Gagaku Sho (Reed Organ) - Smoked Bamboo, Arrow Bamboo, Female Bamboo

This is a Sho, a musical instrument played in Gagaku (Japanese court music).
It is a Sho made from susudake (aged bamboo smoked over a hearth), yadake (arrow bamboo), and meshitake (female bamboo) with single nodes.
It does not come with decorative metal fittings on the top. They would be difficult to attach as they would hit the nodes. The obi (band) is thin and has no decorative craftsmanship. It is unfortunate that the bamboo tips of 工 and 凢 do not have nodes. There are repaired marks on the head. Although not immediately apparent, the finger holes for the seventh and eighth rows have been shifted downwards. The instrument was cleaned and re-tuned in mid-March of this year. It will be tuned again before shipping.
Many beginners start with plastic pipes, but plastic pipes have the disadvantage of heating up and cooling down quickly, and they do not absorb moisture, making them surprisingly unsuitable for beginners. It is also said that plastic does not absorb sounds in the frequency range that humans find unpleasant. Furthermore, the reeds themselves are made of different materials. While the difference may not be noticeable when playing with a large ensemble, it becomes clearly apparent when playing solo. How about this for beginners, those looking to upgrade from plastic pipes, or as a secondary instrument?
The above is based on subjective opinions, and those who have doubts are asked to refrain from purchasing. No claims or returns, please. The color and texture may differ slightly from the actual product depending on your PC or smartphone. Given that this is a high-value transaction, we would prefer that you inspect the instrument in person, play it, and be satisfied before purchasing. Therefore, please contact us if you wish to inspect the instrument or try playing it. We also welcome those who wish to view multiple instruments that we have listed.