the.ronin
Well-known member
I was hanging out in Little Tokyo near downtown Los Angeles over the weekend and was lucky to listen to a duo playing shamisen. Just WOW. I mean, I thought it sounded good in Kubo & The Two Strings lol.
I really would like to have one now. Unfortunately, it's turning out to be a rather difficult instrument to find in my area much less the U.S. I was wondering if anyone knows of stores in the greater Los Angeles area that carries them? I do my best to avoid buying instruments site unseen but if that's the only way, that is fine. But then the problem is that these instruments also do not come cheap. A beginner shamisen is $400 without any gear and before shipping (Bachido store run by an American in Japan). There's always fleaBay but even then I'm looking at $500-$600 for what I think are legitimate instruments and these are used.
Having worked in Torrance where there is a huge Japanese community, I was surprised to find nothing on the internet as far as stores or otherwise. Also tried the Japanese cultural center in downtown LA. I may just contact the duo themselves (have their business card) to ask.
I know the Okinawa instrument is called a Sanshin and I believe is tuned differently. I think I'd like to stick with a Shamisen for now.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
I really would like to have one now. Unfortunately, it's turning out to be a rather difficult instrument to find in my area much less the U.S. I was wondering if anyone knows of stores in the greater Los Angeles area that carries them? I do my best to avoid buying instruments site unseen but if that's the only way, that is fine. But then the problem is that these instruments also do not come cheap. A beginner shamisen is $400 without any gear and before shipping (Bachido store run by an American in Japan). There's always fleaBay but even then I'm looking at $500-$600 for what I think are legitimate instruments and these are used.
Having worked in Torrance where there is a huge Japanese community, I was surprised to find nothing on the internet as far as stores or otherwise. Also tried the Japanese cultural center in downtown LA. I may just contact the duo themselves (have their business card) to ask.
I know the Okinawa instrument is called a Sanshin and I believe is tuned differently. I think I'd like to stick with a Shamisen for now.
Any advice greatly appreciated.