Tain't so,
The shakuhachi bore when properly adjusted in the context of all
other variables e.g. hole size and hole inner taper, wall thickness,
etc.) is not simply a machineable taper with constant slope (to say
nothing of the fact the almost all shakuhachi bores are curved in the
bargain...), but it is PERTURBED. That is to say, the bore diameter
is slightly larger or smaller at certain unique points along the
inner length of the bore. These points can only really be optimally
located by trial and expertise. The classic method is to get the
overall bore in the ball park, then slip small wet pieces of paper
into the bore at what might be the proper location--the wet paper
lays on the surface of and within the bore and very slight changes
the diameter at that point; play the flute. The response of the flute
tells an experienced player/maker whether to increase or decrease the
bore diameter at that point. One confoundig problem that is
encountered is that many of these perturbations interact with others
one may or may not have established--to pay Paul is to rob Peter--and
achieving a balance across them all is where the Devil is in the
details. Master builder lore has even generated seven "rooms" in the
shakuhachi bore within which one might make adjustments.
So, forget the CNC machine.
eB
>I am sure the technology exists to make a cheap and reliable
>manafactured copy of an excellent shakuhachi bore without the help
>of an assisting hand. For instance, the parts of an engine also
>need to be shaped within a fraction of a milimeter in order to
>function properly. The only difference is that the auto industry
>has a bit more funding and research behind it than the shakuhachi
>industry.
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Feb 03 2003 - 09:09:50 PST