PVC Shakuhachi
PVC Shakuhachi
This is a new challenge for my son and I, but we made two PVC Shakuhachi this weekend. My son is 11, and because of his mouth size, when he holds the mouth piece to his chin so that his bottom lip seals the lower half, his lips fall below the utaguchi. If we lower the shakuhachi, he can no longer seal the bottom half with his lower lip, without holding the shakuhachi almost straight out. Some novice thoughts that I have are to either use 1/2 inch PVC, and adjust the size of the Shakuhachi, or increase the angle away from the blowing edge on the bottom of the mouthpiece. I know this may not be proper, in the traditional sense, but may help with the position. I want to keep him interested in the endeavor, as it was his idea, and he already felt frustrated when he couldn't make it work. This may be an unusual questions but thanks for any thoughts that anyone may have on the matter.
Hi Armin, What an amazing father and son activity! I also make flutes with my children. For me, it's better than tossing a baseball 
Since you have the flute already made, you may want to try inserting an Ikigaeshi - breath return. I do this on very large diameter bamboo flutes.
You can probably use any material - plastic, wood, bamboo, what ever is thin and can be glued to PVC. After it's glued in, just shape the back to to fit your son's chin area.
Happy flutemaking! - Perry
Since you have the flute already made, you may want to try inserting an Ikigaeshi - breath return. I do this on very large diameter bamboo flutes.
You can probably use any material - plastic, wood, bamboo, what ever is thin and can be glued to PVC. After it's glued in, just shape the back to to fit your son's chin area.
Happy flutemaking! - Perry
The washer, Ikigaeshi, seems to be a fairly simple method, and i could use a male reducer. I take it, it would be a partial section on the lower half or 2/5th of the mouthpiece, and could be done in multiple steps until the appropriate opening was left. The key would be holding the position of the washer. a few questions:
1) How thick would it need to be or is that part of the experimentation?
2) Is the Ikigaeshi tappered back to match the inner diameter of the main flute, or is it a squared off section on the back?
3) Is there a limit on how far back the chin rest can be tappered back?
1) How thick would it need to be or is that part of the experimentation?
2) Is the Ikigaeshi tappered back to match the inner diameter of the main flute, or is it a squared off section on the back?
3) Is there a limit on how far back the chin rest can be tappered back?
"Armin Elsaesser""Armin Elsaesser"The washer, Ikigaeshi, seems to be a fairly simple method, and i could use a male reducer. I take it, it would be a partial section on the lower half or 2/5th of the mouthpiece, and could be done in multiple steps until the appropriate opening was left. The key would be holding the position of the washer. a few questions:
1) How thick would it need to be or is that part of the experimentation?
2) Is the Ikigaeshi tappered back to match the inner diameter of the main flute, or is it a squared off section on the back?
3) Is there a limit on how far back the chin rest can be tappered back?
1) Part of the experimentation but my first guess would be not thicker then 1/8". Maybe thinner if you can.
2) It would work squared. Tapering would change the response and tone color. You can try both and let us know which you like better!
3) The limit would be the thickness of the PVC until it opens into the bore.
This probably goes without saying but you may want to do some research on the safest glue to use for this.
Let us know what happens.
- Perry
Thank you for all of the suggestions. I undertook this project, and kept track of the steps that I used to install the Ikigaeshi:
I ended up using a 1/2 to 3/4 CPVC reducer that fit into the 3/4 schedule 40.
I inserted this into the mouthpiece until it was firm in the opening, and marked this location. I cut this piece off and reinserted the section marking the Utaguchi
Once I had this marked, I removed the section that would have fallen under the utaguchi, and epoxied the piece into the opening using a food safe/aquarium safe epoxy that I purchased from a specialty aquarium store. Once this cured, I began shaping the insert and the chin rest.
I continued this until I had the profile and smooth transitions that I needed.
The finished Ikigaeshi...
My son will get to give it a try tonight, and we will let you know how it goes.
Success on the Ro sound tonight by my son! He was so excited after the other night. Now we just need to locate a teacher in Albuquerque...
Thank you Perry for the expert guidance....
Thank you for the guidance in the project. I will be making one for myself, so that we can travel through this journey together :
I ended up using a 1/2 to 3/4 CPVC reducer that fit into the 3/4 schedule 40.
I inserted this into the mouthpiece until it was firm in the opening, and marked this location. I cut this piece off and reinserted the section marking the Utaguchi
Once I had this marked, I removed the section that would have fallen under the utaguchi, and epoxied the piece into the opening using a food safe/aquarium safe epoxy that I purchased from a specialty aquarium store. Once this cured, I began shaping the insert and the chin rest.
I continued this until I had the profile and smooth transitions that I needed.
The finished Ikigaeshi...
My son will get to give it a try tonight, and we will let you know how it goes.
Success on the Ro sound tonight by my son! He was so excited after the other night. Now we just need to locate a teacher in Albuquerque...Thank you Perry for the expert guidance....
Thank you for the guidance in the project. I will be making one for myself, so that we can travel through this journey together :
Hi Armin, Looks great!
I bet hearing your son play Ro was amazing moment for both of you!
I'm glad the tips were useful. Please do stay in touch and let us know how it goes.
BTW, A member here, Chuck peck, has a shakuhachi group on Phoeneix.
http://phoenixazshakuhachi.com/
Perhaps you can meet up one day.
Cheers, Perry
I bet hearing your son play Ro was amazing moment for both of you!
I'm glad the tips were useful. Please do stay in touch and let us know how it goes.
BTW, A member here, Chuck peck, has a shakuhachi group on Phoeneix.
http://phoenixazshakuhachi.com/
Perhaps you can meet up one day.
Cheers, Perry
Répondre