Fittings & Parts
Building a shamisen yourself, or want to try adding some bling to your current shamisen? You’re in the right place! Currently, Bachido is the only online store to sell professional shamisen parts (like azuma sawari, for example), which are used in all high quality shamisen.
Note: If you have tools, all of this hardware can be made yourself with the instructions in Shamisen of Japan. However, for a small and important piece like the Azuma Sawari, you may find ease of mind of knowing the piece won’t fail is worth the price of professionaly hardware.
Rindo リンドウ (BA-RI)
This is the decorative gold-plated sleeve and fitting that attaches to the dou and end of the nakagosaki. Unnecessary for most casual shamisen builds, but pretty cool if you wanna achieve that extra bit of sparkle!
$80 USD
Sawari (Azuma) 東サワリ (BA-ST)
This is the device that allows you to adjust the buzzing effect on a tsugaru or minyo shamisen. It is installed right under the thickest string.
$116 USD
Sawari (En) 円サワリ (BA-ST)
This is a simpler version of the Sawari (Azuma). It is circular, and thus easier to install in a shamisen. Again, it is installed right under the thickest string.
Two sizes available:
Large (Tsugaru): 2.8cm long, 6mm wide
Small (Nagata/Jiuta): 2.5cm long, 8mm wide
$87 USD
Zagane (Tsugaru) 座金（津軽用）(FR-TSU)
Zagane (also called Fukurin) are the metal fittings attached to the itomaki holes. The idea is that the metal of the Zagane prevents the wood from wearing down. More importantly though, they look cool!
$188 USD
Kamigoma (Tsugaru/Minyo) 上駒（津軽用）(BA-ST)
Also known as a “nut” in western instruments, the kamigoma is the strip of metal attached to the top end of the sao (neck). This one is meant to lift all three strings for tsugaru and minyo shamisen. This kind is needed if you are installing a sawari.
$21 USD
Kamigoma (Nagauta/Jiuta) 上駒（長唄／地唄用）(BA-ST)
Also known as a “nut” in western instruments, the kamigoma is the strip of metal attached to the top end of the sao (neck). This one is for nagauta and shamisen, which lifts the two thinner strings. This kind is used if you are not installing a azuma sawari or en sawari.
$14 USD