"Dear Monty,
"I received the shakuhachi yesterday and I want to thank you for your incredible workmanship and expertise. It looks and sounds like a brand new instrument. I am also very pleased with the repositioning of the tone holes and am not finding it painful for my hand as I did with the in line holes.
"The crack is not visible at all and the binding you did looks like it was always there.
"I really can't thank you enough and will spend more time with it now it is easy to play. The Ro has a strong sound so I am enjoying Robuki now.
"Many thanks again."
Vicki Crozier
Shakuhachi Player. Australia
"Hey Monty, I received the flutes this morning. I’ve been playing them between patients all day. I’m so glad to have them back. You did an outstanding job. The Yokoyama Ranpo is exquisite. You brought back its beauty which I have not quite seen until today. I love playing it. The rattan binding on the Yozan harmonizes the light and dark aspects of the flute.
"Thank you for your detailed descriptions every step of the way. I’m very pleased."
Harvey Siegel
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"Monty, I got the flute yesterday, had a chance to play it today.
"I have never played a flute like this. I understand clearly what you mean by resonance now! Amazing experience feeling how the notes are all balanced with each other, and can all open up now broadly or be quiet with a strong core, easily and equally. It is great that you were able to raise the flute to such a level! What seemed like such a bad thing has facilitated transforming a mediocre flute, beautiful.
"Much respect, Monty for facilitating this flute's evolution, and my joy to experience it! I look forward to enjoyable exploration to come. Beautiful job with the crack too, it's like it is barely there now!
"Thank you for all the information along the way and for the discount as well, appreciated. It has been a pleasure, your openness and professionalism made every step super easy."
Joel Cobble
Shakuhachi Student. Canada
"Monty, Just wanted to let you know that the 1.8 Ichiyo (Tom Deaver) you repaired and enhanced arrived today, and everything looks wonderful! Thank you so much for your fine workmanship and expert advice! I will treasure this instrument."
Nathan Dooley
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"Monty repaired cracks (and an unfortunate gouge) in my vintage Go Ku shakuhachi, which had left it unplayable, and installed a full set of inlaid rattan bindings at my request to prevent further cracking. I have been extremely pleased with the work he did to restore it to playability. The bindings make it even more beautiful than before, and the sound is even better then I had expected (Funny how not leaking will do that!).
"Throughout the process Monty provided extensive explanations in diagnosing the problems and providing options and recommendations, such that I came away with a better understanding of its construction and the factors that led it to crack. I've now had it back in my hands nearly three months and I'm looking forward to many years of playing with it as a faithful companion.
"Thanks so much!".
Matthew Grohne
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"I can't begin to thank you enough for your time, talent, and effort in completing this immense project, evaluating, repairing, and enhancing the performance of my 19 vintage shakuhachi. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita. It was all worth it. Warts and all, I continue to learn, gain experience, and, quite often, better perspective and sensibility about the shakuhachi with each flute, each project, each time you have given me your time ;which is so supremely valuable to any of us, especially as we both get older; your energy; which seems to come from a great wellspring of both age and experience; and effort, which you have generously given to complete many flutes, and many projects, many times now. VERY MUCH RESPECTED AND APPRECIATED. I realized a long time ago; here I go sounding like an old Scottish Presbyterian; my time, money, and effort were better spent leaving it to the professionals, namely YOU.
Thanks again so very much for saving me a great deal of money on flutes that were prohibitive or simply not correctable. Your free evaluations are literally invaluable. And the 50% discount on the whole project was as gracious an extension of courtesy as I can imagine. You have been too kind and generous in that respect. Again, so very much appreciated.
It has been a busy week and I am now just finding the time, since they arrived Friday, to, finally, sit down, today, gather my thoughts, while sitting with the project, completed, delivered, unpacked, and in front of me, to compose this email. Anyway, I am thrilled immediately at the results both visually, structurally, and, most importantly, acoustically! The repairs, restorations, and improvements are certainly noticeable and audible!
I continue to grow in understanding and appreciation of the sound envelope this instrument generates and it has taken me 20-25 years to learn to hear it, as long as I have been pursuing this. It is elusive, so often all too unforgiving, and both an art, as well as fundamental skill, in and of itself just to blow this instrument correctly- before any playing is done. Having now put the thrid group of 19 flutes from my collection in your hands has made that daunting task so much easier in that I know that anything suspect or in error is on me the player, not the instrument.
Knowing what I understand now, this was hardly the case before with so many of them. Your methodology and approach has yielded fantastic results in rare and my best traditionally made instruments from Japan. You have even improved your own instruments that you have updated from 20+ yrs. ago, or so, give or take. Truly extraordinary craftsmanship! My compliments to the Chef. Now I have to see if I can tell them apart without seeing them—Blindfolded, I guess. That would be a more daunting task now after your handiwork. So many flutes... so much still to learn.
What I have learned is this. Just finding a good shakuhachi is difficult, a better one a struggle, and a superior one almost impossible—without your intervention and, in at least four cases with me, origination. I am grateful for your guidance, and friendship that has developed all these years since 1998. Wow! 24 years has passed since I visited your workshop, saw the tech, ordered my first flute from you with cash-in-hand down-payment that it took me something like 6 months to save at the time. I still treasure it. "Old No.1" is, was, always will be my first. Now, she's had a face lift and performance enhancement by the same doctor!
Please stay safe during fire season! And tell all the kids and Kayo, "The Gangster" says hello and sends his best... "Y'all can have your dad and husband back... now... for a... while...
Your friend and grateful customer,
Dave McKenzie
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"I got my 1.8’ Chiku Ryu back yesterday, and I can't thank you enough for bringing my shakuhachi back to life! Thank you very much for the repairs, restoration, and all your hard work to bring my instrument to its best 'physical' and playing condition. I am very impressed with the craftmanship of the utaguchi and nakatsugi, and with all the other work that has been done to the instrument. It plays easily now, and the sound is very clean, lovely, and mystical. Also, I appreciate the included cleaning supplies! Very handy and helpful.
"Now I have two beautiful flutes with a bit of a history! I will enjoy playing a real Japanese shakuhachi, and your master's touch makes it very special for me."
Irina Kolesnik
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"Thanks very much Monty! The shakuhachi is sooooo much better. Here is a testimonial I would like to share with others:
"I have a 1.8 vintage shakuhachi of unknown maker, maybe 1930’s. I was getting frustrated because I could not make the “u” sound. I thought it was me (likely) but then I purchased a high quality 2.4 and voila! I could make “u.” So, I sent my 1.8 for evaluation and refurbishing to Monty Levenson.
"Wow! Monty was able to fix so much more than the “u” problem! He did an exhaustive evaluation of the instrument and made detailed recommendations to reshape the utaguchi, repair incipient cracks, repair deviations in tuning, and improve resonance. Most interesting, he was able to figure out why “u” did not sound - a problem unique in his experience, having to do with the nakatsugi joint. Who knew?
"I was so impressed, I took Monty up on all his suggestions and now have a much better flute! Monty is scrupulously honest and forthcoming. There is a warmth in the way he communicates his fascination with the shakuhachi and rare skill in how he executed the repairs.
"Many many thanks!"
Sara Bayer
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"After having spent a couple hours blowing today, I am so happy that I reached out to you. I was somewhat reluctant to admit I thought the stagnation in my progress was only partly due to my previously flute. After a few minutes with the shakuhachi I received from you it became clear that all of my robuki had actually been paying off, I just didn’t have a flute that could handle the air I was giving it!
"One of the many aspects of the shakuhachi which draws me to it is that complex spectral mist of harmonics that players I admire conjure in their sound—I have never approached it so closely as today with your restored Gyokusui. It is rejuvenating and inspiring to have a shakuhachi of such quality that simply removes all doubt and allows me to confidently work towards improvement in myself and in my sound.
"With my other flute, I had gotten used to straining to stay in whichever register I was playing in, this approach gave me a ‘strained’ sound on the new shak and I realized it was simply responding to me accurately. It was such a lovely experience to relax while playing and be rewarded for it. I suspect my enjoyment of this shakuhachi and gratitude for your guidance and craftsmanship will only increase overtime.
"Also, thank you very much for the included materials on caring for the flute as well as the complementary flute oil/tsuyutoshi/finger hole cleaner to do so with!"
Paul Engle
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"The 1.8' Zenmura arrived safe today and what should I say: It sounds like never before, it is easy to play in all registers now and the Ro/Tsu problem completely vanished. What a master work in repairing. I am really overwhelmed with joy!!
"And additionally fantastic: Fedex did a great job shipping internationally within 3 days!
"Again, thank you very much for doing this artwork for me. It is worth all the money."
Reiner Wehrenfennig
Shakuhachi Player. Germany
"I got my 1.8' shakuhachi this evening.
My shakuhachi has been reborn under your top-notch craftsmanship. The middle joint is really beautiful and easy to on/off. Now , my shakuhachi has very good resonance and precise intonation.
Moreover, I greatly appreciate your having provided the full body checkup report for my shakuhachi before repair. You highlighted all the problems and recommended appropriate remedies for its restoration! Finally, my shakuhachi has been upgraded to a professional level. You did a great job!
Thank you so much!"
Toby Choi
Shakuhachi Player. Hong Kong, China
"The flute arrived yesterday all well and sound. I had a chance to play it yesterday and it sounds very nice. The RO and Tsu are transformed in a positive way. Also I noticed the tuning improvement and the improved balance between all notes. What I especially like is that now I can play long notes ending in silence easily, which was not so before. I think this flute has another many years to live and I'd like to thank you for your great work you have done. If anytime I need to upgrade a flute, I know now where to turn."
Swami Madhuram Puri
Shakuhachi Player. New Zealand
" I just received the flute and it is beautiful. It plays better than it ever did. Now you have spoiled my plans to sell it. I have always liked the big holes it has (unusual for a 1.6). Anyway, as always, you do great work. Thanks so much."
Michael 優禅 Firman
Shakuhachi Teacher & Performer. USA
"I received my Shakuhachi safely back from you a few days ago. It took me a couple of days to really play it. I was thinking, nobody can help this poor instrument, it's not Monty's fault.
"Today it's raining here. Since I'm stuck inside I was really trying it out for the first time. I was playing along with a recording I have by Kohachiro Miyata playing Akita Sugagaki. When I reached some of the usual 'tone poor' privately embarrassing spots for me, I stopped in surprise. What the heck? Was that my instrument's sound? I took off the headphones and thought, better do this again. It WAS my sound! . . . a very good sound!
"I don't know what to say. I am truly amazed, shocked, bewildered, and struggling to believe that this is the same dull, boring instrument that I sent to you. You see, I had purchased it against my better judgment without auditioning it, and have been sorry ever since.
"But now I plan to put this instrument right beside my favorite one for now, and over time, see who wins :)
"Having my Shakuhachi refurbished by you did more than fix the instrument. It caused me to take a really good look at my current technique and the acquired bad habits a good instructor would have caught.
"Thank you Monty, for your knowledge, diligence, and patience with this. I'm very happy."
Bruce Marseilles
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"The flutes arrived home today. I wanted to write you and thank you for all the incredible work. They are functioning better than ever. The sound and resonance is amazing. The bindings are artfully done. Overall, I am very pleased and will be forever grateful for your efforts and care."
C. West
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"My flute arrive safe and sound and once again I am amazed at the quality of your restoration work. I truly had to search for the gaping cracks that were at one time on the shakuhachi. The instrument plays very well, and startled me with its sound projection and tone color. It also is surprisingly easy to play. As always, thank you for your work."
Nathan Walker
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"My repaired, refurbished, and newly inlaid rattan-bound shakuhachi arrived just before noon today and I'm thoroughly delighted! What a treat! And how beautiful it is to see and feel. I treasure this flute and the upgrade seems a fitting way to celebrate the progress I've made at playing shakuhachi. Thank you also for filling the two minor cracks, I see how expertly you did so. The improvements you have made to my shakuhachi are remarkable. Your work is superb and the results are a marvel to behold. Thank you again. My shakuhachi teacher sends his regards as well."
Michael Kellner
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"Now the 2.0' shakuhachi is in my hands. I am totally happy with the result! The flute looks much better than before. The ro and tsu are stable with volume without jumping into the octave when blowing hard. Yeah!!!!! And it feels good to hold with the little bigger fingerholes.
I appreciate your exact and efficient work! Thank you very much."
Björn Wilker
Shakuhachi Player. Austria
"My shakuhachi arrived today in good condition. It is beautiful with the black/silver nakasuke rings and plays so easily with a lot more subtle volume, especially the RO and better pitch and tone. I'm sooo excited to play it again and have it back in my hands. You are a master and I thank you for all the work you did to restore this vintage shakuhachi."
Olivia Waterman
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"I hope you never get tired of receiving this kind of feedback-you've once again worked magic in restoring a flute to a condition that its owner could not even imagine. I've only just unwrapped it and of course, it's beautiful to look at, really superb. The bindings are clean, the new joint is wonderful, the repairs and hole adjustments are barely detectable, and the filling that you've done not only solved some serious structural problems, but it's also perfectly matched to the color, shape and overall appearance of the instrument. It doesn't look like a new repair, but rather an integral part of the flute.
"The very little bit of playing I've had a few minutes to do produced sounds not heard in the 15+ years I've owned the flute. The low Ro really rings now, and that was before either I or the flute had a chance to warm up. Overall the sound is brighter and more rich at the same time, and my initial impression is that the tuning is greatly improved.
"Now that I've been playing the flute nearly every day since you sent it back, I'm triply impressed. The tone that you've given it (or maybe given back to it) is really astounding. Your assessment it accurate: the pitches are right on, and it's a responsive, beautiful instrument capable of producing a variety of tones and shades. Again, it's so much more than I imagined was possible. It's so satisfying to have my old flute back, only 10 times better than it ever was!
"Thank you so much Monty. You really have done a remarkable job."
Patrick Johnson
Shakuhachi Teacher. Head of the Seattle Shakuhachi Study Group, an affiliate of the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan Tokyo, Japan founded by Yokoyama Katsuya.
"The Zenmura 1.8' you restored arrived today. I am so happy. Can't express my appreciation. You have done extraordinary work on this flute. It sounds very fine with a darker and softer tone colour and it is well in tune now. Beautiful bindings and a great utaguchi. Thanks a lot again - you have created a new art work!!"
Reiner Wehrenfennig
Shakuhachi Player. Germany
"Thank you for the devotion and dedication you showed while working on my 1.7 Edo period shakuhachi. You kept all of the historical aspects of the flute intact, such as the "sweet" tone color and original bore shape, while improving the playability, tuning and overall volume. The crack is also invisible. All I can say is, you sure know your craft. I was blown away when the flute found it's way home (in three days) and I began to play it. Amazing."
Peter Phippen
Recording Artist. USA
www.peterphippen.com
"Thank you so much for the work you have done on my shakuhachi. When it cracked I was devastated. Your repair work is nothing short of outstanding. Not only have you repaired it taking great care to mantain the aesthetics of the instrument, but your enhancement of the bore and utaguchi has lifted its playability and sound to a level far beyond its original state. All my friends and acquaintances (musicians themselves) who have experienced the 'before and after' sound of my shakuhachi attest to this too. I am looking forward to playing the shakuhachi you are currently making for me. Monty, may I also congratulate you on your web site and the valuable service you offer. As an educational resource it is priceless. Without Tai Hei Shakuhachi, shakuhachi in the West would be a lot poorer. Thank you."
Ian E. Cullen
Music Educator and Shakuhachi Player. Western Australia
"The flute arrived yesterday. You've done a lovely job and it sounds absolutely wonderful . . . great to be in western pitch also. It glides through the registers with ease and produces a beautiful sound. The enjoyment of the new flute experience that you have created gets better daily. The only problem is that I can't put it down! Thank you again for the extra work you carried out, its very much appreciated."
David Coates
Shakuhachi Player. UK (England)
"I rescued my flute from the clutches of FedEx last Friday, unwrapped the flute, and was immediately impressed with how good it looked. You can't tell that it was once a 7-hole flute since you so expertly filled in the lowest hole and then bound over the other hole. The lacquered urushi-colored binding complemented the refurbished and re-painted bore, and the color of the bamboo (just like you suggested). The new utaguchi was much appreciated. All that you reported about the sound (rich strong tone with a large envelope of sound) after "tweaking it" was absolutely true, and I am amazed that a flute that was originally about 20 cents flat overall , came back tuned to Western standard pitch and with such a well balanced sound. I was amazed at how softly,and loudly, I can play this flute. The more I play it, the better it gets. Truly, I bought this inexpensive 1.6 flute to play the occasional piece with, not too worried if it got knocked around, and hoping it sounded OK playing honkyoku. Instead, I received a beautiful flute with a beautiful sound. Thanks again for taking such good care of it."
Mark T. Spears
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"After many years of being frustrated
at the inferior quality of repair work done on Shakuhachi in
the United States, and after having used a number of different
craftspeople to do my repair work, I have come to the conclusion
that I will only be using Monty Levenson for all future repair
work. I would highly recommend all to do the same. His work is consistently high in quality and
reasonable (actually low by Japanese standards) in price. And,
of course, its always a pleasure to do business with Monty, whose
dignity, compassion, and character are the tops."
Ronnie
Nyogetsu Seldin
Founder and Grand Master,
Ki-Sui-An Shakuhachi Dojo. New York, NY
"Just got back to
Japan yesterday. Thank you so much for your hospitality and time,
and really number one in my mind, for what you did with my flutes.
My hassun is just so much better! As I prepare to play a concert
scheduled for this weekend where I will play three honkyoku,
I marvel at how much more I am getting out of this flute. It
really has become a mother of an instrument! Monty, you can put
your stamp on it any time. You brought it back from the dead.
Again, thanks to your work."
Bruce Huebner
Shakuhachi teacher trained
in the classical tradition of the Kinko Ryu under Goro Yamaguchi
and Jensuke Kawase. First non-Japanese to graduate from the Japanese
Music Dept. of Tokyo University of Fine Arts & Music. Author
of a three-volume teaching video on Kinko-ryu shakuhachi
Tokyo, Japan
"What can I say Monty. You have
resurrected two of my shakuhachi that I'd almost given up on.
I'm getting a deep-full, resonate 'RO' from the 1.8. Thanks for
re-building the mouth piece for me too. This flute has become
one of my favorites. The 2.3 no longer jumps an octave when playing
Ro. It also plays much stronger. The tuning is better too. Thank
you so much for your excellent work and thanks for being there
for me."
Ray Brooks
Shakuhachi
teacher who studied in Japan with Katsuya Yokoyama and Nakamura Akikazu.
Auther of Blowing Zen: Finding an Authentic Life.
"It has been almost 5 months since
Monty reworked the bore of my 50-year-old shakuhachi. The lacquer was
pealing off, its unpredictable responsiveness was becoming more and more
of an issue for me, and something had to be done to save the instrument.
I gave him permission to do this with great fear and trepidation since
it was my only instrument and I had paid what I felt was a great deal
of money for it. Well, what can I say? Let me quote my initial response
to him because it is as true now as it was then. 'This is absolutely
fabulous! I only had to put it to my mouth and blow a few notes to feel
the full effect of the changes. WOW!' Thanks so much Monty for giving
me and my flute new life!"
Dan Gutwein
Professor of Music
"Well,
my flute arrived safely yesterday. I must tell you, the flute looks so
much better! It was always a beautiful instrument, but it now seems to
have new life. I think the sound is also better than ever. Monty, I cannot
even see where the new crack or the old repair were! What a fantastic
job you did. And the inlay rattan bands are stunning and elegant. The
bore looks fantastic. When I played a little last night, the dogs came
up very excited and wanted to investigate the flute anew. This is how
I know the sound is good - when the animals respond with pure joy! I
am so grateful for the exceptional and timely work you did on my shakuhachi."
Carolyn McKechnie
Web Designer for the Big
Apple Shakuhachi Festival. New York, NY
"The flute
arrived safely! Thanks for the great work. You've turned the old flute
into a gem! Very, very good resonance, intake of breath is excellent,
can be powerful and bright, but also mellow and elegant. I would say
that among all flutes I have ever play as a newbie, this flute has
the best sound and hand-vibration feeling for me!"
John Tsunhin Wong
Shakuhachi Player. Hong Kong, China
"Just got my instrument. It is MAGnificent.
I feel like an old friend has come home. The tone, harmonics and overtones
are incredible Monty. I just love it. You have performed alchemy. The
esthetics are tremendous as well. You did an excellent job of the binding
and don't think I missed that added touch of the rattan at the top. I
love the whole thing. Thank you infinitely. Back to the Dojo."
Bob P.
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"My newly repaired flute is a
testament to your years of experience. You managed to free it`s
voice whilst keeping, indeed enhancing the original tone quality.
It is a joy to play. Thank you very much."
David Sawyer
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"I returned from Europe last
Friday evening and of course the first thing I did was unpack the Shakuhachi
you worked on. Can’t put
it down now—it really is beautiful. The sound is much more even
and full. I can really crank it up into trumpeting otsu notes and singing
kan
notes
and play soft and delicate tones as well. The dai kan register is also
much better than it was before particularly dai kan re, which use to
be quite difficult to play.The ascetic enhancements are also great and
look
very natural. I think if you didn't know they were recently done,
you would believe they are original. Very neat job on adding the three
roots. The flute plays
and feels like a new and much improved instrument. Thanks so much for
the great work and also how quickly you completed it."
S. Dh.
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"I
sent Monty an old shak that had a few problems my main concern being
the amount of effort necessary to play the 2nd octave C and 3rd octave
D on a 1.8. He emailed me an evaluation the same day he received it
stating what other problems existed as well. After the work was done
and I received the shak I was extremely happy with the results. Every
aspect of the shak from intonation, to playability, balance between
the notes, etc. was improved greatly without affecting the tone color,
which was a major concern of mine. All this in only three weeks time.
Monty is truly a miracle worker making this old shak a pleasure to
play."
Anonymous
Shakuhachi Player. USA
"Monty,
are you absolutely sure these were the same shakuhachi that I sent
you for repairs? They are both, in their own ways, stunning—your repairs
and workmanship are, as always, perfect. Thank you very very much for
restoring both instruments. The 1.7 is amazing. This one will take
a lifetime to grow into. The transformation that you achieved is unbelievable.
I am really intrigued by the physics and the alchemy that ground your
work and your innovations—how precise and studied perturbations of
the bore can result in such improvements in the quality of sound is
a testament to your years of study and refinement of the science of
acoustics. Your early model flute is now a constant companion to and
from work now, and reminds me daily of how craftsmanship, honor, and
good karma all work together."
Michael Okagi
Shakuhachi Player. USA
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July 20, 2024
