Yozan Professional Flute Vs. Beginner Flute

[@清月閣]

As a shakuhachi maker, i would say that the difference between two pieces of bamboos is almost negligible to the sound. All that matters is how much time a maker want to spend and tune the inner tube and mouthpiece. It's an iterative process, and law of diminishing applies.

[@breakfastplan4518]

The only difference between those two flutes is YOU. It is clearly obvious which one you have a good relationship with. I can assure you, if someone else developed the same kind of relationship with that "Student flute" that you have with your "main flute", they could potentially shoot you and your main flute out of the sky. I also studied in Japan and have seen such events... Great video! Keep up the good work.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thank you, I would disagree for multiple reasons. The thickness and bore of the flute are very different. The camera doesn't pick up the differences as much as a good mic would or the human ear. The biggest differences have to do with core (tone), and power. Thank you very much for the comment. :-)

[@breakfastplan4518]

@@TairyuShakuhachi Trust me, I know what im hearing. To me, this video demonstrates which flute you play the most. I totally understand the difference between bore length, outer-wall thickness and Tone color. A strong 'RO' is merely a strong 'Ro' and is not always commensurate with a great flute. Sure, blowing it tells you how optimal the flute is. But what about the player? When does the player share the responsibility of tone production? Well, I think, to a great degree, the flutes themselves tune the player. No matter the price of the flute. Watazumi-do and Yokoyama played flutes with incredibly huge bores and they produced loud and proud 'Ro'. Those two players were known to have strong breaths and strong physical cores. At any rate.. This is a great video.

[@twoowls5570]

Really informative and interesting. Some of us can’t get enough about the shakuhachi, yes there are books, but you are covering things I have always wondered about! Thanks, Jimp

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

You are very welcome

[@growingayeard1061]

Interesting, and a good example of how to compare flutes.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thank you

[@edwardlee2122]

Love the studio look. Looks legit!!

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Thank you so much! Working hard. I left the autofocus on my camera... rookie mistake. I will do better next time.

[@KurtRichards]

The Yozan beginner flute sounds also good. No comparison to the majority of poorly made flutes they sell on ebay. But the combination of you and the 8000 dollar flute is....amazing :-)

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Via Google Translate: I have had offers on my flute that I had to decline. I just love it so much.

[@ncr004]

May I ask why is the professional flute's colour deeper? Did they use dark paint on it?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

No, it is smoked bamboo.

[@plaunty]

Thank you.. very informative

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

You are very welcome!

[@Oni_SmokeCG]

Damn, I absolutely love the Shakuhachi and the Shamisen. But we broke so....PVC pipe with holes it is...

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

one day!

[@Oni_SmokeCG]

@@TairyuShakuhachi when the lottery hits I guess 😂🤌

[@D.2023]

Sir, would you kindly make a review or just perform a full range sound demo on Japanese plastic mold Shakuhachi Yuu? Many westerners, including me, have it. But some of us doubt that it is capable of playing well. I personally gave up on it, the base Ro and second octave seem impossible to achieve. Please prove me wrong! The flute is worthy of your coverage, it is claimed that Shakuhachi Yuu is officially recognized as a proper student instrument by the Japanese Ministry of culture.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

If someone sends it to me I would be happy to do the review video of it.

[@user-vk8ho1pw8q]

ありがとうございます！

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

よろしくお願いいたします。

[@kjell159]

With jiari I won't disagree with you. But aren't jinashis sound pretty dependable upon the amount and placement of the nodes. Every node has to be spaced a bit further up the flute from each other. And the nodes create certain resonance spots and so called 'chambers'? I love your personal flute. It has a pretty deep sound, like a jinashi, but with the volume of a jiari. And the look is amazing. The darker bamboo look. Is it regular madake (Phyllostachys bambusoïdes) or the tiger/dark bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)? Tiger bamboo is also occasionally used by professional makers. I have one bamboo shakuhachi (the cheap jinashi kind, under 200 bucks, with a soft ro and not tuned that greatly, you know the kind haha, although for the price it's not a terrible flute, but not one suitable for actual practice either, it actually has a nice, deep re (G pitch) in otsu) and that one is even made from the lighter Phyllostachys aurea. The advantage of that bamboo species is that it's more hardy then madake. Less prone to splitting due to humidity, temperature, etc. You can just leave it out and it will probably withstand for years. Of course it's not that suitable for professional or even really decent practice shakuhachi I guess. But maybe if a professional maker made a jiari out of aurea bamboo, it would actually turn out pretty nice. With a very low weight, suitable for people with tendon issues and stuff like that. But I only know of one person who actually uses that species of bamboo. And he's not a professional maker, but a very kind and humble man however. Of course I'm just saying how I hear/perceive it. I'm not a professional. And tastes can even differ of course.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

I don't know the details of that.

[@kjell159]

@@TairyuShakuhachi Ok, no problem! :) I know I always ask a lot of questions on your videos. But that's because you make interesting videos. You have a lot of free material.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@kjell159 And please don't stop. I love hearing from you all. If I don't know, I will simply state it but if I learn it later, I will be sure to comment on it.

[@ericnapierstrong8217]

Yes, but the only difference between 6 or 7 node flutes like this is at the root end, where the bamboo is already solid. The business end of the bore is the same. No functional difference here.

[@aguynamedqaz5192]

hello, which flute on the Yozan store is the beginner flute you used in the video? I am planning to buy one soon from the website

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

This one is already sold so it is no longer in the shop. One similar would be a size 7 flute.

[@aguynamedqaz5192]

@@TairyuShakuhachi wait when you mean size do you mean thickness? if so would either this one www.yozan-hikichi.shop/goods_en_usd_44.html or this one www.yozan-hikichi.shop/goods_en_usd_74.html be better? I am a beginner

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@aguynamedqaz5192 Yes exactly. Both of those are wonderful choices.

[@kasperbaele]

Hi renzoh , do you have any idea if the professional monty levenson tai hei shakuhachi are worth it? Thanks in advance.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Yes, I will keep it short and sweet. Pro: Extremely durable, Amazing Pitch. :Cons: Ridiculously Heavy, sluggish and boring tone.

[@kasperbaele]

@@TairyuShakuhachi Thank you very much for your reply. I am on the lookout for a professional shakuhachi. I' ve stumbled upon a man called Thorsten Knaub who has an interesting website with flutes he makes and I 've seen a video where you talk about the Yozan flutes. I do live in Europe ( Belgium) so testing is somewhat a problem. My first ever flute was made by Perry Yung , very decent for the price ( as far as my knowledge goes)

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@kasperbaele I always go with Yozan for my students because I can quality control what they get. For others, I don’t know.

[@tangsun4797]

If you only evaluate the flutes based on their sound, you're right, but in terms of workmanship, they're both not optimal.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Based in what criteria?

[@caotran9632]

I have a question. Are they both jiari shakuhachi?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Yes.

[@forgingmywill]

What is the tunes of the student shakuhachi?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Im not sure I understand the question

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

Nice video. But 700$ usd. Ouch!

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

That’s really cheap for a Shakuhachi of such high quality actually. And believe it or not their are shakuhachi out there that have been sold for 100k

[@F0nkyNinja]

$7000 OUCH!!

[@yamiteru4376]

I wouldn't say $700 is very beginner friendly.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

When it comes to bamboo flutes that are of high quality, it is very friendly. There are many flutes from 5,000 USD to 10,000 USD. This is not to be compared with plastic flutes.

[@yamiteru4376]

@@TairyuShakuhachi What is so expensive on these flutes? Sure the root of the bamboo is more expensive but doesn't cost thousands. How long does it usually take a flutemaker to make one shakuhachi? I think they're just unreasonably overpriced 🤷‍♂️

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

@@yamiteru4376 Thank you for your question and I am happy to answer that. Why more expensive? 1. Skill, Makers like Yozan have been working for 50 plus years. That kind of skill cost more money. 2. Materials - with many modern flutes they are one using the highest quality bamboo. Which is becoming less and less common (specifically madake bamboo with the right length, thickness, and hardness). Then the bamboo sits in a storage unit from 5 to 40 years. My personal bamboo flute made by Yozan was aged 40 years before it was made. After that the price of silver, gold, ivory, and or water buffalo horn is added. Gold especially is very expensive. 3. Time, I can argue philosophically that it takes 50 years to make a quality bamboo flute like Yozan does but from start to finish with bamboo that is already cured for the needed time, would be approx. 3 months. I hope this answers you questions. Please let me know if you have any more. (as a side note, many other Japanese makers do not offer beginner level flutes and many other makers have a starting price of 4k USD. Yozan is specifically well priced).

[@yamiteru4376]

@@TairyuShakuhachi Wow first of all thank you for your answer 🙏

[@yamiteru4376]

@@TairyuShakuhachi 1. I see your point but then my question is why don't other non-shakuhachi flute makers such as Erik the Flutemaker, who also has decades of experience, make such expensive flutes?

[@bjulianlm]

I wonder how much does a monk pay for his flute?

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Nothing if they make it themselves.

[@bjulianlm]

@@TairyuShakuhachi I wonder that but that means their flutes would not be up there with yours... Or perhaps they are...

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

I think you would be surprised! I have played no name flutes and monk flutes from edo that would blow your mind! They probably thought nothing of them. I truly believe it’s 90 percent bamboo and 10 percent maker (especially when it’s Jinashi and there is no lacquer. I have a new one from Yozan that was made from 150 to 300 year old smoked bamboo and that is quite the sound! So I believe it’s bamboo and player.

[@bjulianlm]

@@TairyuShakuhachi a little bit of this and a little bit of that then. Great vids by the way. I hope to one day learn to play the basics of this instrument. I am very interested in the meditation capabilities.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

Shakuhachi is a powerful tool. It really helps a lot. It has changed me in ways I could never have imagined.

[@LapoSapo]

Is always like this for the 10% more you have to spend 0 more zero.

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

for violins you have to add "000"

[@LapoSapo]

@@TairyuShakuhachi that is for the 1% more :D

[@TairyuShakuhachi]

And we haven’t started talking about the bow yet!