I purchased this new and have hardly used it, so I believe it's in very good condition. The following is quoted from the official website: "Shinobue Rittai" combines the beauty of traditional crafts with precise tuning. Compared to shinobue made of plain bamboo or with rattan wrapping, lacquered flutes are more resistant to climate changes and less prone to cracking. This is a special flute, the Yufuin Genryu Taiko model, with a black finish, a distinctive red cloud pattern called "Genryu Red," and the logo mark. It's a singing flute, tuned to 8 honchoshi (a specific tuning system).