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Building a DIY Shamisen Kit (3-string instrument from Japan)

I recently received this DIY shamisen kit and I've been anxious to put to it together. It was given to me so I don't have a purchase link, but it went together nicely and sounds pretty darn good. I've never tried to play a shamisen before but I give it a shot in this video.

Intro & Story - 0:00
Build Process & Setup - 1:20
Sound Sample (acoustic) - 5:19
Sound Sample (electric) - 6:42
Final Thoughts - 7:15

See more of my Musical DIY Projects here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwIixlr7C6KUbPfAgFP6Sn4D46L0i0CQD

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Comment by Poorness Studios on March 14, 2024 at 10:47am: Thanks John & Doug.

Comment by Uncle John on March 11, 2024 at 4:18am: That is a very handsome and strong looking instrument. Japanese bluesy tone!

Comment by Doug Thorsvik on March 8, 2024 at 1:05pm: Super cool build Kale! I was at the Music Instrument Museum yesterday and saw instruments just like it and a lot of other ones to boot.

Comment by Poorness Studios on March 5, 2024 at 4:38pm: Thanks AD and AGP. I'm liking that pan build bud. Very cool!

Comment by AGP # on March 5, 2024 at 12:05pm: “Cool Poorness”, Built a similar Instrument back in July 2016, It was based on a “Kankara Sanxian” Couldn’t find much info on dimensions etc, found out the scale length was somewhere between 600mm and 1000mm so went halfway with 800mm (31½”).

The Original no pickup Build was strung with Small Sanxian Steel/Copper/Nylon Strings, but never could get the sound out of it I wanted, plus the Diy Wooden Tuning Pegs tended to slip a bit, and the Can went very rusty over time, so some 6yrs later I decided to modify it, changed the Wooden Peg Tuners to regular Guitar Machine Heads, Heat Treated the Can and Sprayed it with WD40 (but!, 2yrs on and it is again showing signs of Rust), added a 6.2 Single Coil Pup wired through a Tone Pot to the Jack, restrung it with .052NW .036NW .026NW, and tuned it to DAd, essentially turning it into a Baritone Cigar Box Type Guitar Build. :-)

Comment by A.D.EKER on March 5, 2024 at 11:52am: Nice one Kale ! seen a lot video's where the play the Shamisin ,there is a couple of twins who performe great tunes to watch on youtube ,the building consept has manny simulareties whit making a Old time banjo, one you build before ! in the end all global builders knolledge ,fun to see! Thanks !

Comment by Poorness Studios on March 5, 2024 at 6:31am: I like the idea of the eastern string instrument but I realized, it's realistically just a Japanese CBG (provided you don't want to learn the technique). I'm not sure I'll ever play it in the "traditional" style but I think I'll have some fun with it. It would be cool to take lessons from someone who knows though.

Comment by BrianQ. on March 5, 2024 at 6:22am: That’s kool, I used to have a black lacquered Shamisen, they’re pretty fun once you learn the scale! The buddhist church in my town provides lessons twice a month, traditionally they’re played by women, so I was a bit out of place, but I enjoyed the attention :)