A store specializing in Contrabass: Repairs, Adjusting, Manufacturing and Sales.

“We can certainly fix it unless it burned into ash.”

Contrabass Workshop Kadomoto  A repair specialist　Kenji Kadomoto

The person who repairs music instruments does not necessarily have to be able to play

I was surprised when I opened the wooden door of the shop located on Kitaoji Street. Dozens of damaged contrabasses were lying on a spacious floor as if they were tuna at a fish market.

“I believe there are about more than 30 of them. It’s less cramped today since I sold 4 of them yesterday.”

Kenji Kadomoto, who is in an apron, makes some space between contrabasses and stands there.

The dream to become a musician: shattered dream and contrabass repairs

Mr. Kadomoto from Kyoto heard jazz for the first time when he was a high school student. His favorite instrument is contrabass. It plays low notes in the classic orchestra and the baseline in jazz. He was attracted to contrabass that is essential for all music genres. At that time, his dream was to become a musician. He went to a music academy, and he worked at the live music club Blue-Notes Kyoto, where jazz players gather.

“I had come to realization where people needs to be talented to become a pro-musician after seeing skillful ones. Unfortunately I wasn’t. Then my dream was shattered.”

Yet, he could not leave his favorite instrument behind, contrabass. He was not able to decide on his career to pursue for a year after graduating his school. He did not have any intention when he sent an email to a repair specialist of contrabass in Tokyo. The specialist suggested him to practice repairing. He went to Tokyo without any hesitation and learned the repair skills.

His master’s motto “Think by Yourself”: Be a supporter of young musicians

His master in Tokyo has 2 mottos. One is “Musical instrument repairer had better not play the instrument.” because they might repair the instrument based on their favor. It is desirable to keep a certain distance from the instrument as adjusting method in contrabass could be different between the one used in jazz and classical music.

“Although I can’t go back the time where I couldn’t play, I completely stopped playing.”

Another motto is “Think by yourself”. Each contrabass has a different number in strings and different shapes, thus broken parts are different, so are the players. Even though you repair it by the way you learned, you might not always have the sounds you expect. We can be better repairers only by through the great deal of repairing experience.

“Contrabass is from Europe. It is 15 kg, which is too big for Japanese, and it is common for the players to practice more than 6 hours. Adjusting according to their personal preferences allows beautiful sound.”

The structure of stringed instruments isn’t entirely recognized. Mr. Kadomoto manufactures contrabasses to study it .

“I would spend a day in a week to build one but there is no way I can leave any damaged contrabasses when it came into my place. It is certainly repairable unless it burned out.”

He says that he wants to be there for young players. He is the craftsman who chose his own path with his enthusiasm.