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Updated 3-28-2013
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 PayPal orders only please) Upon receipt of payment, I'll ship the flute by USPS Mail. A full refund (minus shipping expense and Paypal fees - if any) will be given if you decide to return the flute (insured) in its original condition when received. 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.)
Please contact me for details or to reserve a flute.
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Shakuhachi in stock Flute Bags by Susanne Frey Available here  Mu Shakuhachi Taimu without the holes.  MU Shakuhachi are long, extra wide shakuhachi without holes! Made from the same bamboo as Taimu Shakuhachi, these flutes are made for low, breathy, meditative RO blowing and harmonics. MU Shakuhachi are made to order and range in length from approximately 85cm. to 110cm. Diameters range from approximately 5.5cm to 6.5cm. $275 - Natural Bore $375 - Urushi bore and urushi stained roots. ($20 shipping in US) Please contact me to order. Taimu and STAN T-shirts 100% cotton. $20 Order here  Taimu Fingering Charts  Three new (ground level) shakuhachi. These are all shakuhachi which have been cut at ground level. This is right around the first root ring. Shakuhachi cut at this level are unique as the bore is slightly wider than conventional rootend shakuhachi. This gives the flute a quick, breathy attack and a sweet depth of tone. The bore still retains enough taper to ensure very good tuning in the upper registers. All are sealed with polished urushi. Red urushi bores. This group represents the best examples of this unique style. 1.8 C# A very responsive shakuhachi. Wide bore. Good combination of sweet, rich tone and complex, open tone. The best of the lot. $1,000 1.7 D Lightweight, easy playability. Velvety tone. $600 1.7 D Unusual, subtle twists in the bamboo. Slightly thicker bamboo than the 1.7 above. Comfortable player. Warm, rich tone. $600 Mujitsu 1.8 (D) Very smooth, yet powerful player. Can be pushed and manipulated nicely. 35+ year old excellent quality Japanese madake bamboo. Very responsive, velvety tone. A real nice jinashi 1.8. $2,000 3.0 Taimu (F) A very large, booming Taimu made from Japanese madake bamboo. Classic, foghorn tone. Offset holes (right hand bottom). Oval bamboo shape with flattened face. This is a very long flute with a long reach. Best for someone with experience with long, wide shakuhachi or at least for someone with an enthusiastic approach. $2,000 SOLD Taimu 2.8 (G at a=336) A big flute that is relatively easy to play because it is slightly thinner than most Taimu. Deep, foghorn tone. Played with a pipers grip. Ideal for those who have difficulty with the very fat, long shakuhachi. $2,000 Mujistu 1.9 C# Nice mottled, dark coloring. Velvety, smooth tone. The bore is sealed with a black, water based, polyurethane coating. It is non-toxic and very durable. Ideal for those allergic to urushi. $1,500 Mujitsu 2.0 C Another shakuhachi sealed with black, durable Polyurethane coating. Warm round tone. Smooth second register. Slightly flattened face. Comfortable player. $1,500 SOLD Mujitsu 1.8 (D) SOLD A very nice rule breaker Chinese Madake piece. Occasionally a Chinese piece will turn up that rivals the best Japanese Madake shakuhachi. This is one of them. Red lacquer bore. Black and dark brown 'aged' and polished lacquer exterior. Very sweet player. Seven node spacing. Hole three is close to a node but not on it. There is a fused, invisible joint near the root. Price is reduced because of these 'aesthetic' considerations. The flute is none-the-less an elegant piece. Well tuned to D. Elegant, smooth player. $1,000      
Taimu 2.3 (G#) The best of the new batch of recently received Japanese Madake Taimu bamboo. Solid, dense, elegant piece. Upturned root. Classic 7 node spacing. Rich tone with full foghorn glow. Inline holes. $2,500   
Mujitsu 1.8 (D) The first of a series of 1.8's to come out of the shop in awhile. 35 year old Japanese madake jinashi. Smooth power. Easy player. Sweet second register. Reduced price. $1,500 SOLD Mujitsu 1.9 (C#) Here is a 1.9 which somehow defies the odds. It’s made from Chinese root bamboo, but has made it to my high end shakuhachi page. It has what I call offset hole spacing. (A node between holse 1 and 2 and between 3 and 4) Never the less, this particular piece turned out to be a gem. In fact, this flute is the best conventional bore shakuhachi to come out of the shop in awhile. This has been my personal shakuhachi for the last year. Originally not for sale. Now available. Rich, warm, resonant, velvet tone. Deep depth. Red urushi bore. Black rubbed urushi velvet like exterior. $2,500  
 Mujitsu 1.8 (C#) Slightly wider bore than convention so tuned down to C#. Slightly windy tone. 35 year old Japanese madake bamboo. Upturned root. $1,500 SOLD  
 Taimu 2.27 (A) Wide bore, breathy, glowing tone. Solid piece. Holes are slightly offset and angled. Can be played with fingertips or pads of index fingers. $1,500      Taimu 2.34 (G#) Rich, breathy, glowing tone. Angled slightly offset holes. Can be played with fingertips or pads of index fingers. $1,750       Taimu 2.5 (G#) Two piece Taimu shakuhachi. Lightweight. Fast, breathy attack. Can be played with speed. Dark brown, black urushi bore and exterior. $1,500      Taimu 2.9 (F) SOLD Dense, solid piece. Slightly oval with flattened face. Glowing, rich depth of tone. $2,000 (In for repair - Please contact me) Repaired Flute: This flute has been completely repaired with bamboo stitches and is solid and sturdy. Sealed with rubbed urushi. NEW PRICE $1,500      Taimu 2.45 (G#) Wide bore Jimori Taimu. Angled holes. Best played with pipers grip. Rich, glowing, foghorn tone with powerful vibration. $2,000     Taimu 2.75 (G/F#) SOLD Slightly thinner than extra wide bore Taimu so slighly more focused tone. Ephemeral, rich tone. Quick attack. Offset holes. Slightly flattened face. Solid piece. $2,000 
     Taimu 2.8 (F#) SOLD Solid, dense, heavy, wide bore, Jimori Taimu. Offset holes. Glowing, powerful raspy tone. A big club. Red urushi bore. Brown, rubbed urushi exterior. $2,000 Listen to this flute (Played by Brian Tairaku Ritchie)      Mujitsu 1.6 (D#) Elegant, rustic 30+ year old Japanese Madake bamboo. Smooth, sweet, warm jinashi sound. $1,500    
Taimu 2.9 (F++) This Taimu has a breathy, rich and resonant tone. The holes are offset for easier playing with the pads of the index fingers. Elegant upturned root. $2,000 SOLD    Mujitsu 1.45 (F) This Mujitsu is slightly wider bored than conventional shakuhachi which gives it an open, breathy, yet sweet tone. Nicely shaped bamboo. Slightly flatenned face. Attractive rootend. $1,200     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 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 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 SOLD       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. SOLD #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. 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 #3 (Far right)
Slightly thinner bored than #2. The tone is rich, ariy and
dark.
Smooth, mysterious tone. Very nice bamboo. Solid, dense, elegant.  
Jinashi 1.55  
  2.1 (B) SOLD This flute has a strong, full, natural tone. Although it has a relatively thin bore for a jinashi flute, it has a strong, direct, breathy quality. It is a lightweight flute that is very easy to hold and play for long periods. $1,500 Listen to this shakuahchi |
Ken LaCosse 415 242-0919 email