Shakuhachi Plastic Copy : Yuu
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- čas přidán 26. 09. 2020
- A detailed look at the iconic molded plastic Shakuhachi. How does it sound? How is it made?
Daniel Nyohaku Soergel demonstrates and discusses the engineering behind this modern take on the ancient Shakuhachi.
The Yuu shakuhachi flute is molded from dimensionally stable plastic with glass fiber added for added rigidity. This results in an extremely dynamic and easy to play flute that is perfectly suited to beginners or professionals as a practice instrument.
The Yuu is usually sold for less than $175. USD and weighs 414g
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I had a Yuu when they first came out, loved it. I have the "concert grade" now, and it's sweet.
I had a Yuu many years ago, but somehow lost the top half. (Don’t ask me !) Years later I repurchased one but it did not sound as good as I remembered . It must be subjective being I now play mostly expensive flutes. With nothing to lose, I got some files and fine paper and reworked the Yuu . Now I love it. Either way, I highly recommend it.
I have really been enjoying your videos and this one was great. I bought my Yuu flute at my first lesson but I never knew much about it. It’s been sitting in a fabric sleeve for the last 8 years. After having watched a few of your videos this week I took it out again to see if I could even make a sound. It still works! I sound awful but it works! It was cool to learn that the Yuu flute is built much better than I knew. I was always afraid to take it apart into the two sections for fear of breaking it.
It’s fun to take it to a party and see if anybody can make a sound. There is a scene in “ The tale of Genji” where late at night after much partying the prince brings out “ The long flutes” and they pass them around. That was 1100 years ago. Still fun.
Oh I was shocked suddenly Sir at the sound,sooo wonderful,got to have one
I'm really glad i stumbled upon this video and your channel, as a shakuhachi student!
I began with a jinashi made by my teacher (2.5) about 2 years ago for a few months, then got a Yuu, and was also able to find a used japanese wooden shakuhachi (i think it's rosewood) for 100$ shipping included, so i got that as well.
I did the "can you make a sound" challenge on a band i used to play tin whistle at, brought a shaku in, asked the bandmates to try to make a sound , and surprisingly, the drummer and flutist (not surprising in her case, of course) pulled it off right away.
It took me a few days to get a sound, and three weeks to get two octaves. Then I started looking for a teacher.
Sir,thats why I love my harmonicas,cheap with nice sound and I pop them in my pocket/bag,traffic jams-no stress,pop it out,yippee but got to have that which you demonstrate,thankyou from Athens Greece
The same instrument can be both serious and fun.
I really appreciate the nice vibe of your video. You convinced me, I just ordered a plastic shakuhachi. Subscribed and thumb up too. Thank you from Greenland.
Good luck with the Shakuhachi and thanks for the kind words. I have some free lessons posted on my channel page, by the way.
Thanks for the info
Nice video. Being able to take it anywhere with you is a big bonus, I carry my home made constant bore diameter Shakuhachi in my car and play it when I am waiting for work to start etc. Materials, well have a listen to Zac Zinger play his aluminium Shakuhachi, fantastic sound, but one order of magnitude higher in price than the plastic flute you mention, but the bore diameter is modelled after one of the master bamboo flutes.
Zac is amazing. I have not heard the aluminum Shakuhachi live yet. The Yuu Shakuhachi has kept me sane in many standing still traffic jams. Lots of playing develops muscles in the face and neck. Without it there is not much control.
My understanding is the aluminum one is about 4 grand! Someday ... maybe ...
Amazing! It is fantastic for the price.
Agreed. It is hard to find an inexpensive bamboo Shakuhachi that plays this well. It is a great starting Flute as well.
@@nyohaku it's not bamboo though.... 🤔
Yes, I think a player with a plastic flute who becomes more serious will eventually want a bamboo flute for its wonderfully natural sound. But remember many bamboo Shakuhachis will crack within the first six months because the new owner does not pay careful attention to keeping them moist and stored carefully in an airtight plastic bag. Refer to my video “ shakuhachi care”.
Totalement d'accord.
Super flute pour s'eclater partout sans soucis!
Thank you for your kind comments.
im considering a yuu since budget bamboo shakuhachi are hit or miss, some are poorly made others are just unplayable, but the yuu looks like a great budget option
Considering the difficulty of playing the Shakuhachi at the beginning, the Yuu might prevent you from struggling unnecessarily with a flute that is hard to play. When you can produce a nice sound you will have a better tone reference to judge a higher quality and more expensive Shakuhachi.
Sold! I'm gonna look into it now... I'm gonna pick up the adapter too... I'm afraid I won't be able to make a sound without it
I am curious about the adapter too. Training wheels to get going. Good luck.
@@nyohaku at least to get the fingering going
@@bjulianlm Turns it into an NAF but unlike an NAF you'll have a full 2 octaves to work with instead of an octave and a minor third of most NAF's. I want one just to use it in that manner!
I just got my Yuu in the mail and was having trouble hitting the low octave (especially the low Ro) note, but hearing you play one gives me confidence that it's just my poor beginner technique and not the flute!
The Ro will be satisfying when it comes. Beginners all sound like beginners, and it’s wonderful that they are beginning the adventure. (certainly not poor in my mind).
I bought one, and love it! I could afford it! But don’t mind the weight. It’s durable, playable!
Send out that Shakuhachi Spirit into the world!
I’ve been on the fence about getting one of these. Thanks for the discussion and review. I also play other flutes and yes, taking those one-of-a-kind expensive flutes traveling is mostly no-no. I have many resin and carbon fiber flutes of the other types I play, why not a Yuu too? 😊
I regularly carry my prized shakuhachi to play outdoors and take it on public transportation as well. It goes in the airtight tube which I reviewed in “Shakuhachi Care”@(15:00). But I never take real bamboo to the beach, a hot dry place, or on a winter walk in the cold. I once had my Yuu stolen out of the glove compartment of my car, but I simply ordered a new one. Nice to have around whenever you feel inspired.
Seems like a great choice. I was torn between the yuu, a maple and a beginner bamboo Shakuhachi. Out of all the choices, this yuu is the cheapest, but understanding the production of it, I think it's the best choice.
I'm sure I will upgrade to bamboo, but being six times cheaper than the cheapest bamboo Shakuhachi, and durable, the yuu seems to be the wisest choice to start with.
Shakuhachi is very challenging. If you do decide to stick with it and become more proficient, you will naturally move to better instruments. I lost my Yuu (stolen!) after many years, and I replaced it because it is just so practical for many situations.
thank you for the video on the shakuhachi. Can i please ask what the Japanese clothing you are wearing is called? Thank you
It is called a samue. You can buy it on line. I bought mine in Japan. Good house or work clothes.
@@nyohaku Thank you Sir
Hello Daniel, first of all thanks for your videos and the insights that you share here. I´m a complete novice and just received my first (second hand) shakuhachi yuu. Can you give any advice on how to clean it? Since it´s a resin, can I clean it with water (and a mild soap)? Can I use alcohol to desinfect it? Or would that deteriate it in some way? Again thanks and wishing you all the best, Charles
A damp cloth is a safe way to keep any Shakuhachi clean on the outside. Inside you should pass through a small weight on a string to pull the cloth through. Opening the joint frequently will wear it out and make it wobble. Here is a video for more information. czcams.com/video/r_xA4E5x9Zw/video.html
If you have a joint that wobbles, a quick fix is to put some nail polish on the joint, let it dry well and then put it back together.
@@nyohaku Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. The joint on my yuu was wobbly indeed, which made me feel insecure. I thought of using some waxed dental floss as a non destructive way, so I wrapped a few turns around the inner part of the joint. Now it closes nice and tight.
I got my Yuu flute a few months ago and am enjoying it as a beginner player so far. The sound is very nice and "convincing" if I can say it like that. I was wondering, as a beginner, should I get a bamboo shakuhachi with a Kinko style utaguchi or Tozan style? I'm planning on getting one from Japan in about a year or so when I reach a certain level on the Yuu, really excited to know what a real bamboo instrument feels\sounds like. I'm just wondering If a Tozan-style utaguchi is harder to play with from a beginners perspective (the utaguchi of my Yuu flute resembles a Kinko utaguchi style if I'm not mistaken), or would I be fine as in it doesn't make a huge difference?
Whether the utaguchi is Kinko (triangular shaped) or Tozan (crescent shaped) makes no difference to the sound. It’s just a “look”. I’m glad you are progressing and can now produce a better sound and are able to appreciate the subtlety and richness of bamboo.
You can use this skill to choose a particular flute that speaks to you. After a year of lessons and practice I rewarded myself with a bamboo shakuhachi; I needed to justify the much higher price tag, but in the end it didn’t matter because the beauty of the sound made me want to practice and play even more. It would be best if you could try out a particular flute because they vary greatly, being handmade. I sell flutes online (EBay ~ nyohaku), but this works best for players who recognize a well-known makers name (stamp) and understand the value and character of older flutes. Think “Les Paul guitar” or Stradivarius violin: they are “used” or “old” instruments. New Shakuhachis are popular in Japan now. (Meijiro online store) Traditionally, one’s teacher picked out a flute for their student.
Hi Grandmaster! I've been doing some research for buying my first shakuhachi. I'm almost set on this shakuhachi yuu but I saw that on eBay, there are second hand wooden and bamboo shakuhachis for the same price as a shakuhachi yuu. Do you have any experience or heard about people about buying such item on eBay? The sellers are often rated "Top Seller" so it is a step in the good direction, but I was wondering if it was a good idea.
I played a maple Shakuhachi for my first year. It has a nice sound, but it has a quark Joint that it can wear out after a while. I think a wood flute is around $200. The Yuu Is under 200 new. I got one new online. You should be safe, but make sure there is a return policy. Good luck. Shakuhachi is great fun.
For what it's worth, I would not risk it! On Amazon, there are shakuhachi for sale made by" Johnson" or Kyoto".. The head is not flared like Japanese Shakihachi, he will begin doing that in March, but for $227. These are beautiful flutes!( that's the other way you know you found the right listing) , but the best part, they sound GREAT on my opinion! I have written to him many times, and he and his brother are such nice people! They do put thier heart into Mali g these flutes, I told him he should charge a lot more! I have a YUU, and I love it's pure sounding notes...Johnson's are very, very responsive and the bamboo gives it a marvelous sound. If you do order one tell him Mr. Frank recommended him. Hope that helped. Good luck!
Johnson does describe his flutes as beginner Instruments, so it could very well be a starting point if one can try the flute out to make sure both octaves work. I have met several students who gradually trade up to a better flute each year, but in the end they have spent over $1000 and still don’t have a well functioning Shakuhachi a few years into it. I would recommend putting that money into lessons instead, and ask your teacher to help pick out a beginner flute to get established with. I still back the Yuu or a maple flute with fresh cork joint. Both of these are precision made by machines and are predictable. But I’m sure there are good cheap bamboo flutes around if you can spot them.
@@nyohaku With all due respects, he may describe them as such, but they are really not beginner flutes in my humble opinion as I have played shakuhachi valued at 3,000 (famous maker) and compared the two over and over again and in SOME notes, the expensive one sounded a somewhat better, however, the Johnson one( with bindings, was wonderfully responsive and very soulful, as well as EASIER to play! The OCTAVES work very well- even the 3rd octave. All I can give is my own experience over a 3 day period with both flutes. I was BLOWN AWAY! Johnson will begin cutting the bamboo just above joint in March .. It's for aesthetics only as the angle is identical. I returned expensive flute back to owner.I have played many Japanese shakihachi, including YUU, as well as wooden. I began playing in 1984 , took a long break, played infrequently for a few years until returning in earnest!
I'm trying to buy my first Shakuhachi and now I'm considering to buy a Yuu one, I was thinking to buy also some bambu ones in Aliexpress but, is there any other options to start that are not soo expensive and are good to start learning?
Here are two videos that discuss some options for you. I cannot recommend a flute that I have not played, but I stand behind these models which are great for beginning Shakuhachi. Most Shakuhachi are handmade, but the flutes discussed can be dependably of good quality.
Shakuhachi -Inexpensive Options
czcams.com/video/F45bm5wRBeY/video.html
Shakuhachi Plastic Copy: Bell
czcams.com/video/2aBZqhJnA-Y/video.html
I can hear that plastic touch. But hey, it's much more profitable to expensive piece of natural hard bamboo root.
Yes, it has a plastic sound and feel. Question is whether or not a player is willing to make that compromise to get started with the Shakuhachi. It won’t take long to discover how difficult the Shakuhachi is to play, and most people will not commit to learning it. Nevertheless, if you are already a musician and have the funds, bamboo has a wonderful unique sound and makes sense if you are able to store it properly. I never take my valuable bamboo to the beach, out in the snow, or leave it lying about my heated apartment. My yuu gets played a lot: It gets thrown in my bag on a whim.
Sensei, How do you recognize the flute that is made of bamboo and the one that is made of wood?
Although bamboo is a type of wood, a “wooden” shakuhachi usually means one that is carved out of a solid single block of hardwood, usually maple. It is made on a lathe that spins it quickly, so there are no roots and other bamboo details. Still, they can sound quite good.
Do you think this instrument would serve a shakuhachi player for their entire learning journey? Like a beginner won't be handicapped in getting all the tones and learning all the techniques on the Yuu I hope? Wanted to buy a bamboo instrument but I figured with the quality I could get with my budget (i.e the price of the yuu) it would likely be difficult to play in tune and very hard to use.
Yes this instrument would work very well for the first few years of playing. Of course everybody excels at a different rate. If you wait before buying a professional bamboo instrument you will be better able to discern quality and find something that works for you at your current level. By that point you will know how committed you are to continuing with the Shakuhachi so you will be less hesitant to invest, knowing you won’t lose interest next year. You are right that many inexpensive but beautiful sounding bamboo instruments are difficult to play, or play in tune.
May I know what is lowest note it can be played? Thank you~
Closing all the holes plays a D. With practice, you can lower your head to change the blowing angle and play a D flat. Some people can even play a C, but it is always very faint.
What piece was that you played on the flute warmup?
I played the opening line to “Haru no Umi”, The Sea in Spring - A popular folk duet by Michio Miagi for Koto and 1.6 Shakuhachi.
I can barely get mine to produce sound at all. How do I get those long, audible notes like you? Please help.
Watch the “ traditional Shakuhachi lesson 4” for suggestions. One involves setting up a candle out in front of you. It took me a few weeks to get a note. Don’t give up, reaching for it is part of the experience.
@@nyohaku thank you!
Where can l buy one of these?
Meijio on-line store might be the cheapest. Try eBay. Used is fine unless it was used daily for a few years. That can wear out the joint.
Sounds very,very good...so much goes into sound right?- bore size,shape,etc. I wonder just how much is " the air and shape" compared to wood/ type of material..I do hear differences when I play wooden flute compared to bamboo, the regular wood ones sounds "warmer", quieter- I don't prefer them. Have you ever tried the" laminated bamboo" ones? I heard a man play one in a video and it sounded darn good. Thanks!.
The big question is always: Is it the shape of the bore more important or the type of material? Everyone has an opinion; here is mine: The shape of the bore is most important, but the quality of the bamboo used in that flute is what ultimately makes the flute superior, or even magical. I was able to use fine sandpaper and files to fine-tune my plastic Yuu and greatly improve its sound. But I cannot give it the subjective warm sound of wood.
@@nyohaku If i may ask, how exactly did you fine-tune the Yuu? Asking since id like to do it on mine as well. I have made a few simple ones out of bamboo with the help of my teacher, so im not afraid of tinkering with it, if i know what i have to do (and also, i already own the tools, so why not).
Thanks a lot for making these high quality videos!
The Yuu that I got in the mail I had a rough surface I was not expecting. First I wet sanded it inside and out. I polished the top 2 inches to a shine with toothpaste. Then I used jewelers files to blend the intersection of all the holes with the center bore. Finished with 2000 grit. I played the flute for a few days before moving onto the next adjustment. It now sounds better than any you I have owned in the past.
Interesting .. Indeed it's a "cheap" solution to try and practice but I don't understand why a plastic intrument can cost that much. Are we buying the brand ?! I have been practising shinobue and they also have plastic fiber versions which cost not a lot, even made by famous craftman. (Rippei and the flute cost around $40 dollars) ... I may be ignorant on that, but "shakuhachi" looks like a instrument for elite and the prices are crazy, so even for plastic...
Do you know that other brand GLASS FIBRE SHAKUHACHI 1.6 "GEN" BY DAISUKE KAMINAGA ? ( but I think the Yuu is 1.8, even if I don't know yet what it means ahah )
thanks again for the video
The Yuu still seems reasonable to me in price. It is injection molded with glass filament impregnated engineering grade, dimensionally stable, dense plastic. There is some hand finishing involved on the outside to make it look and feel better. Plastic is sold by the pound, and of course labor adds to the cost since it is not an automated process. Everything contributes to the sound quality, so that is why it is special. I don’t think you are paying for brand or reputation, it really is worth it. (I have no connection to that company BTW.). It is more of an “elite”instrument than something you just throw around and have fun with. Could you buy a quality western instrument for under $200?
I have a few for $700 on eBay (nyohaku) That are far above beginner flutes . It seems to be a Beyers market now. Glad you like the video.
The Yuu is 1.8. I do not know anything about the GEN, but keep in mind it is a higher pitched instrument (1.6), which is a little less common.
@@nyohaku Hello :) Thank you for your opinion and advice.
Yes, of course nobody would sell the product at the production cost price.
I do compare with some instruments like electric guitar .. For entry level, there are good price $250 but I think it's more because the instrument is more popular so more competitors. What I meant is for beginner, $165 dollars is still a big amount, and knowing it's in plastic, it can be normal to think it's too much. That said, I bought the yuu on mejiro for 95 euros, because the yen I think. I still pay border fees. I can't wait to try that ... thanks again.
I am excited for you to give it a try. Good luck and have fun. People are either captivated or they find it too challenging or simply too time consuming to learn. Either way you got a good deal.
I find shakuhachi Yuu very hard to play. Since its harmonics are so muted, and the real shakuhachi is way louder and brings out more overtones, For 2 years I believed that I play in the wrong way. Or that my embouchure or air pressure is wrong. It made me very disappointed in my abilities to master shakuhachi, and after I found no worthy lesson demonstrations performed EXACTLY on shakuhachi Yuu in order to have a precise sonic reference of how THAT PARTICULAR flute should sound with a correct technique - I gave up. I had no budget or wish to get a real shaku that starts at 400-700 USD, because it was already such an ordeal. I wish someone made a CZcams tutorial on the extraction of the basic pitches of at least 2 octaves on ALL the most famous student shakuhachi flute options (there is only 2 famous plastic shakuhachi, the rest is expensive stuff).. As a reference point.
I like your idea about demonstrating each of the notes to show the tone quality one can achieve. I played the maple Shakuhachi for my first year and considered it very difficult. My first bamboo Shakuhachi cost $1200 and was even harder to play. After a few more years of practice I realized that they were both easy playing flutes and I just needed more time. Many other woodwinds are easier to play and are more versatile. Good luck to you.
Check out the recent video, "Beginner options" by Markus Guhe ;)
czcams.com/video/X5Opng94oeU/video.html
He does that among other things, also including the Hoshi Arashi shakuhachi, the "newest kid in the block".
I actually just 3d printed one, it costs less than a dollar for me.
How is the sound? Hopefully its made in ABS or something else nontoxic. I am curious, I have not had access to this type of equipment in a while. The 3-D modeling must be impressive.
A dollar for a couple of spools of plastic filament for the project? If youre speaking literally, That's impossible. There might be free models going about but Im not sure.
Dominic must be referring to FDM, since SLS may not have the resolution for a smooth internal bore. (?)
@@nyohaku hi Daniel thanks for the response. Loved your review too, I checked in and watched because there's a 2nd hand flute like this, seller says it's a Yuu, and Im prospecting of buying it. seller is asking roughly US $26 for it but Im still thinking about it. Best regards.
As long as the blowing edge is not damaged and is nice and sharp it is not much of a risk at that low price.
public comment
Why buy a plastic shakuhachi? We already have enough plastic in the world that pollutes the oceans. Think about this plastic flute. How long will it take for it to decompose? You might play it for a few months and then it sits around or ends up in the trash. My experience with these flutes is bad. They are way too heavy! Almost twice as heavy as a shakuhachi made of bamboo or wood. There is a risk of cramping and tendonitis. The sound is not good. The shape alone does not make a good sound. It is the vibration of the material. Bamboo and wood are natural materials and wooden shakuhachi are only slightly more expensive than plastic ones. So think before you buy a plastic instrument.
After having owned two Yuu flutes, I feel that there is always somebody who wants a free working flute; it should never be buried in the landfill. I suppose lithium and Ni-cad batteries in phones and electronics have done more damage to our planet. Personally, I prefer to drive older compact cars and mostly get to work by bicycle or mass transit. Carbon footprint matters. Bamboo does sound better because of the natural resonance of the wood. Smaller players that practice long hours may suffer with solid bamboo flutes with great dynamic range like the Yuu (414g). In the video “Shakuhachi- Inexpensive Options” lighter alternatives are also recommended. I have 10 professional flutes by well known/historic makers for sale that range from 332g-495g (@1.8). 400g is the sweet spot. I don’t sell the Yuu. Weights are posted in the video reviews (“Shakuhachi Connoisseur”). In “Daiwagaku: Conclusion”, my flute of choice (for this Zen piece) is the lightest, when compared side by side with a half dozen others for sound. In a good studio recording, bamboo shines, I’m sure you will agree.
Plastic Shinobue makes sense though because the actual cheap bamboo ones break in the higher keys.
@nyohaku I also think it would be a good model for amateur Flute makers to practice making!
How could this instrument be associated with Zen or shakuhachi? A teacher I know remarked, "It has no spirit". And how could it? It doesn't breakdown in nature and that alone makes it very 'un-zen'. At least the PVC flute is just that and does not try to copy the shape or mimic the look of the real thing. Very inexpensive shakuhachi can be made from higher up on the bamboo stalk and you are holding a part of nature. No need for something that is not biodegradable. This kind of plastic is best suited for park benches and boardwalks.
I asked a friend traveling to Japan to bring me a Shakuhachi with just one instruction: just don’t buy a plastic one. That’s why I started on the maple version ; which has a softer woody sound. I recommend it in the inexpensive options review. Technically, an advanced player can do much more on the plastic version. But at that point the player has probably sprung for a quality bamboo from a reputable maker.
Unpretentious flutes to me are in the spirit of Zen. I like to perform from time to time on cheap or free flutes, and I found that the listener only cares that you play from the heart. I love the soulful playing on your channel, btw. Not happy about the current craze in Japan for expensive aluminum Shakuhachis.
I would really like to see a bamboo shakuhachi that can do EXACTLY what the Yuu can (loud volume, clear tone quality , full tonal range, proper expressiveness, good meri/kari, proper utaguchi size and shape) from a cheap bamboo instrument that is also sold for 150$ and is readily available.
Oh wait... most likely, a bamboo instrument in the same level as the yuu would start at 1000$.
So, yeah. It is a shakuhachi. A plastic one. Still a shakuhachi. And if it wasn't for the Yuu, many people wouldn't be learning or playing shakuhachi right now.