» Perry Yung 2.2 Options

Just wanted to share the winter gift I recieved today. A beautiful 2.2 hocchiku I commissioned from Perry Yung. This is an absolutely beautiful flute! I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Here is the flute at various stages of construction and then the final product;
Here is the raw bamboo I chose for the flute;
 yung_2.2_raw.jpg ( 32.66K ) Number of downloads: 32
 yung_2.2_raw_rootend.jpg ( 113.4K ) Number of downloads: 30

 yung_2.2_raw_rootend2.jpg ( 151.98K ) Number of downloads: 24


Here he cut the flute to length, drilled the bore and made the utaguchi cut;
 yung_2.2_step1.jpg ( 338.69K ) Number of downloads: 33
 yung_2.2_step1_rootend.jpg ( 244.77K ) Number of downloads: 21

 yung_2.2_step1_utaguchi.jpg ( 240.81K ) Number of downloads: 31


Here, Perry cleaned it up a little, drilled the holes and formed the root;
 yung_2.2_step_2_rootend.jpg ( 257.05K ) Number of downloads: 25
 yung_2.2_step_2_rootend2.jpg ( 150.2K ) Number of downloads: 19

 yung_2.2_step_2_rootend3.jpg ( 130.92K ) Number of downloads: 20


And here she is finished;
 yung_2.2_finished.jpg ( 43.52K ) Number of downloads: 50
 yung_2.2_finished_binding.jpg ( 24.43K ) Number of downloads: 17

 yung_2.2_finished_blowing_end.jpg ( 15.31K ) Number of downloads: 22
 yung_2.2_finished_rootend.jpg ( 18.65K ) Number of downloads: 18

 yung_2.2_finished_rootend2.jpg ( 32.96K ) Number of downloads: 32
 yung_2.2_finished_utaguchi.jpg ( 18.31K ) Number of downloads: 30





This post has been edited by cloudsounds: Dec 28 2009, 08:09 AM

Very nice. Perry is defiantely an artist with Bamboo. Enjoy your custom creation.

Ed

That's a beautiful flute David. Love the rootend. Enjoy

Very nice David..congratulations and thanks for the pictures.

Hugo

Very Nice Shakuhachi! What a Being to get to know!
Congratulations!
Will we get to hear that Bamboo Sing?
Wanbli WiWohpe

Just wanted to share the winter gift I recieved today. A beautiful 2.2 hocchiku I commissioned from Perry Yung. This is an absolutely beautiful flute! I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Here is the flute at various stages of construction and then the final product;
Here is the raw bamboo I chose for the flute;
 yung_2.2_raw.jpg ( 32.66K ) Number of downloads: 32
 yung_2.2_raw_rootend.jpg ( 113.4K ) Number of downloads: 30

 yung_2.2_raw_rootend2.jpg ( 151.98K ) Number of downloads: 24


Here he cut the flute to length, drilled the bore and made the utaguchi cut;
 yung_2.2_step1.jpg ( 338.69K ) Number of downloads: 33
 yung_2.2_step1_rootend.jpg ( 244.77K ) Number of downloads: 21

 yung_2.2_step1_utaguchi.jpg ( 240.81K ) Number of downloads: 31


Here, Perry cleaned it up a little, drilled the holes and formed the root;
[attach
ment=4072:yung_2.2..._rootend.jpg]  yung_2.2_step_2_rootend2.jpg ( 150.2K ) Number of downloads: 19

 yung_2.2_step_2_rootend3.jpg ( 130.92K ) Number of downloads: 20


And here she is finished;
 yung_2.2_finished.jpg ( 43.52K ) Number of downloads: 50
 yung_2.2_finished_binding.jpg ( 24.43K ) Number of downloads: 17

 yung_2.2_finished_blowing_end.jpg ( 15.31K ) Number of downloads: 22
 yung_2.2_finished_rootend.jpg ( 18.65K ) Number of downloads: 18

 yung_2.2_finished_rootend2.jpg ( 32.96K ) Number of downloads: 32
 yung_2.2_finished_utaguchi.jpg ( 18.31K ) Number of downloads: 30

Wow, very nice. Someday I'd like to get a really good shak. I have a 1.8 student model from Monty Levenson.

Paul, Monty's student model is a really good flute, just not root end.

I have a 1.8 Root end from Perry, his Earth Model, ($300) Plays perfectly but isn't quite good enough for an official student model. So I have been watching Perry's flutes for about a year now, and I saw the one pictured below. It's made by Chikusen Tamai. It is unique and amazing and I had to have it. This is a repaired and restored Modern Jiari style 1.8 length shakuhachi bamboo flute made around the 1950s by Chikusen Tamai, the renown shakuhachi maker who apprenticed some of today's most respected shakuhachi makers including Tom Deaver, Yamguchi Shugetsu, Hoshi Bonchiku and Perry's sensei, Kinya Sogawa. The sound is a classic 1940's era tone of Toazn style flute yet warmer like Kinko. This fine music instrument can do what any professional modern shakuhachi musician wants it to do but is more suited for Honkyoku as the sound is vintage Sankyoku (classical with Koto and Shamisen). The instrument is a good example of the fine craftsmanship and tuning of the period. It can play with fixed pitch instruments such as a piano or Zen music with a clear pitch and is perfect for lessons with a teacher. This instrument is powerful and can project but it is not fast like the modern flutes. As with all vintage instruments, what it lacks in speed more than makes up for in tone color. This one is $1000. I've played a cast bore 1.6 by Monty Levinson, priced around $3000, I'm not good enough to tell a difference. How long did it take him to make one from scratch? Perry repaired a crack and replaced the utaguchi with a new ivory one.

I am curious about how yours plays and what experience you have with this type or others.

Anyway, A good Shakuhachi can provide a lifetime of learning, I hope your journey is great.

This post has been edited by JChaplin: Dec 29 2009, 05:23 AM

Attached File(s)

 1.8_Chikusen_Tamai.jpg ( 243.89K ) Number of downloads: 29

 

Paul, Monty's student model is a really good flute, just not root end.

I know ... and it's probably the only one I'll ever have, but a professional quality root end shak would be nice.

Here are some pics of my Monty Levenson student model 1.8 cast-bore shak. Currently, he sells these for $425. I got a pretty good deal on eBay about a year or so ago. With the cast bore, I'm not sure why a $3000 shak would sound any better than a $400 one--but then I've got nothing to compare it to other than a cheap PVC one I had and got rid of. Is root end really worth a grand or more? I don't know.

[attachment=4095:Tai_Hei_Shakuhachi.jpg]
[attachment=4096:Tai_Hei_...uhachi_2.jpg]

I really enjoy playing the plastic Shakuhachi style flute I made. It now is Denise's but I still like to pick it up. I find now that I have Herajika Chiku, an authentic Shakuhachi to compare it to, it compares very favorably.

Here are some pics of my Monty Levenson student model 1.8 cast-bore shak. Currently, he sells these for $425. I got a pretty good deal on eBay about a year or so ago. With the cast bore, I'm not sure why a $3000 shak would sound any better than a $400 one--but then I've got nothing to compare it to other than a cheap PVC one I had and got rid of. Is root end really worth a grand or more? I don't know.

[attachment=4095:Tai_Hei_Shakuhachi.jpg]
[attachment=4096:Tai_Hei_...uhachi_2.jpg]

I'm not sure why a $3000 shak would sound any better than a $400 one

I totally agree! I think that many of us probably wouldn't notice a difference. And is there a difference to notice? I personaly prefer the rough, breathy tone of a hocchiku. You can see Perry (for example) playing his flutes (even the less expensive ones) on youtube and they sound excellent. And he is able to do everything someone else can do with a $3000 flute.
I have been suffering from aquireflutitis (actually aquirexpensiveshakuhachitis) for a long time now. I have been drooling over famous makers $2000 plus flutes, knowing that I will never own one and will always have to suffice with a cheap shakuhachi. Then I started looking at everything Perry Yung was putting out and realised these are "shakuhachi" in every aspect! They are made with such attention to detail and care! He is very serious about making a beautiful looking and sounding shakuhachi.
The question of the root end is an important one. The first shakuhachis didn't have root ends. But the shakuhachi is such a unique instrument that its aesthetics are just as important as its tone. I personally think that having a root end flute is very important.
Anyone who is considering a shakuhachi should keep an eye on Ebay and mark Yungflutes as a favorite seller. He sells absolutely beautiful root end madake shakuhachi for anywhere between $250 and $500. Or you could commission one like I did.

P.S. I've had a chance to play it a little now...and this is the first flute I've ever played that really resonates. The whole flutes just vibrates! It's really awesome! I've read about that with shakuhachi, but I never had one that really sang like this. I think that is a whole other talent to be able to make a flute move! I thought all my other ones did that, but not to this degree!

This post has been edited by cloudsounds: Dec 29 2009, 04:48 AM

I actually asked Perry this very question a couple days ago, he replied and said he would need time to answer such a complicated question. I will likely have the answer today and as soon as I do, it will be posted here. I do know that for it to actually be called a "Shakuhachi" it must be able to play traditional Shakuhachi music. That being said, if a flute is not of good enough quality to play properly with the advanced fingering techniques, I will probably never know, then it is just a bamboo flute. I learned this from Perry when i bought my first "shak" off ebay with no knowledge of it or any other rim blown at the time. I then found Perry and saw where he said he would evaluate any flute for free so I shipped it to him. He informed me it was poorly made, NOT a shakuhachi in any other form but looks and it was not worth any further investment for him to try to fix it and I should send it back to the seller and ask for a refund because it was so poorly made. I did and I got my refund. Perry then sold me a good one of his for the same price. This was much reduced from what it should have been but he knew the headache I had already been through and helped me out a great deal. Remember that the shakuhachi is the most expresive instrument 2nd only to the human voice so to really be able to achieve all that is has to offer, not only does the player have to devote to it, the flute has to be capable of handeling it. Just as some of our NAF's don't like to play the extended overtones for what ever reason. A lower end Shak may handle the basics but might not deal well when you push it into the 2 upper octaves that a great one can reach. The same reason I have a $200 Emerson student silver flute and a symphony flutist I am friends with has a solid 14k Gold flute that was $30,000. If she played my flute, it could not handle her skill, if I played hers, it would be little different from what I do on mine. I want a flute that I can spend the rest of my life learning with and has no short comings. To me, that is worth $1000. More actually but it is all I can spare for now. (Perry does have his upgrade policy.) Full cost of your flute from him applied to a better one if you upgrade with him.

The question of cost aside, it sure would be nice to have the resonance and ease of upper octave play. Maybe someday ...

The reason I was able to get my Shakuhachi style PVC flute to play well is because I was able to change the interior diameter by heating the PVC, and they changing the diameter until the holes played fully. Plastic Shakuhachi style, cost, about 1 dollar.

I really enjoy playing the plastic Shakuhachi style flute I made. It now is Denise's but I still like to pick it up. I find now that I have Herajika Chiku, an authentic Shakuhachi to compare it to, it compares very favorably.

Beautiful flute, thanks for the many pics!

Thanks.

The pictures are great. I like the work bench and tools. It looks like a treasure.

I like his site too, http://yungflutes.com/home




This post has been edited by 4wind: Dec 29 2009, 09:29 AM

I'm sure it is worth every penny. It takes a year to make a good Shakuhachi if not longer, you have a rim blown pvc flute, not quite the same. This discusion is focusing more on the extremely fine intricate differences between extremely well made if not pro-quality instruments. These makers listed are considered, in more opinions than just mine, to be the best current makers in the world and have devoted their lives to this craft. My goal is to seek out why they are so great and how. Post what you want but it'd help if it was relevant.

The reason I was able to get my Shakuhachi style PVC flute to play well is because I was able to change the interior diameter by heating the PVC, and they changing the diameter until the holes played fully. Plastic Shakuhachi style, cost, about 1 dollar.

What's the problem? I was speaking relevantly, cause we were talking about making these things. I know what I am talking about cause I also have one made by Alcvin Ramos, and I will tell you this, he respects my playing ability.

I can speak about how the PVC one I made and the authentic Shakuhachi Grand Master Ramos made, cause I can play em both. I have video showing it. Actually, This Video in particular was highlighted by the Grandmaster, cool, huh? It was very exciting to be noted, and quite unexpected.

I'm sure it is worth every penny. It takes a year to make a good Shakuhachi if not longer, you have a rim blown pvc flute, not quite the same. This discusion is focusing more on the extremely fine intricate differences between extremely well made if not pro-quality instruments. These makers listed are considered, in more opinions than just mine, to be the best current makers in the world and have devoted their lives to this craft. My goal is to seek out why they are so great and how. Post what you want but it'd help if it was relevant.

This post has been edited by oyateunderground: Dec 29 2009, 08:16 PM

No problem, I'm sure you are as wonderful in making plastic flutes and playing them as great as you do NAF's, your skill seems to cross all boundaries and all cultures, you comment everywhere and on everything. There was just no question about plastic ones, how to make them or that it was only $1. I've read enough of your quotes to know you were saying, "Well I made a Shakuhachi that sounds great and was only a buck, ha ha ha, it plays as good as any, I'm amazing." You've written books on here about respecting the "Native Flute Community", wonder if this applies to other cultures and the time and effort that goes into making a "real" Shakuhachi. Give some credit to the "real" makers.


This letter is from Perry himself and explains a lot....

As I mentioned before your questions are very important ones. One can write a masters thesis with them so I want to do them justice. I will try to answer them as succinctly as possible but you should know that shakuhachi is like art. There are lots of movements and those aware of this will understand the pricing according to it historical placement. Like art, they represent a time period's artistic and cultural sensibility. So what I write is in some way generals there are no hard rules. In the shakuhachi world, almost every rule is always broken.

> 1) I would like to know as well, also, how is this one different from one say priced at $3000?

I would need to know the maker of the 3,000 flute, but if we talk objective as a musical instrument (without historical influence) a $3,000 shakuhachi can be better in two ways:

1) Have more volume, have faster response, stronger note stability, easier to play finger ornaments and better able to produce the desired tone color of a specific shakuhachi style (school or "Ryu")..

2) Same as #1 but applied towards a Western musical approach with more importance on Western pitch.

>2)I have played a 1.6 cast bore from Monty Levonson that was $3000, what is the difference for 3x the money? Would it even be anything noticeable from a growing player.

Monty makes modern flutes used in modern Western situations. I know Monty well and he makes great modern flutes. I can only say that serious traditional shakuhachi music players will seek old flute like this Tamai because of the tone color and feeling of the flute. I have no problems with playing Monty's flutes in a "band" situation. If I were to play a solo Zen Honkyoku piece for an audience, I would use the Tamai because it has a the dynamic balance and tone I prefer. It is part of the experience and what we want to share with these older flutes and zen music.

Many times the dramatic difference in cost does not equate with the difference in playability. For example, the $3000 flute will play only slightly better. And, that may be subjective due to the different needs of the player - Western or Traditional Ryu. Most experienced players agree that it would be a rare flute that can do both well. A beginner will probably not notice any difference.

>3) I have seen your youtube videos comparing bamboo to wood, it looks as if you are playing this flute. Are you?

Yes, I am playing this one in a video. Once you have the chops for it, it can really honk.

>4) How should I start my journey with this? What can I expect to find and what should I look for?

Do what you are already doing. Develop your technique to push the flute to it's limits. As a modern man outside of the culture in which this flute was produced, you will be able to take this flute into the unknown. It will speak to you in a very powerfulway that should not be denied or negated by someone saying "You must learn with a traditional Shakuhachi teacher." However, if in time you feel that you have reached a plateau, then you should find a good traditional shakuhachi teacher. One that understands tone color.

>5) I would also like to find some information on Tamai but have not found much as of yet.

This information is difficult obtain in English.

Chikusen Tamai was one of the first makers and players who started a factory and trained young players and makers in how to craft shakuhachi. This was in the1940's or early 50's. Before this, the craft was relegated to individuals who only had one or two apprentices. And these were usually other very highly skilled, older players. Tamai's shop grew and he began to produce a lot of flutes which help to meet the demands of new players that resulted from the shakuhachi rennaisance in the late 60's. Tamai influence many of the greatest modern shakhachi maker's alive today - my teacher Kinya Sogawa, Tom Deaver, Hoshi Bonchiku, Yamaguchi Shugetsu and many others with out the international recognition.

I will continue on another email as my children are now up!

Happy New year! Perry