Bachi (plectrum)

Hardness level: 8 (but can be flexible as 3 if sanded thinner)

Get closer to your shamisen idols! The Signature Bachi are made in collaboration with the hottest shamisen stars of today. Every star player involved has given us their preferred weight, balance and shape of their favorite bachi, and the maker creates them with synthetic bekko called Neoko. 

Note: Although these bachi have been designed by your favorite players, please know that they were designed to what’s best for their own hands. Individual hand sizes vary, so it’d be worthwhile to check the measurements below and compare it with your own bachi so you have an idea of the size difference. 

Furthermore, Neoko can be sanded to achieve the exact flexibility you desire! (Be careful though, thinner bachi are more prone to chipping depending on your striking technique) Please check out this video to learn how to sand Signature Bachi – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdLdYuoIReo

Bachi Sizes

Masahiro Nitta
Weight: 155g
Length: 170mm
Blade Width: 90mm
Handle Width (Base): 24mm
Handle Height (Base): 25mm
Handle Width (Blade*): 36mm
Handle Height (Blade*): 10mm

Yutaka Oyama
Weight: 108
Length: 165mm
Blade Width: 91mm
Handle Width (Base): 25mm
Handle Width (Blade*): 36mm
Handle Height (Base): 18mm
Handle Height (Blade*): 7.5mm

Sho Asano
Weight: 156
Length: 173mm
Blade Width: 95mm
Handle Width (Base): 25mm
Handle Width (Blade*): 36mm
Handle Height (Base): 23.5mm
Handle Height (Blade*): 11mm

Big K
Weight: 126
Length: 165mm
Blade Width: 95mm
Handle Width (Base): 25mm
Handle Width (Blade*): 36mm
Handle Height (Base): 18mm
Handle Height (Blade*): 7.5mm

Introducing the newest technology for shamisen bachi! Made by TOA, the synthetic material of the blade is as close as it gets to natural material. Unlike other Faux Bekko bachi which are made from a material closer to acrylic (I’m not 100% sure, but it’s something like that), the Pantera is made of casein, which is a natural protein, and thus much closer to real shell than any other. 

Until now, I hadn’t felt that any bachi could match the same feeling as real bekko. Faux Bekko and Acrylic bachi are both outstanding, but still the feeling and tone were different (not bad, just not exactly the same). With that in mind, I am very, very impressed with the flex and tone from the Pantera bachi. I can only assume that casein is the key ingredient, because I can’t feel or hear a difference from bekko. 

Flex Options:
Hard: 8 This is very rigid, almost like Plastic Bachi, or cheaper bekko bachi. Only choose this if you are accustomed to hard bachi and especially prefer it.

Medium: 5 This is a similar level to the Faux Bekko Bachi, as well as most bekko bachi available.  

Soft: 3 This is ideal for beginners. (Flex level has no connection to skill level – many professional players use soft bachi) Soft bachi are comparable to high end bekko bachi, as very flexible shell are reserved for expensive bachi. (Hard/Medium bachi can be high end as well, but it’s much harder to find natural soft flex in the lower price ranges) The extra flex makes it very comfortable to get a satisfying percussive snap against the skin, and unlike stiffer bachi, it doesn’t get caught in the strings as much. Masahiro Nitta’s personal bachi has a similar flexibility as this, and it’s my favorite as well. 

Size options: (Length x Width)
Large 167mm×93mm
Medium 164mm×88mm
Small 161mm×83mm

Hardness level: 5

Typically, bachi have weighted handles, but the weight of the bachi varies on the maker, and if pre-owned, varies on the player it was made for. Because every player’s hand and wrist strength are different, not all bachi are weighted the same. This means that for one person, a 120g bachi will feel perfect, but another player’s wrist will tire more quickly.

With the Adjustable Weight Acrylic Bachi, you’re now able to customize the weight distribution to the exact heft and balance best for you! The blade is acrylic (same as most acrylic bachi coming out these days), etched with both Wave (Clear/No-Color) and Sakura (Light Cherry color) designs. Unscrew the handle to find eighteen 5g weights inside, easy to remove and adjust within the individual slots inside the handle.

Bachi Length: 170mm
Handle Base Width: 25mm
Handle Base Depth: 21mm
Blade Width: 94mm

Minimum Weight: 53g
Maximum Weight: 145g

Note: Regular bekko bachi can weigh as much as 190g, but a max of 145g is safe for most people. Higher than that can cause wrist pain if the user doesn’t have proper bachi technique.

Hardness level: 5

Prepare to dazzle your friends and audiences even more by amping up the Wow Factor with this stunning LED Acrylic Bachi! Made in the same style as the Adjustable Weight Acrylic Bachi, this bachi is loaded with a powerful LED light which can be switched on and adjusted with the press of a button in the handle!

Furthermore, this bachi has four 5g weights which you can add/remove to adjust the overall balance!

The blade is acrylic (same as most acrylic bachi coming out these days), etched with both Wave (Clear/No-Color) and Sakura (Light Cherry color) designs. Switch out blades by removing the screws, separating the handle and simply swap out blades.

Weight: 100g
Bachi Length: 170mm
Handle Base Width: 25mm
Handle Base Depth: 25mm
Blade Width: 94mm

The handle of the LED Acrylic Bachi is slightly thicker than the Adjustable Weight model above. (Extra space is needed to accommodate the light source)

Hardness level: 5

Made by Takayama, this Bachi is made with their own synthetic blade. While the material is secret, to me it’s reminiscent of Acrylic. Medium flex with a warm and solid tone!

Size
Length: 170mm
Blade Width: 86mm
Handle Width (Base): 25.5mm
Handle Width (Blade*): 32mm
Handle Height (Base): 25.5mm
Handle Height (Blade*): 9mm

*The feathered edge where blade and handle first connect, (towards middle of handle, not the edge of handle)

Hardness level: 5.
Made by Tokyo Wagakki, this bachi is great for beginners and advanced players alike. It has a similar feel & flex of a natural bekko bachi, but is stronger and will potentially last many more years of hard tsugaru playing! The tortoise will thank you too. Update: the Pantera bachi (shown above) is made from newer material and in my opinion is even closer to natural bekko than this bachi. This bachi is still awesome so we still offer it, but I do prefer the Pantera. :-)

Note: On very rare occasions, the blades of these bachi sometimes crack or separate from the handle. (It used to be a frequent problem but that issue seems to have been eliminated recently.) That being said, these bachi are covered with one-year insurance. If your bachi cracks or separates from the handle within one year’s time, send it back and it can be replaced!

Hardness level: 8.
Reccomended only for trying shamisen with little investment, or if you need an ice scraper. Unfortunately, it is difficult to use and can make the shamisen experience less enjoyable.

Enjoy a higher strata of elegance with this Premium Wooden Bachi made by Nitta san’s friends of his Sapporo music group Ezon! The handle has a Marquetry-style inlay which brightens your bachi with an artsy brilliance!

This bachi is available in both Maple and Oak.
Oak is stiffer with a hardness level of 8.
Maple has a bit more flex with a hardness level of 5 (although still durable)

Sizes
Medium: 178mm x 92mm (Similar to Plastic Bachi)
Large: 192mm x 105mm

Hardness level: 8
Want to represent Bachido on your wooden bachi? Now you can! This is a standard Wooden Bachi (Oak) with the Bachido logo laser-cut into the handle. Sexy time!

Fair warning to those who are particularly sensitive to visual orientation/design: While the maker tries his best to etch the logo precisely in the middle of the bachi blade, sometimes it will be off-center by a few millimeters. Since it’s purely a visual element, it’s not of concern for structural integrity. But if you find yourself bothered when visual elements are slightly misaligned, it may be a risky choice. :-P

Hardness level: 9.
Made out of clear acrylic and looks very stylish.

Hardness level: 9.
Made out of clear acrylic with a colored tint.