Written on
February 12, 2006.
I’ve been practicing sawing and joinery for a while. I’ve been practicing the sawing cut the neck into three even and precise pieces down the middle and the joinery to hook ‘em up again. I’m not sure why they make a shamisen to be like that (besides warpage and carryability) but I figured, might as well make it like they make it. Well, after using lots of wood, I’ve gotten the joinery down cold but the pieces never line up smooth. The shamisen I borrowed didn’t even have the neck joined up in three pieces, it was just a single piece. That made me think. I mean if it sounds really good without the neck joined up, why risk wasting expensive maple wood?
So, now I’ve decided to just leave the neck as a whole piece. That will really simplify the deal. Now the most daunting part will be the skin stretching ’cause apperantly it’s easy to break skins stretching it that far. Oh goody. With a $70 skin, that should be fun.
Written on
February 11, 2006.
After we played music on the mall, I went over to More Music and borrowed one of my teacher’s Shamisens. Several months ago, I measured it and than I drew it out full size on paper. Even though I remembered it being much bigger, I followed my measurments. Even so, it still looked smaller than it should. I decided that I would never be sure unless I compared the Tsugaru Shamisen to the one I drew out.
When I got home, I lined it out. Sure enough, my mockup on the paper was exactly the size and shape of
the Shamisen I borrowed. Even the areas where I kinda “guessimated” were accurate. The only thing that I should’ve done (which I later did) was make the body a bit thicker. Not bigger, just thicker.
After trying out my Shamisen (which isn’t the easiest to play) and the one I borrowed (which is smooth as butter, meaning it plays really good), I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t the shamisen that made the difference in playability, it was the bachi! (the pick). I tried the bachi I borrowed (with the Shamisen) on my shamisen and it played much better. It didn’t sound any better or worse, it was just easier to play. I used our bachi with the borrowed shamisen and it was harder to play. Investing in a good bachi would make all the difference probably.
Written on
February 9, 2006.
Since Luke was going to his girlfriend’s after Karate, I was gonna get a ride with the teacher who lives pretty close to us. I wasn’t as “movemental” during class since I was a little worn out from volleyball (and there’s two hours between classes [the volleyball and Karate]) but later on I got into it. Especially when the hips get into action. When you got the hips throwing your blocks and punches for you (if you know what I mean), it all flows much better.
Anyway, after class, another student needed a ride. I volunteered to sit in the back pop-out seat. It was fun being in back ’cause I could look out the back which was fun. The moment I got in the Jeep and the moment it turned on, it immediatelly reminded me of our old ‘76 Datsun truck. I mean the way it rumbled and rattled over bumps, it just brought back the memories!
Written on
February 8, 2006.
It has been very warm. Almost hot! Great weather for volleyball (sarcastic). I personally like a cool/cold day for it so when I warm up by moving, the temp. feels like normal.
Written on
February 7, 2006.
I went to the Cabrillo Volleyball class thingy today. It was the first class so the teacher guy did a lot of talking. You know, saying what you should bring, when you should come, yadayada. He was a pretty relaxed person. He reminded me so much of my other volleyball teacher/consultant! I mean his voice and mannerisms were exactly the same!
I played with three other people but after they left and did pretty well, there wasn’t anymore openings in the other court so I left.
