Cornelian Cherry Wood Kaval – Pro

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My flagship kaval, turned from cornelian cherry that has been aged for ten years. Cornelian cherry (dryan) has been used for Bulgarian kavals for generations and is regarded as one of the finest materials for the instrument.

It has a soft, warm, tender tone that is deeply characteristic of the Bulgarian style. The mouthpiece and joints are fitted with Indian buffalo horn together with pewter and aluminium, which improves the sound and supports the joints as the wood expands while you play.

Good to know: cornelian cherry is one of the densest woods native to Europe - so heavy that, unlike almost all other woods, it sinks in water.

What you get

• A professional kaval made from 10-year-aged cornelian cherry, available in D, C, Bb and a custom A.
• 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 custom made-to-order instrument (details below).

About the A key (made to order): the A kaval is pitched a semitone below the Bb. It uses longer, rarer wood, and the lowest finger hole is offset slightly so it stays comfortable to reach. It takes about two 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 - a plastic kaval in D, the beginner course, and everything you need in one.