Ebony / Grenadilla Wood Kaval – Pro (Model 2)

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The second design in my ebony/grenadilla Signature line: a professional kaval turned from the same premium dark tonewoods, built for players who want the classic black look with a slightly different feel in hand.

Density is what defines these woods - it seals out moisture and gives a quick, responsive touch, while the near-black colour gives a sleek, understated finish. Ebony and grenadilla are grouped here because, side by side, most players can't tell them apart by ear or by eye.

Good to know: grenadilla, or African blackwood, is the same wood used for professional clarinets and oboes - one of the densest tonewoods in the world.

The fittings: the mouthpiece and the joints are machined acetal, better known as Delrin, not buffalo horn. It is stronger, far less prone to cracking, and it holds its shape through the humidity and temperature swings that horn reacts to. It is identical in every instrument I make, it seats without grease, it cleans properly, and it is not an animal product. The mouthpiece shapes the sound, which is exactly why I use it: Delrin is far less affected by atmospheric conditions and responds the same in warm and cold, so the instrument plays consistently instead of shifting with the weather.

What you get

• A professional kaval made from ebony or grenadilla, available in D, C and Bb, or A made to order.
• Leather case included.
• I personally play, tune and approve every one before it ships.

Choosing your key

• D - the easiest to start on, the most common key, and the one all my lessons and materials are built around. My recommendation for beginners.
• C - slightly lower, and it blends beautifully with the human voice; traditionally the key used to accompany folk singers.
• Bb - deep and rich, but a little harder to play: it is longer, so the finger holes are spaced wider apart.
• A - the lowest and warmest, a semitone below Bb: it is longer still, so the last finger hole is offset slightly to the side, keeping it comfortable to reach. Custom made to order.

About the A key (made to order): the A kaval is pitched a semitone below the Bb. It uses longer, rarer wood. It takes two to three weeks to craft, plus delivery.

My promise

• Turned by hand on the lathe by master kaval maker Biser Vasilev in Zlatograd, Bulgaria.
• 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
• 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Ships worldwide from Bulgaria with tracking. In-stock instruments ship within 1 to 3 business days; made-to-order keys take about 2 to 3 weeks to craft.

New to the kaval? The Starter Bundle is the easiest way to begin - an Intro kaval in D, the beginner course, and everything you need in one.