Technical Notes from Craftsman
What should you consider when you choose your Bachi
About Bachi WEIGHT
Heavy bachi requires good "Shamisen Muscles" and Technique to control Bachi and Ito.
The Bachi weight is a very important factor. And where the position of the weight in the Bachi is also important.
The weight helps you push down the Ito (strings) and the placement of the weight affect the smoothness of the Bachi movement.
The heavier Bachi create a louder sound but give you more stress onto the wrist, hand and arm. This brings more tension to the body and hard to relax. If you use a heavier Bachi before you built up enough muscle and power it may cause more chance to have wrist pain.
A lighter Bachi is easier to maneuver and easy on your arm but needs more Bachi technique to create a louder sound.
All Ainoco Bachi weight is carefully placed in center. You can choose your Bachi weight from 30g to above 170g. (up to 300g for Gidayu Style)
About Bachi Flexibility "SHINARI"
Good SHINARI creates nice and crisp sound.
Another key factor is SHINARI (Bachi flexibility or hardness). The natural material like BEKKO (Tortoise Shell), ZOUGE (Ivory) are hard but flexible "SHINARI" because of the pores.
Ainoco craftsman developed the skill using his subtle sense to crate different SHINARI on manmade materials.
The Hard/Stiff Bachi
This creates a good percussive sound and have a better durability.
The vibration transmit go into directly on the wrist. This may feel not easy on your wrist and make your wrist fatigue.
The Softer Bachi
This can easily creates a nice crisp, snappy and sensitive sound even if you don't have enough power or technique. it's also easy on your wrist. Great harmony if you play shamisen with singer and slow tempo music like NISHI-MONO.
You may feel less sound volume as a string percussion. Easier to wear down and more fragile than harder Bachi.
You can choose your Bachi SHINARI type from No Flex Adjustment, Hard, Good, Extra and Beyond Bekko. You can choose different SHINARI on each side also.
