String instruments
We are proud to have quite a variety of vintage Japanese string instruments that we offer for sale, among which shamisen, sanshin, biwa and koto.
Most of the Japanese strings can be tuned like western strings, except for the koto.
We can also provide spare strings but please be aware that ordering will take some time since we don’t keep stock of all kinds.
More information about Japanese string instruments click here.
Please also find below the various strings we sell.
050 Bunkakoto
Second hand
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 123 cm
Width: 26-28 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 8 kg
“Bunka koto” literally means ‘’culture koto’”. It has about half the size of a regular koto. It is compact and lightweight and therefore easy to carry and store. This koto has the ability to change the tension of the snares by a ‘piano key’. The koto is in a very good condition. It has hardly any marks of use.This koto is provided with bridges (ji), a piano-key and a soft case.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 514,25
055 Koto ‘Crane with Pine’
Second hand
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 183 cm
Width: 26-28 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 13,5 kg
This koto has an average quality and is in a fair condition. Also the 13 snares are good. The wood is nice, aged with some minor brushes on the body. It has a beautiful maki-e with flying cranes and pine in gold. The kuchimae cover is designed with a pattern of flowers. This koto is provided with bridges (ji)
Price (including 21% VAT): € 605,00
058 Koto ‘Yamada’
Second hand
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 177 cm
Width: 26-27 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 10,5 kg
This koto belongs to the Yamada school (Yamada-ryu) and is a little shorter than the koto from the Ikuta School (Ikuta-ryu). It is an aged koto with visible damage and traces of use. It has fixed legs. There is a crack in the body at the tail. The koto has no maki-e decoration nor a kuchimae cover. The koto is good for practice and less or not suitable for public performances. Bridges will not be provided but can be ordered separately.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 266,00
062 Koto ‘Matsu-Take-Ume’
Second hand
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 184 cm
Width: 26-28 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 10 kg
This high quality koto is in a very good condition. It has nice wood and a good sound. It also has a nicely decorated maki-e but without kuchimae cover.
This koto is provided with bridges (ji).
Price (including 21% VAT): € 1.694,00
063 Koto ‘Ougi’
Second hand
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 183 cm
Width: 26-28 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 11 kg
This koto has an average quality. The condition is reasonable. The wood is aged but nice. There are some minor brushes on the body of the instrument. The maki-e is nice. It has no cover. The snares are good and quite new.
This koto is not provided with bridges but these can be ordered separately.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 423,50
066 Koto ‘Pine Blue’
Second hand
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 183 cm
Width: 26-28 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 13,6 kg
This koto is of average quality and is in a reasonable condition. The wood shows traces of use and ages and there are some cracks on the back. The strings are good. It has a nice maki-e, no kuchimae cover.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 545,50
073 Koto ‘Mikoshi’
Second hand
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 184 cm
Width: 26-28 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 12,4 kg
This is a beautiful instrument in a very good condition. It doesn’t show visible traces of use. It has good strings and a colourful maki-e, without kuchimae cover.
This koto is provided with bridges (ji).
Price (including 21% VAT): € 1.089,00
079 Shamisen with bachi and case
Second hand
Manufacturer: Unkown
Material: wood, dogskin
Height: 10 cm
Length: 103 cm
Width: 23 cm
Weight: 6,75 kg
Beautiful ‘Fat Neck’ Shamisen, complete with bachi, koma, tuner and case.This samisen is very suitable to use in ensembles and orchestras.The instrument is in a very good condition and has a good sound. The cat-skin is precious and can tear so we recommend a more experienced player for this instrument.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 1.995,00
084 Shamisen with case
Second hand
Manufacturer: Unkown
Material: red sandal wood, artificial skins
Height: 10 cm
Length: 103 cm
Width: 23 cm
Weight: 6,75 kg
This ‘Fat Neck’ Shamisen comes with a case. The samisen has artificial skins which are stronger than animal skins. This samisen is very suitable to use in ensembles and orchestras. The instrument is in good condition. The sound is a bit ‘smokey’ but it produces volume and gives presence. The condition of the instrument is fine. It is suitable for all kind of samisen players, from beginners to advanced.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 1.535,00
010 Sanshin (with sanshin bag)
SOLD!!
Second hand
Total length: 80 cm
Diameter body: 19 cm
Height body: 8 cm
Weight: ca. 1250 gram
Kyokabari sanshin from Okinawa. This sanshin has a beautiful body covered with snake skin and is in good condition.A sanshin bachi is also available and can be ordered separately.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 245,00
011 Biwa
SOLD!!
Second hand
Total length: 92 cm
Diameter body: 28 cm
Height body: 8 cm
Weight: ca.1750 gram
This Chikuzen Biwa is in a very good state. The body is made from mulberry and paulownia. The biwa has silk snares. Spare snares are available.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 1950,00
009 Koto (with low stand and bridges)
SOLD!!
Second hand
Length: 184 cm
Weight: ca. 6000 gram
This koto with 13 strings is beautiful and in excellent state. It comes with a low stand and (plastic) bridges.
The cover consists of a textile cloth, specially made for this koto.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 620,00
042 Koto ‘Flying Cranes’
SOLD!!
Second hand
Manufacturer: Tsutaya Gakki
Material: Paulownia wood
Length: 184 cm
Width: 26-28 cm
Height: 14 cm
Weight: 12,2 kg
This koto has an average quality and is in good condition. Also the 13 snares are good. The wood is beautiful. On its body, there are some traces of the use of bridges. The inside is carved in a straight line vertically (Sudare-bori) which most koto have. It has a very nice maki-e lacquer decoration of golden flying cranes, the national bird of Japan that symbolizes longevity and good fortune.
This koto is provided with bridges (ji).
Price (including 21% VAT): € 786,50
014 Koto (with cover, low stand and bridges)
SOLD!!
Second hand
Length: 182 cm
Weight: ca. 6000 gram
This koto is in a good condition and looks very beautiful. It comes with wooden bridges and a thin cloth cover. The cover has a beautiful design but is torn.
Price (including 21% VAT): € 480,00