Mujitsu Shakuhachi - Ken LaCosse

Mujitsu Shakuhachi Ken LaCosse

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Shakuhachi in stock

Updated July 20 , 2008

The following MUJITSU Shakuhachi by Ken LaCosse are in stock and available for purchase. Feel free to contact me with any questions. This page changes periodically so be sure to return for the latest update.

The flutes on this page are the finest that I have available. They are made from Japanese Madake culms of some of the highest quality obtainable. Although each flute has a distinct tonal personality, the overall tonal quality that characterizes Mujitsu Jinashi Shakuhachi is a glowing, fluid playability. The Taimu Shakuhachi are characterized by their breathy, penetrating glow. All flutes are meticulously and patiently adjusted until they are ready to be included here.

The black or dark flutes which are occasionally included here are fashioned after some of the finer vintage Komuso flutes I've had the opportunity to play and study. The Komuso monks often painted the outside of their flutes with urushi, presumably to protect them from the elements. The black urushi surface is soft and velvety yet extremely durable.

Also, check out other shakuhachi for lower priced flutes.

Auditioning Shakuhachi

The Mujitsu Shakuhachi Flutes below can be auditioned under the following terms:

I ask for full payment in advance of shipment (money orders, cashiers checks and VISA MasterCard, PayPal orders only please) Upon receipt of payment, I'll ship the flute by USPS Mail. A full refund (minus shipping expense) will be given if you decide to return the flute (insured) in its original condition when received. An additional 3% will be charged for returned credit card orders. Please let me know within two days upon receipt if you wish to purchase or return the flute.

(Please include $25 shipping/insurance with orders unless stated otherwise.)

Coming soon:
2.1 Taimu

Please contact me for details or to reserve a flute.

Shakuhachi in stock (Click on images to enlarge)

Mujitsu Shakuhachi T-shirt

100% cotton. Available in medium, large and extra large. Please specify.
$15

In U.S.

In Canada

Other countries

Mujitsu 1.6 (D#)
This Mujitsu is made from over 30 year old Japanese Madake bamboo. Sweet, pure tone. Smooth and elegant playability. Tuned on D#.
$1,800

Taimu 2.45 G#
This Taimu is made from a dense piece of Madake. Very solid. Powerful, penetrating tone. Quick, powerful attack with a relaxed embouchure. Holes are
very slightly offset and angled along with the lines of the subtle curvature of the bamboo. Tuned on G#.
$2,000 SOLD

Taimu 2.5
This unique Taimu is tuned directly on G#. It's relatively light for a big flute (535 grams). It's a very easy player for a big, wide bore flute. Breathy, full, rich,
resonant tone. Slightly flattened face for playing comfort. Offset holes (left hand on top). Great for beginners to Taimu because of its relative ease of playing
and holding. Also great for experienced players who desire a lightweight, easy, responsive player.
$1,500

Listen to this shakuahchi

Taimu 2.0 and 2.2
These two Taimu shakuhachi were made together. These shorter Taimu are really coming together now.

Taimu 2.0 (shorter) This is a very nicely shaped piece of solid, dense bamboo. Large holes. Slightly dispersed and breathy, yet penetrating tone. Plenty of power
for a short, wide bore shakuahchi. Tuned to B.
$2,500

Taimu 2.2 (longer) SOLD Unusually powerful and penetrating Taimu. Easy to play, yet all the mystery of a wide bore tone. Wide palette of tone possibilities: Volume,
power, penetration, windy, glowing. My favorite so far of the shorter Taimu. Easy to hold and play with the fingertips. (right hand bottom) Tuned to Bb.
$3,000

Taimu 2.5
This 2.5 Taimu plays with an airy, wispy and rich tone. The second register is especially easy to play. Very nice balance between the notes. Rubbed with
dark red urushi finish outside with black preventative binding. Inline holes.
$2,500

Taimu 2.9
This 2.9 Taimu is tuned to F. Wide, rich glowing tone with a smooth attack and finish. Nicely aged bamboo. Solid rootend. Offset holes.
$2,500

Taimu 1.9 and 2.1
These two shakuhachi were made together. Short Taimu like this can be challenging to pull off. I'm happy with the results of these two flutes.

Taimu 1.9 (Shortest flute) This is the widest bore 1.9 I've made. Penetrating, airy, glowing tone. Very large holes give it an expressive quality. Nice,
solid piece of bamboo with comfortable flattened face. Short enough to play with fingertips yet still retains a complex, wide bore sound. Surprisingly smooth
second register. Tuned between C and C#.
$2,250

SOLD Taimu 2.1 (Longer flute) Similar flute tonewise. Breathy, hollow, rustic voice. Best played with pads of the fingers. Nice second register. Tuned
between Bb and B.
$1,750

Three 2.4 Taimu
These three 2.4 Taimu Shakuhachi were made together in a group. Working on flutes in groups is a good way to compare bore work strategy. All
three flutes have an individual tone quality.

#1 (Far left) This first 2.4 plays with a smooth, airy glow. It's a relatively easy player. The holes are offset making it comfortable to hold and play.
Solid bamboo. Nice root.
$1,500

SOLD #2 (Middle) Dense, nicely round bamboo. Widest bore of the three. The tone is very powerful, penetrating and glowing. Plays soft and subtle as
well. Quick attack, nice depth and smooth decay. Offset holes. This flute is a good example of the widest bore Taimu glow that I look for when
making a flute.
$2,500

#3 (Far right) Slightly thinner bored than #2. The tone is rich, ariy and dark. Smooth, mysterious tone. Very nice bamboo. Solid, dense, elegant.
Slightly flattened face makes the inline holes very comfortable. The sound and shape of this flute gives me a "centering" quality while playing.
$2,500

2.8 Taimu
This Taimu Shakuhachi is very lightweight. It is a relatively easy player for a longer, wide bore shakuhachi. Light, airy, yet deep tone. Offset holes. Great
for beginners to long, wide bore shakuhachi as well as experienced players.
$1,000

1.65 D#
This 1.65 Jinashi has a sweet and pure tone. Its playability is lyrical and flowing. It is made from a nice, elegantly curved culm of Japanese madake.
The coloring is rich and rustic. Red urushi interior.
$2,000

1.9 C#
This jinashi 1.9 is back in my hands again through a trade. I would consider it the best 1.9 I've made. The tone is very sweet, warm and rich. The tone is
influenced by the finest vintage shakuhachi I've had the opportunity to play and study. Red urushi interior, brown, polished urushi exterior. Glass like
finish. This is the flute to get if you'd like the best of my thinner bore jinashi shakuhachi. Tuned directly on C#. Thirty year old Japanese Madake bamboo.
$3,000

Listen to this flute

Three Taimu Shakuhachi - 2.3, 2.35, 2.6
These three Taimu shakuhachi were made in a group.

(From left to right)
(#1) 2.3 (A) SOLD
This flute is tuned directly on A. It is a slightly more focused toned flute than most Taimu. This makes it a good choice for those starting out with wide bore
shakuahchi. The holes are also slightly offset. (right hand bottom) It is a dense, solid piece of bamboo and relatively easy to hold and play.
$1,200

(#2) 2.35
This shakuhachi plays with an airy, quick attack. It glows well and has a fluid playability. Nice, confident, expressive response. Elegant bamboo. Relatively
lightweight and easy to hold. Slightly offset holes. Tuned between A and Ab.
$2,000

(#3) 2.6 (G) SOLD
2.6 seems to be a good size for Taimu shakuhachi. This is another nice one. The tone is glowing, smooth and responsive. It is capable of all the wildness of
a wide bore shakuhachi yet also has a velvety playability. It plays directly on G. The holes are slightly offset. The exterior diamter is slightly thinner than many
Taimu of its length so it is relatively easier to hold and play for its length.
$2,500

Jinashi 1.55
This is a sweet toned flute tuned to E = 434. Made from a nice 30 year old piece of Japanese Madake. Solid, dense bamboo.
$1,500

Taimu 2.4
This flute plays smooth, breathy and with confidence. Although it has plenty of breath, it also plays with a fluid quality. Ideal for honkyoku as
well as faster passages. *
$2,500

See and listen to this flute:

2.1
This flute is one of the nicer 2.1's that I've turned out in awhile. It has a distinctive, smooth, velvety tone. The second register is easily
played and is equally smooth as the the otsu register. The blowing edge face is painted with urushi. $2,000. SOLD