Choosing Your First Pair
Buying your first pair of maibachi can feel overwhelming.
There are countless options available, made from different woods, lengths, weights, grip styles, and tapers. If you’ve spent any time searching online, you’ve probably seen players recommending completely different setups, making it difficult to know where to start.
The good news is that choosing your first pair doesn’t need to be complicated.
Your first pair doesn’t have to be perfect. It simply needs to be comfortable, well made, and enjoyable to play with. As your technique develops, you’ll naturally learn what you like and can always try different bachi in the future.
There is no universally “best” pair of maibachi. Even top players often own multiple pairs and switch between them depending on the chart, cabinet condition, or simply personal preference.
On this page
Why Buy Maibachi?
Most players begin by using the house bachi provided at the arcade.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, and many players don’t buy their own bachi until they’ve decided they’re going to keep playing.
However, personal maibachi are generally:
- Much lighter
- Better balanced
- More comfortable to hold
- Easier to control
- More consistent between play sessions
Having your own pair also means you’ll always know exactly how your bachi feel, rather than adjusting to a different pair every time you visit an arcade.
What Should I Buy?
For most beginners, your choice simply comes down to how much you want to spend.
Here are our general recommendations based on the most common situations:
- Just want to try maibachi? Buy an inexpensive marketplace pair.
- Own a drum controller? Start with the included bachi if it was provided.
- Want an official product, or to participate in official tournaments? Buy the Official My Bachi.
- Know you’ll be playing regularly long-term? Buy a handcrafted pair from an established maker.
Don’t worry too much about wood type, length, weight or taper just yet.
Those characteristics absolutely matter, but they’re much easier to understand once you’ve actually spent some time playing with your own bachi.
The upcoming guides explain those topics in more detail.
Beginner Recommendations
There are plenty of good choices available, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to get started.
The recommendations below are grouped by category to help you decide which type of bachi is most appropriate for your budget and experience.
Budget Marketplace Bachi
If you’re simply looking to experience playing with your own bachi, inexpensive marketplace options are a perfectly reasonable place to start.
Common places to find them include:
- AliExpress
- Temu
- Shopee
- Lazada
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| Examples of commonly sold bachi on online marketplaces. |
Quality can vary considerably between sellers, but they’re often still a noticeable improvement over the heavy house bachi provided by many arcades. They also let you discover whether using personal bachi is something you enjoy before investing in a more expensive pair.
Many of these inexpensive marketplace bachi are simply resold versions of the same products. Don’t worry too much about the brand, just focus on choosing a seller with good reviews.
Controller Manufacturer Bachi
Some drum controller manufacturers include their own bachi with their controllers, or offer them as optional accessories.
If you’ve recently purchased a drum controller with included bachi, there’s a good chance they will serve you perfectly well while you’re getting started. For example, both Rythmagica and ZhongTaiko bundle bachi with selected controllers that are specifically designed for home play.
If you’re happy with the feel of the included bachi, there’s no need to rush into buying another pair. As you gain experience and develop your own preferences, you can always upgrade later.
Official Bandai Namco My Bachi
Bandai Namco produces its own official line of My Bachi, designed specifically for Taiko no Tatsujin.
There are currently three official models:
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Aka (Red) | Ao (Blue) | Yamabuki (Yellow) |
| Balanced, all-rounder model. | Longer with lower rebound. | Longer with higher rebound. |
| Recommended for: Most players | Recommended for: Players who prefer more control | Recommended for: Players who prefer more rebound |
Official My Bachi are known for their consistent build quality and are an excellent choice if you’re looking for an officially licensed product. They are also the only personal bachi permitted in official Taiko tournaments.
They also include removable wrist straps, which help prevent accidentally dropping the bachi during play.
Tournament rule: Official Bandai Namco tournaments allow players to replace or add grip tape, provided it remains within the original grip area. The grip tape must not cover the engraved Taiko no Tatsujin logo or extend towards the tip of the bachi. Other modifications to the wooden body are not permitted.
Handcrafted Maibachi
If you know you’ll be playing Taiko regularly, it’s worth considering a handcrafted pair from a specialist workshop or craftsperson.
Some popular bachi makers include:
- Minamitori Bachi Workshop - Japan
- Kiwami Bachi Workshop - Japan
- Yazaserori Bachi Workshop - Japan
- Kevin2o2 - USA
- Koki Maibachi - Japan
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| Examples of bachi crafted by Minamitori (left), Kiwami (middle), and Kev2o2 (right). |
Independent bachi makers typically produce their bachi in much smaller batches than commercial manufacturers, with each pair carefully shaped, sanded, and finished by hand. Many also offer a wide variety of woods, sizes, tapers, grip tapes, and balance profiles, allowing players to choose a pair that best suits their individual preferences.
Many experienced players eventually move to handcrafted bachi once they have a better understanding of what they like.
There’s no need to rush into buying premium bachi straight away. A quality handcrafted pair is a worthwhile long-term investment, but it’s much easier to appreciate the differences once you’ve spent some time playing with a simpler pair first.
Where to Buy
Depending on where you live, maibachi can be purchased from:
- Specialist maibachi workshops
- Community sellers
- Japanese online retailers
- Amazon Japan
- Marketplace websites
The Bachi Makers & Sellers page contains a larger directory of manufacturers, retailers, and international purchasing options.
Common Beginner Mistakes
It’s easy to spend hours researching maibachi before buying your first pair.
The advice below addresses a few common misconceptions that many new players have, helping you make a confident purchase without overthinking every detail.
Expecting expensive bachi to improve your skill
There’s nothing wrong with buying a premium pair as your first set, especially if you know you’ll be playing regularly or simply appreciate high-quality craftsmanship.
However, it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Premium maibachi won’t instantly improve your technique or scores.
The biggest improvements come from regular practice, while better equipment mainly provides greater comfort, consistency, and a playing experience that suits your personal preferences.
Copying another player’s setup
Just because your favourite player uses a particular pair doesn’t mean it’ll suit you.
Everyone has different preferences, and what feels perfect for one person may feel uncomfortable to another.
Overthinking the specifications
It’s easy to spend weeks researching different woods, lengths, weights, and tapers before buying anything.
Don’t let that stop you from getting started - a decent pair that gets you playing is far more valuable than endlessly searching for the “perfect” pair.
Read Next ➡️
🚧 taiko.guide is currently under active development.
Documentation is being added and expanded over time, so some sections may be incomplete or marked as work in progress.