REPAIR OF UTAGUCHI
Have you ever knocked the shakuhachi against something
and damaged the utaguchi inserted mouthpiece?
I have, twice in fact. Here is how I learned
to fix it.
《Step 1》
First, tape the mouthpiece up.
《Step 2》
From the inside, add super glue, a drop at
a time, onto the damaged aprt.
《Step 3》
After the glue has dried, remove the tape
and scrape the surplus glue off very carefully.
This explains how to prevent the escaping
of air from the middle shakuhachi joint,
a common occurrence when someone opens two
extra holes in the instrument to make a 7
holed shakuhachi.
《Step 1》
Add super glue to the inside of the newly
opened hole from the inside. The glue should
go between the bamboo and whatever material
is used in the middle joint binding.
《Step 2》
Also add some glue along the edge of the
middle joint.
《Step 3》
The add just a little gllue to the underside
of the binding material, enough to prevent
the escaping of air but not enough to be
noticed. This is very difficult!