Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

It is advisable to seal the shakuhachi in a plastic bag when not in use. The main danger to bamboo shakuhachi are sudden changes in humidity/temperature. I use one of those tubular cases that are widely available in art shops to carry around. I put in some bubble wrap to prevent the shakuhachi from getting knocked about.

As you will find on other posts, most people recommend starting with a yuu if you have less than 200 dollars to spend and then saving for a bamboo shakuhachi. Most bamboo shakuhachi in the lower range on eBay, etc. are not tuned well and difficult to play.

Well....  the plastic 'Shakuhachi Yuu' would certainly be the stress-free way to have a Shakuhachi to travel with... the Yuu will be able to play a wider range of notes compared to that earth model (I think that's a fair statement).

Sounds like you've got a flute though... ENJOY the adventure!

Ampersand_jones wrote:

Thanks Lance.  I'm certainly going to try to enjoy it.  As far as storage goes, I live in Arizona.  It's hot and dry.  Not much humidity to deal with.  Should I still be storing the Shakuhachi in a plastic bag?

It's the LACK of humidity that's the issue. All the more reason to use a plastic bag, AND a small piece of dampened sponge, in Arizona.

If the bamboo shakuhachi is moved to an area of lower humidity than that in which it was cured and fabricated, it will tend to lose moisture, which leads to cracking, which leads to gnashing of teeth, screaming, and tearing of hair and clothing.

eB

Last edited by edosan (2008-04-14 11:44:16)

I also bought one of Perry's flutes (lower end), and he is very gracious about emailing customers and helping. A GREAT representitive of the Shakuhachi.

Humidity where I am is rarely less than 30% and often much higher...  I had a 'tiny' piece of sponge just dampened with tea tree oil along with my flute in a plastic bag and it got moldy when left for a few days! I cleaned it up with tea tree oil and it seems good as new, but in my environment I guess I can do without the sponge, actually, my flutes are just  sitting out right now, no plastic bags, in this 30%+humidity environment, since now I'm fearful of MOLD.

Somewhere on this site there's a discussion of humidity, sponges, plastic bags, etc. If someone knows where that is perhaps linking it here would be a good idea.

P.S. I can store my Shakuhachi Yuu underwater if I like, or on the roof of the house... but, it's also inside next to my bamboo flutes.