you an email with instructions for shipping. Please be prepared to ship your whole shamisen. -
This service is for restoring the taper of itomaki (tuning…This service is for restoring the taper of itomaki (tuning pegs). This corrects the problem of itomaki slipping or not being able to maintain higher string tension. After you order the service, I will email you shipping instructions for sending your shamisen in for repair. Brand new itomaki available for installation! Click here to check out the Ebony Nagauta Itomaki Set. If you have a Tsugaru style shamisen, please consider checking out Elite Itomaki in the Bachido Shop to accessorize your shamisen with something special! -
Brand new set of Ebony Nagauta style Itomaki made by…Brand new set of Ebony Nagauta style Itomaki made by Tokyo Wagakki. These itomaki are direct from the maker, and require turning (making the peg round with a file or lathe) to specially fit in each row of holes, as well as drilling string holes. -
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.
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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
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The Bachi Case is a classy way to keep both…The Bachi Case is a classy way to keep both your bachi (plectrum) and koma (bridge) safe and secure. This exquisite case has the capacity to accommodate two bachi while also providing ample space to house up to eight koma (depending on the width). It's a very elegant and stylish way to keep your accessories protected, we've got a wide variety of Bachi Cases to choose from!! -
Made with high quality Kimono fabric, these Bachi Fukuro are…Made with high quality Kimono fabric, these Bachi Fukuro are hand made with generous padding. With this fukuro, your bachi will be safely bundled and protected from a small fall! (Note, the main protection is around the handle and end of the blade, thus the blade might still chip if it falls directly on the blade tip) -
These beautiful hand-crafted Naga Fukuro are lovingly sewn with high…These beautiful hand-crafted Naga Fukuro are lovingly sewn with high quality kimono fabric. There is only enough fabric for one Naga Fukuro, so each of these products are entirely unique and one-of-a-kind. Locally crafted in Sapporo, Japan! -
For those who know me and my wardrobe, I'm not…For those who know me and my wardrobe, I'm not one to shy away from flashy colors, and thus am huge fan of these cases! The outer shell of the Koma Case is covered with beautiful fabric featuring an ornate floral pattern. The case holds a maximum of five koma and has space for small items like strings or yubikake. A very elegant and stylish way to keep your accessories protected! A very elegant and stylish way to keep your accessories protected! Be sure to check out the Koma Case (Pattern) for ornate patterns! -
I must admit, this is my absolute favorite koma. It’s…I must admit, this is my absolute favorite koma. It’s both great sounding and a gorgeous work of art. This koma is made from susudake (soot bamboo) and half bone top is expertly carved with three waves (or some might see fangs) curving downward. All of the bamboo/wood koma on Bachido sound great, but I particularly like this one for both it’s style and sound! Scroll below for sound test video! -
I must admit, this is my absolute favorite koma. It’s…I must admit, this is my absolute favorite koma. It’s both great sounding and a gorgeous work of art. This koma is made from susudake (soot bamboo) and half bone top is expertly carved with three waves (or some might see fangs) curving downward. All of the bamboo/wood koma on Bachido sound great, but I particularly like this one for both it’s style and sound! Scroll below for sound test video! -
Koma with a Kouki base and bone saddle. Scroll below…Koma with a Kouki base and bone saddle. Scroll below for sound test video! -
This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and…This koma is made with a bamboo (Madake) base and a bekko saddle. While it is technically sized for Tsugaru style, it can be used with any shamisen type. -
This koma is made with a Kouki base and a…This koma is made with a Kouki base and a bone saddle. While it is technically sized for Tsugaru style, it can be used with any shamisen type. Scroll below for sound test video! -
Bamboo Koma lacquered with black urushi. Scroll below for sound…Bamboo Koma lacquered with black urushi. Scroll below for sound test video! -
Bamboo Koma with Acrylic saddle. Height is 8.13mmBamboo Koma with Acrylic saddle. Height is 8.13mm -
Wider than most tsugaru koma. Height: 8.89mmWider than most tsugaru koma. Height: 8.89mm -
According to Nitta san, Shari bamboo (舎利竹) is aged and…According to Nitta san, Shari bamboo (舎利竹) is aged and extra dry. Height: 6.73mm -
Susudake Bamboo base with Faux Bekko Tip. Height is 7.41mmSusudake Bamboo base with Faux Bekko Tip. Height is 7.41mm
