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.)Â 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!
- 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.
- 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.