This flute is made to the same specifications as the Shishida and Maruyama shinobue flutes. This flute is easy to play and has a relatively good balance, with clear and resonant high and very high notes. Even women can play it without being outmatched in volume and tone quality by men's shinobue flutes. It has the best sound among Japanese transverse flutes. Differences from Wakabue (Japanese flute) Wakabue only produces very high notes, but the Ryusui-bue (Dragon Head Flute) produces both high and very high notes. It also has a good volume and resonance. Material: Domestic Madake bamboo Thickness: Approximately 21 mm at the mouthpiece Length: Approximately 43 cm Mouthpiece size: Approximately 14 mm Thickness: Slightly thicker. Bamboo hardness: Slightly hard. Pitch: Approximately between 6.5 and 7.0 hon (a unit of pitch) Range: From the fundamental tone to the fifth octave (Daiko-on 5) What is Ryusui-bue? It is a flute that was introduced from China during the early to mid-Edo period. It is called Ryusui-bue because the head of the flute is decorated with a dragon, and there is a resonance hole between the mouthpiece and the finger holes. (It is mentioned in Chinese documents from the Tang Dynasty.) This is a flute that has been improved and made to suit current festival music, based on the phantom Ryusui-bue made by a flute maker in Kyoto during the mid-Edo period. The resonance is three-dimensional like the Noh flute, the playing feel is firm and soft, and it is easy to play. The tone is refreshing (similar to the shinobue). Differences from Shinobue: The biggest difference is the volume and tone quality. It has nearly twice the volume of a shinobue, and the high and very high notes resonate three-dimensionally. However, there are many craftsmen who make shinobue flutes, but there are few craftsmen who make bamboo flutes (such as madake and hachiku, flutes with nodes). One reason is that they are difficult to make and it is difficult to secure materials. I have been studying physics for many years, so I am able to select materials that are relatively easy to play and have good sound. Please understand that this is handmade using natural materials. Also, please refrain from price reductions.