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History of the Bell Shakuhachi and Testimonials
Before recorded history, we sculpted objects out of clay and made melodies on flutes of bone. My Bells drew deeply from these ancient wellsprings of ingenuity, etched into our collective consciousness.
This all began for me in 2007 when I took a humble bamboo Jinashi shakuhachi of my making, and through a process of careful molding, cast its inner bore into another piece of bamboo. This was the first time anything like this had been done with a natural bamboo Jinashi shakuhachi.
This initial experiment sparked an odyssey. By 2012, after years of painstaking development, I proudly completed my first full, inside and out replica of a Jinashi shakuhachi. It was another first in the history of the craft.
From Creation to Community
By 2013, the time felt right to introduce the Bell Shakuhachi to a broader audience. I wasn’t sure how my creations would resonate within the community. However, after releasing them, waves of orders and messages crashed in.
This early success also brought a sharp focus on the practicalities. It quickly became clear that my process needed streamlining. I also began to think of ways I could replace the current jet black resin with a more natural and sustainable bamboo fiber and resin eco-composite.
A New Bell Shakuhachi
The work continued, culminating in 2018 with the release of a new Bell crafted from my custom bamboo fiber and resin eco-composite. Its reception was nothing short of phenomenal, far surpassing the popularity of the previous models. They were now finding homes with enthusiasts worldwide as fast as I could make them.
But even with this resounding success and the eventual help of an assistant, the intense demands of production proved to be too much. In 2022, I made the difficult decision to end production of the Bell, as it was.
A Final Form Emerges
After nearly two decades of unwavering commitment to the Bells I found myself with years of contemplation on the fate of this endeavor. Essentially, the crafting in my mind never ceased.
Through countless hours of refinement, and discarding less savory or viable paths, I arrived at the final form for Bell Shakuhachi.
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Testimonials for the Bell c. 2018-2022
Riley Lee, Daishihan ‘Grandmaster’, PhD
ESS Shakuhachi Newsletter
Ken LaCosse – Mujitsu Taimu Shakuhachi
‘We all know what’s good about bamboo. Show people what’s good about other materials. Go Jon go!’ – Ken LaCosse
Brian Taigen Ritchie
‘The Bell Shakuhachi can be used for lessons, teaching, or performing up to the professional level. Super quality for the value. Well thought out design. Kudos to Jon for taking the initiative to produce a good instrument for the people.’ – Brian Tairaku Ritchie
