Anyone interested in making Myoan style Towari flutes?

X why don't you make it? That's the goal of the Myoan players anyway.

On a very wide bore piece of bamboo, this would normally result in a very flat Tsu and very sharp Chi. If you use a narrow bore tube, like on most of the very old flutes, the tuning will probably come out better for Western ears.



That's a good idea. You can practice on a 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe first. I offer the modern tuning measurements here:
http://www.shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=3500

Good luck!

Right Perry, not wide-bore, just one wide enough (modern kinko/tozan size) for fatter tone.

Thanks for the measurements. Brian, I don't have space for a workshop right now, but working on it.

I'm not considerate of "Western ears" per se. Bill Shozan ShinSui Schultz approached Yamagichi Shougetsu about making Towari flues and the response was "No, the tuning hurts me ears" Well, that's really kind of lame.

The problem is to make towari flutes that are in relative tune, sharp chi, maybe flat tsu, that play in decent relative tune in kan (no more than 20=cents plus/minus), have decent first 3 notes of dia-kan. The holes would have to be equidistant. Prefer the 5-hole to be so low that you could see the entire ellipse of the 5-hole by looking though the 4 hole. Relatively medium to large bore, like a generous Kinko flute or somewhat wider. 11mm holes. Preferably 6.5 or wider cap size.

A few other playability details to be discussed.

I could not do this. Few Western people could attempt this, but they would be flying blind.

Mr x moran, do you know Matsumoto Hirokazu who has specialised in making towari jinashi shakuhachi?
See his Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/hirokazum

I can get you in contact with him if you are interested...

Are his flutes good?

I think they are good....
Not my style - but as there are so many styles of shakuhachi that doesn't change my judgement. I think he is a good maker of a particular style of jinashi. They are towari and they are made from thinner bamboo than I prefer but good bamboo. He is very talented and meticulous in his work. They are well-tuned modern flutes despite the use of towari. He believes the towari system makes the shakuhachi sound better. That I can't judge - but surely well-crafted shakuhachi!