The following
MUJITSU Shakuhachi by Ken LaCosse are
in stock and available for purchase. Feel free to contactme
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.
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
Pleasecontact
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
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
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