Tsugaru Shamisen Bachi In Walnut

Description

What is the Classic Bachi?
The Classic Bachi is an inexpensive, durable shamisen bachi made for players of all experience levels . It has an incredibly tough yet flexible blade that yields a nice, warm tone that is much closer to bekkou than alternative materials such as plastic, wood, or acrylic. It’s flexibility also makes it much easier to achieve the nice, percussive snap that is desired in Tsugaru style.​
What’s it made from?
The Classic Bachi blade is made of Acetal. Acetal is a thermoplastic renowned for its high abrasion resistance and a very low coefficient of friction. In plain English: it’s incredibly tough and slick. These properties make it a great material for plectrums. As a shamisen player, you may have never heard of Acetal, but if you play guitar you probably have. Acetal is quite commonly found in guitar picks, as are variants of Acetal such as Tortex, Delrin, and Delrex.
The handle is made of beautiful walnut, finished with Danish Oil* and hand burnished to make it extra smooth. The blade fits into the handle using a proprietary locking system that keeps the blade firmly in place without the need for any screws or fasteners. The blade appears to almost organically sprout from the wood, and all of the edges where the handle and blade meet are carefully smoothed and rounded by hand to make the transition feel as seamless as possible.​
What’s that little pigtail for?
You may have noticed a little pigtail hanging off of the end of the bachi. This is a key part of another unique feature of the Classic Bachi: its variable weighting system. Pull on this little pigtail and a piece of cork pops out, revealing a channel cut into the handle of the bachi. In this channel are four removable pairs of steel weights (eight weights total). Light-weight plugs can be substituted for each pair of weights, allowing you to vary the weight of the bachi to suit your preferences.
​With all of the weights removed, the bachi weighs around 41 grams (1.5 ounces). Each pair of weights adds around 14 grams (1/2 ounce), so with all eight weights inserted, it weighs around 96 grams (3.5 ounces) total. If you are looking for something really hefty, check out the Ergo Bachi. It’s thicker size allows for 12 weights total!
How do I know it’s really that great?
We think you will love the Classic Bachi, but if you don’t, send it back within the first 30 days for a full refund. No questions asked. It’s that simple.
​There’s also a two year warranty on the Classic Bachi. I’ve tested the Classic Bachi under the most extreme circumstances – including dropping it multiple times blade-first onto a concrete floor from six feet high – and I have not been able to break it. If yours breaks for any reason during regular use, just send me a picture of the broken bachi and I’ll send you a new one at zero cost to you. Remember, this covers regular use, such as practicing or performing. Practicing at home and you drop it and it breaks? The chances of this are extremely slim, but it’s 100% covered. Practicing at home and you leave it out and your dog chews it up? Sorry, it won’t be covered. Playing on a street corner and you drop it and a car runs over it? Hmmm… That’s debatable, but send me a picture and an interesting enough story and I’ll definitely consider it!