Japanese folk instrument "gottan" or Okinawan box shamisen

Because the gottan, a three-stringed, fretless,  square-bodied, wood-top Japanese folk instrument is so much like a cigar box guitar, I thought you guys might like to see these photos.

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Permalink Reply by Cy D on April 4, 2015 at 12:05pm

I love the simple elegance of the way the strings are fixed to the bottom of the gottan or shamisen.

Permalink Reply by Cy D on April 4, 2015 at 12:13pm

And here is someone's video, making one.   I don't think I would have rounded off the box pieces so early one.  Easier to measure the precise middle from squared edges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmegq2meDco

Permalink Reply by Cy D on April 4, 2015 at 12:34pm

Young man noodling on his gottan and wearing a mask out of bashfulness I guess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=383&v=yft8G6sj9ck

Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on April 4, 2015 at 1:29pm

The mask is traditional. 

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