Repair Services

Request a Free Evaluation. Most shakuhachi repairs are one-of-a-kind. Always make sure your shakuhachi is evaluated and priced before any work is undertaken.

Repair Philosophy

There are many ways to approach shakuhachi repairs since there are many different kinds of damages and each is unique to the individual flute. Most often, I choose my non-invasive Low-Impact Method. This means that if a repair can be undertaken without removing any of the original parts, such as filling an utaguchi chip instead of replacing the horn inlay or topical binding instead of inlay rattan, I would go that route first. I believe that the non-invasive method respects the bamboo spirit and the structural integrity of the instrument. The photos above shows a crack two-piece flute with three different kinds of topical bindings performed by three different repairmen. Any repair can be beautiful in a Zen Wabi Sabi way.

Topical cord bindings – $20 each. Mine are sealed with urushi lacquer are the best method for crack repair. A crack requires one binding every inch plus one more – a 3 inch long crack would need four bindings.
Inlaid Rattan bindings – $60 each. Recommended at the top of the flute and near finger holes where a crack goes into the hole.
New Utaguchi inlay – $160. Kinko, Myoan. Tozan. Sogawa styles. I use the traditional Japanese materials for the inlay – Water buffalo horn and old reclaimed/recycle ivory cut offs from a Japanese ivory crafts family. These pieces are over 70 years old. I prefer to not use metal on the utaguchi linings anymore. I recommend repairs of loose inlays be done with metal.
Filling Utaguchi Chip – $75
Chin Rest Angle and Ikigaeshi Breath Return (top opening) Adjustments $75 – $125
Nakatsuki Joint Restoration
Rattan wrap – $160
Replacing compromised cord and chipped loose urushi wrap – $120
Refitting and tightening joint with urushi – $100 – $160
Bore Restoration and Tuning – $100 – $500
Moving Finger holes – $100 ea. Enlarging or shrinking – $80.
Retuning bore, note adjustments for tonality, fluidity and dynamic range – $100 – $500

Recap on repairs:

Topical cord bindings – $20 each.

Inlaid Rattan bindings – $60 each

New Utaguchi inlay – $160.

Filling Utaguchi Chip – $75

Chin Rest Angle and Ikigaeshi Breath Return (top opening) Adjustments $75 – $125

Nakatsuki Joint Restoration:
Rattan wrap – $160
Replacing compromised cord and chipped loose urushi wrap – $120
Refitting and tightening joint with urushi – $100 – $160

Bore Restoration and Tuning – $100 – $500

Moving Finger holes – $100 ea. Enlarging or shrinking – $80.

Retuning bore, note adjustments for tonality, fluidity and dynamic range – $100 – $500

Shipping:

I work from different locations so email me at yungflutes at gmail dot com for the address. (preventing bots from finding me)

Pack the flute wrapped in plastic and disassembled if its a two-piece flute in the smallest box possible with minimal packing material. I prefer USPS Priority Mail with some insurance for better tracking.

All my repair work is fully guaranteed to last another lifetime.

Thank you, – Perry

“Shakuhachi is a very difficult but rewarding path, one requiring knowledge, generosity, patience, and encouragement. Perry Yung has been a guide on this path for many people for many years (and my own since I began playing), offering his honest assessments of instruments and their needs, masterful, timely and affordable repair work, his incredibly crafted shakuhachi (and those of others) for sale at a fair price with an amazing guarantee, and a bodhisattva-like openness and concern for all who seek his assistance (and for all people). A shakuhachi is a very personal and precious hokki, and one can feel absolutely secure in having Perry be a part of their ever-unfolding journey. ” – Paul Amiel, AZ