I am surprised at how the PVC one sounded! I have a yuu at the moment, so probably on par with the 3D printed one, so still tuning my ear to the differences. The grade of bamboo warmth and colour does come off well in the video, though. It is good to know that there are options available for people with tighter budgets or means, and ones that sound good, too!
Finally took the time to watch this student-must-watch. It'll take some years until I can hear the differences properly and even without having them side by side. I have one big take-away sadly.... at some point I really need an upgrade again. Love my current flute though (give-away #1 - thanks again!) and yes!!! It's so much easier to play!!! One could say it's imagination of whatever, but no, the better flutes are easier. Slightly unfair, but well, at least something more to look forward to when reaching a level where an upgrade is justifiable.
Call me crazy but I really love how the 3D printed one sounds, but the higher quality flutes sound more fruitful. Either way, nice video! I just picked up my first starter flute, and I am enjoying the journey so far! Cheers!
The 3D print is a great flute! My friend and I are developing it more and hopefully it will become a resin flute one day. Basically indestructible and sounds awesome!
Nice one.. having learned for many years on a challenging bamboo I would now say 3D printed is easier and better for beginner. When I finally got a good flute I instantly became a much better player.. not loosing my sound half why through Rokudan… Just picked up a new flute.. still trying to figure out how good it is, still getting to know it..
Good comparison video. The 3D printed one was surprisingly good in terms to tone (minus maybe the Ro). The difference between the pro model and the priceless one needs a side by side audition. I would say the priceless one sounds smoother and maybe a little bit richer.
Glad you enjoyed it. It is interesting. I should do the same sometime with Jinashi flutes. but at that point, you are really looking at the makers more than anything else! Jinashi flutes are so hard to make. You must be an artist to make good jinashi.
@@joestatuto5287 it tells me that it’s a very thin flute. It doesn’t mean it’s bad or good. Typically speaking thin flutes are made for people with softer breaths or for minyo/folk music but not always!!! I personally find that thicker flutes have more color and variety to them. I hope this helps.
Excellent comparison! It was easy, even with my TV speakers, to discern the (often subtle) tonal differences between flutes. The inexpensive ones lacked power (and volume) and richness of tone. The difference between the 3D printed and student bamboo, to my ears, however, is not so great, probably making it hard to justify the price difference unless one absolutely must have bamboo. The semi-pro and above are definitely in a superior category. Blindfolded, I'd choose your personal (priceless!) shakuhachi, but the $3K flute is superb (in your hands, at least). 😄
I agree! I think that the 3d printed one can rival the beginner flutes. This particular one was made from PET plastic (same plastic as water bottles). My friend and I are currently developing a model our of Resin and Japanese Urushi, I think it will outperform the beginner flute and begin to rival the pro flutes! Haha, yes, my priceless flute. Could be extraordinarily expensive, or garbage! If you read that sentence with no context. The 3k flute is really quite something. It is a big flute, heavy, lots of character. Anyways, thanks for stopping by and thanks for commenting. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe. :-)
@@TairyuShakuhachi 😄 I see what you mean. 😁 Hope your resin project is successful. Being able to put a modestly priced but good performing shakuhachi in the hands of all potential students (especially the young) is important in order to keep this beautiful tradition and music alive for centuries to come.
Hello :) When I check second-hand japanese websites like mercari, we can find many models of flutes for less than 100 euros/dollars. I am not asking if they are great compared to the normal prices of shakuhachi (>1000) but I wonder if in Japan there is a market with more choices for entrance levels , because maybe shakuhachi is popular in Japan (so the prices are not always hight) and for the rest of the world, shakuhachi is still "rare" so expensive as f***. Too bad it's difficult to find any demos about these shakuhachi, the brand names are not easy to spot from the seller pages
Many of those second hand flutes are not well made. I may do a video were I buy a few of them and review but they do not compare to the top brand makers. There are also a ton of fakes
I had a fairly expensive one. Couldn't even make consistent sound. It eventually cracked. I would have fixed it already but i can play my homeade pvc flutes "better". 😂
Hi Sean, thanks for the video. Could you explain the "capsize" thing? I have never heard about this: is this something like the thickness/wieght of the bamboo? Would you say that a thicker and heavier shak would be more resonant? I'm trying to upgrade from my current instruments and should be thinking about this too. ..Thanks!
Love and hate the video. Love the comparison, hate that it makes me want to get mkre expensive one eventhough i havent practiced with mine enough yet. Question how much time to you usually spend adjusting to different flute? Or is it seemless for you and you can pretty much pick up any shakuhachi and go with it? Also another proof that its the player that matters the most.
I totally understand your feelings there. I think that there is a pre-suppositional issue with your question. Which is that there is an end point to the relationship in terms of becoming familiar with the flute. Even with the flute that I’ve spent six years with playing every single day it becomes more and more comfortable and more and more familiar every time I pick it up. Now to answer the question in the way that I believe you’re asking it. I would say it takes about a month or two to really sink in and break the proverbial ice of the flute. Another variable that is applicable to this is what type of flute is it? If it’s a Jiari, the above answer. If it’s a Jinashi It could take away longer. There is a legendary story about Yamamoto Hozan’s Nyosui flute. It’s an incredible flute. And in his Hans it sounds amazing. However everybody else that picked it up could barely play it. Sometimes it’s really working with a difficult flute for years and years and years to find its true voice and color.
@TairyuShakuhachi beautiful answer and story! Thank you!! I'm having issues getting stable meri on my new flute compared to cheaper one I have , everything else is so much more beautiful and vibrant. Hope I'll get more time and get there! Thanks again for all you do for community!
Man, these prices are ridiculus for a bamboo flute! I understand the art of craftsmanship is priceless.. but still, it is just a bamboo root with holes on it. This is unacceptable. I play Turkish ney for more than 20 years. Ney cannot be constructed from any reed. You need to search among thousands of plants to find one with the right dimensions. There should be 9 nodes, with equal lengths.. The holes should coincide with specific locations between the nodes. The plant should be of specific width, it should have specific wall thicness, it should be gradually tapering down along its length, etc etc. Many intricacies.. In addition, a mouth piece made of aged bufallo horn should be crafted. And yes, making a ney is an art. But even the greatest masters wouldn't charge you for more than 250 USD for the best ney. You can still buy a ney for 25K USD, but only if it is an atique piece more than 100 years old. Older ones may be even priceless (100s of thousands of dollars) due to the utmost care it is given all those years. But taking a bamboo root, leaving it to dry for a few years, punching holes in it, and asking for more than 3K USD is absurd! I would like to play the Shakuachi, but each time I see these prices, I give up. I'm no beginner, I'm a musician and I wouldn't start with a plastic toy. Since it is a traditional flute, I know that one instrument will never be enough. I will need different pitches for different needs, some will crack in time, etc. Not everyone around the world are weathy. Music cultures should be more accessible to everyone. By the way, your demonstration is fantastic. Thank you very much! My problem is with the prices :)
If you're looking to try out the instrument, I'd recommended the Yuu. It's not bamboo, but it's affordable and nigh-indestructible, and it's directly modeled on an existing bamboo shakuhachi. It is a beginner instrument, but it's worth more than the few weeks of practice that some people claim is all you can get out of a beginner shakuhachi. My (former) teacher is a master with decades of playing experience, and he used a Yuu as his "everyday carry" instrument while his primary was being repaired.
I hear you. I was astonished to see the prices for Shakuhachi too. I play the Indian classical flute (bansuri), even the best concert grade flutes don’t cost more than $300. And often it’s not the price but knowing the right maker, and getting it made properly that makes all the difference. However, I was able to find a bamboo shakuhachi in Kyoto for about $200. It is not the best, but has enough character of the instrument that it doesn’t feel like a toy
@@pc9434 The Yuu become hard to find at good price...especially to import ... In mejiro it had a great price 98 euros , which is better price for this plastic flute, well built, but plastic !!! ...It's still out of stock and since long time, no hope. .. Now it's around $190-300$ ... Sad ...
@@josuefox I've never seen a new Yuu for that cheap. I paid a little under $200 for mine, and it looks like you can still get it at that price on either Amazon or the Yuu website.
Introduction: 0:00
20 Dollar Flute 1:05
200 Dollar Flute 2:41
1500 Dollar Flute 4:25
3000 Dollar Flute 9:10
Personal Flute 12:43
I am surprised at how the PVC one sounded!
I have a yuu at the moment, so probably on par with the 3D printed one, so still tuning my ear to the differences. The grade of bamboo warmth and colour does come off well in the video, though.
It is good to know that there are options available for people with tighter budgets or means, and ones that sound good, too!
!!! Exactly !!! Thanks for watching.
Every time I see Sean he looks a little bit more badass than the last time...
Oh my friend, you are too kind. I am glad to see you again and I hope you are doing well.
Finally took the time to watch this student-must-watch. It'll take some years until I can hear the differences properly and even without having them side by side. I have one big take-away sadly.... at some point I really need an upgrade again. Love my current flute though (give-away #1 - thanks again!) and yes!!! It's so much easier to play!!! One could say it's imagination of whatever, but no, the better flutes are easier. Slightly unfair, but well, at least something more to look forward to when reaching a level where an upgrade is justifiable.
Just keep hoping for that Yen to get weaker and weaker.
Call me crazy but I really love how the 3D printed one sounds, but the higher quality flutes sound more fruitful. Either way, nice video! I just picked up my first starter flute, and I am enjoying the journey so far! Cheers!
The 3D print is a great flute! My friend and I are developing it more and hopefully it will become a resin flute one day. Basically indestructible and sounds awesome!
@TairyuShakuhachi that would be incredible! I really love your channel and I appreciate your kindness :)
Nice one.. having learned for many years on a challenging bamboo I would now say 3D printed is easier and better for beginner. When I finally got a good flute I instantly became a much better player.. not loosing my sound half why through Rokudan…
Just picked up a new flute.. still trying to figure out how good it is, still getting to know it..
@@isiwara1000 wonderful comment, thank you for your comment and insight. That the getting used to it time is no fun but it will get better :-)
Good comparison video. The 3D printed one was surprisingly good in terms to tone (minus maybe the Ro). The difference between the pro model and the priceless one needs a side by side audition. I would say the priceless one sounds smoother and maybe a little bit richer.
Good ear
Which one do you like?
Very interesting. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it. It is interesting. I should do the same sometime with Jinashi flutes. but at that point, you are really looking at the makers more than anything else! Jinashi flutes are so hard to make. You must be an artist to make good jinashi.
@@TairyuShakuhachi I just looked in my cap not knowing about numbered sizes, it is a 5. What does that say about the flute?
@@joestatuto5287 it tells me that it’s a very thin flute. It doesn’t mean it’s bad or good. Typically speaking thin flutes are made for people with softer breaths or for minyo/folk music but not always!!!
I personally find that thicker flutes have more color and variety to them.
I hope this helps.
@@TairyuShakuhachi yes, thanks.
Excellent comparison! It was easy, even with my TV speakers, to discern the (often subtle) tonal differences between flutes. The inexpensive ones lacked power (and volume) and richness of tone. The difference between the 3D printed and student bamboo, to my ears, however, is not so great, probably making it hard to justify the price difference unless one absolutely must have bamboo. The semi-pro and above are definitely in a superior category. Blindfolded, I'd choose your personal (priceless!) shakuhachi, but the $3K flute is superb (in your hands, at least). 😄
I agree! I think that the 3d printed one can rival the beginner flutes. This particular one was made from PET plastic (same plastic as water bottles). My friend and I are currently developing a model our of Resin and Japanese Urushi, I think it will outperform the beginner flute and begin to rival the pro flutes!
Haha, yes, my priceless flute. Could be extraordinarily expensive, or garbage! If you read that sentence with no context.
The 3k flute is really quite something. It is a big flute, heavy, lots of character.
Anyways, thanks for stopping by and thanks for commenting. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe. :-)
@@TairyuShakuhachi 😄 I see what you mean. 😁 Hope your resin project is successful. Being able to put a modestly priced but good performing shakuhachi in the hands of all potential students (especially the young) is important in order to keep this beautiful tradition and music alive for centuries to come.
@@Prajnana we will make it happen! With the right tools and a eager audience, anything is possible :-)
Hello :) When I check second-hand japanese websites like mercari, we can find many models of flutes for less than 100 euros/dollars. I am not asking if they are great compared to the normal prices of shakuhachi (>1000) but I wonder if in Japan there is a market with more choices for entrance levels , because maybe shakuhachi is popular in Japan (so the prices are not always hight) and for the rest of the world, shakuhachi is still "rare" so expensive as f***. Too bad it's difficult to find any demos about these shakuhachi, the brand names are not easy to spot from the seller pages
Many of those second hand flutes are not well made. I may do a video were I buy a few of them and review but they do not compare to the top brand makers. There are also a ton of fakes
awesome demo ty
You are most very welcome. :-) I hope it helps many people get a better understanding.
I had a fairly expensive one. Couldn't even make consistent sound. It eventually cracked. I would have fixed it already but i can play my homeade pvc flutes "better". 😂
In the hands of a master this flute sounds like a master flutes in the hands of a beginner it sounds like a beginner flute.
Have you tried alumium shakuhachi? If so, what do you think about 'em?
Yes I have. Hard to hold, sounds like a western flute. Very loud
Where can you buy a shakuhachi? I’m in Canada
From my website shawnheadmusic.com go to the buy a shakuhachi tab
Hi Sean, thanks for the video. Could you explain the "capsize" thing? I have never heard about this: is this something like the thickness/wieght of the bamboo? Would you say that a thicker and heavier shak would be more resonant? I'm trying to upgrade from my current instruments and should be thinking about this too. ..Thanks!
Capsize refers to the leather cap on top which is related to the overall diameter of the flute.
So larger cap size, larger flute.
And part 2
Typically speaking but not always not always not always, thicker flutes with denser wood are more resonant and colorful
@@TairyuShakuhachi cool! Cap size is the size of the cap! of course!
Dang, 7k for a shakuhachi!!
They go up higher. I’ve seen them for 35k
Hahah!! That was just my guess for your personal flute, was I close :D? 35 k is crazy!!@@TairyuShakuhachi
Can you elaborate a bit on what you meant when you said “ro sounds like ro and tsu sounds like tsu…” how do they sound to you? 0:09
I’m references the vowels and tonal colors of the shakuhachi
Could you please define what you mean by “depth”, which you mention several times? What does that mean in terms of sound/acoustics?
Core sound. Meaning that the fundamental of each note is clear and resonant
Love and hate the video. Love the comparison, hate that it makes me want to get mkre expensive one eventhough i havent practiced with mine enough yet.
Question how much time to you usually spend adjusting to different flute? Or is it seemless for you and you can pretty much pick up any shakuhachi and go with it? Also another proof that its the player that matters the most.
I totally understand your feelings there.
I think that there is a pre-suppositional issue with your question. Which is that there is an end point to the relationship in terms of becoming familiar with the flute. Even with the flute that I’ve spent six years with playing every single day it becomes more and more comfortable and more and more familiar every time I pick it up.
Now to answer the question in the way that I believe you’re asking it. I would say it takes about a month or two to really sink in and break the proverbial ice of the flute.
Another variable that is applicable to this is what type of flute is it? If it’s a Jiari, the above answer. If it’s a Jinashi It could take away longer.
There is a legendary story about Yamamoto Hozan’s Nyosui flute. It’s an incredible flute. And in his Hans it sounds amazing. However everybody else that picked it up could barely play it. Sometimes it’s really working with a difficult flute for years and years and years to find its true voice and color.
@TairyuShakuhachi beautiful answer and story! Thank you!!
I'm having issues getting stable meri on my new flute compared to cheaper one I have , everything else is so much more beautiful and vibrant. Hope I'll get more time and get there! Thanks again for all you do for community!
@@FelixSaint maybe we can schedule a one time lesson and I can help out with some of those things. :-)
@TairyuShakuhachi I would love it! Crazy times now, but if you have time in May that would be the honour.
@@FelixSaint send me an email through my website. Let’s set something up :-)
Domo arigato !
douzo yoroshiku!
Is the 3D printed one made by our friend Nick Bellando?!
A gentlemen never asks, a lady never tells!
@@TairyuShakuhachi Though if comparison is made one also should know where to get those flutes if one is interested in buying any of them…
@@Thedailydrawchannel The first two are not for the public market. The others can be purchased from my website. ShawnHeadMusic.com
@@TairyuShakuhachiok good info to know
@@Thedailydrawchannel absolutely!
Man, these prices are ridiculus for a bamboo flute! I understand the art of craftsmanship is priceless.. but still, it is just a bamboo root with holes on it. This is unacceptable.
I play Turkish ney for more than 20 years. Ney cannot be constructed from any reed. You need to search among thousands of plants to find one with the right dimensions. There should be 9 nodes, with equal lengths.. The holes should coincide with specific locations between the nodes. The plant should be of specific width, it should have specific wall thicness, it should be gradually tapering down along its length, etc etc. Many intricacies.. In addition, a mouth piece made of aged bufallo horn should be crafted.
And yes, making a ney is an art. But even the greatest masters wouldn't charge you for more than 250 USD for the best ney.
You can still buy a ney for 25K USD, but only if it is an atique piece more than 100 years old. Older ones may be even priceless (100s of thousands of dollars) due to the utmost care it is given all those years.
But taking a bamboo root, leaving it to dry for a few years, punching holes in it, and asking for more than 3K USD is absurd!
I would like to play the Shakuachi, but each time I see these prices, I give up. I'm no beginner, I'm a musician and I wouldn't start with a plastic toy. Since it is a traditional flute, I know that one instrument will never be enough. I will need different pitches for different needs, some will crack in time, etc.
Not everyone around the world are weathy. Music cultures should be more accessible to everyone.
By the way, your demonstration is fantastic. Thank you very much! My problem is with the prices :)
If you're looking to try out the instrument, I'd recommended the Yuu. It's not bamboo, but it's affordable and nigh-indestructible, and it's directly modeled on an existing bamboo shakuhachi. It is a beginner instrument, but it's worth more than the few weeks of practice that some people claim is all you can get out of a beginner shakuhachi. My (former) teacher is a master with decades of playing experience, and he used a Yuu as his "everyday carry" instrument while his primary was being repaired.
I hear you. I was astonished to see the prices for Shakuhachi too.
I play the Indian classical flute (bansuri), even the best concert grade flutes don’t cost more than $300. And often it’s not the price but knowing the right maker, and getting it made properly that makes all the difference.
However, I was able to find a bamboo shakuhachi in Kyoto for about $200. It is not the best, but has enough character of the instrument that it doesn’t feel like a toy
ruclips.net/video/6pq1fXNeit8/видео.html
You can try to win one for free instead.
@@pc9434 The Yuu become hard to find at good price...especially to import ... In mejiro it had a great price 98 euros , which is better price for this plastic flute, well built, but plastic !!! ...It's still out of stock and since long time, no hope. .. Now it's around $190-300$ ... Sad ...
@@josuefox I've never seen a new Yuu for that cheap. I paid a little under $200 for mine, and it looks like you can still get it at that price on either Amazon or the Yuu website.