So I am debating on whether to get a keyaki ozora. Sell me on it please! Does it become a little tacky the more I break it in?
Solid durable natty with great sound. Would say it breaks in to a nice grip, not tacky. All mine have weighed in around the low to mid 70s. Def worth owning one.
Keyakis are the best! Definitely invest in one! They are not tacky at all, but you can always beeswax the tama. I have mine re-paired - the ken is paired with a Yumu Super Paint (one of the most money setups in my collection), and the tama is paired with the Yumu ken. Having owned my keyaki for a little over a year, the tama has gotten a good amount of natural tack from being broken in as well. It's worth the price for even the ken alone. I have a buddy who loves his keyaki ken so much, he's re-paired it with a number of other tamas, and played it almost exclusively at large stretches of time. I think the tama (like other Ozora natty tamas) just take a bit to break in, but are nice solid tamas once they are.
I have a Killah Bees Keyaki Ozora that is pretty well-played. If you don't want to plop down the cash on a new one, I'd let this go.
Appreciate the offer, but I would probably get a new keyaki since I think the fun in getting a natty is breaking it in yourself.
@Ben Lowe honestly kind of a tough call. I'd say the keyaki though, as it is more of a departure from the characteristics of beechwood than maple is (assuming you have a beech ken in the collection). Maple is awesome (one of my faves as well), but it is closer in feel and play to beech (softer and better feel though I find, breaks in nicely). Keyaki is more crisp, but still fairly solid feeling when you catch the tama.
I have burnt a keyaki and the feeling is different than any other ken I have ever held. Its such a beautiful wood to look at and should break in quite nicely! The tama may be a little slick at first but the balance is great. If you buy this dama you wont regret it!