Ayasa Instruments
Ayasa Instruments — Excellence in service of sound
Based in Almere, in the heart of the Netherlands, Ayasa Instruments is now one of the most prestigious names in the handpan world. More than just a brand, Ayasa embodies a vision: that of an instrument designed as a true extension of the musician, capable of translating the most subtle emotions and supporting every player in their evolution.
The story begins with Ralf van den Bor, founder, craftsman, and head tuner of Ayasa. In 2012, his childhood friend Rick introduced him to the handpan through a video. The richness of its sounds and the emotions it evokes were a revelation. Ralf started playing, attended his first gatherings of enthusiasts, and then decided to leave his job and studies to fully dedicate himself to this still-young instrument.
He began his journey as a maker in 2013, crafting his first instruments in his father’s garage. This marked the start of a period of nearly eighteen months dedicated to research, development, and the creation of numerous prototypes. From this extensive work, the Adiyuga series was born, its Sanskrit name evoking the “first generation” or the “beginning of a new era.”
A year later, the Gauna series appeared, marking a new stage in the search for consistency, stability, and precision. Ralf never stopped improving his shaping methods, heat treatments, and specialized tools. Each instrument requires thousands of hammer blows, each influencing the metal’s tension, note stability, harmonics, and the handpan’s final personality.
The Ayasa adventure gradually built up around a team united by friendship, family, and a shared fascination for sound. Rick, the one who started it all, joined the project as the primary contact and the brand’s true jack-of-all-trades. Roy van den Bor, Ralf’s twin brother, returned from several years of traveling after falling in love with an instrument made by his brother. He then got involved in manufacturing, tuning, and developing the workshop for other makers.
In 2015, Ralf also met Marius Farcas, thanks to their mutual friend Kabeção. Marius played an important role in Ayasa’s early years of development and actively participated in making instruments between 2015 and early 2017. Each, in their own way, contributed to growing a brand that has become an international benchmark.
From its beginnings, Ayasa has dedicated considerable resources to research and development. Time, resources, sometimes unsuccessful trials, new machines, specific tools, and countless hours of work were necessary to better understand how the metal reacts. The goal was never to produce more, but to produce better: to achieve more precision, better note isolation, lasting stability, and consistent quality from one instrument to another.
This quest led the team to explore the possibilities of nitrided steel for over six years, then to test many other materials. Some trials, particularly with different carbon steels, required a lot of investment without bringing the hoped-for results. But every difficulty allowed Ayasa to deepen its knowledge and push the boundaries of manufacturing.
During the summer of 2020, these years of research culminated in the discovery and development of a stainless steel with unique properties, named Ember Steel. Its name evokes the embers of a fire: the warmth of its sound, but also the golden, orange, red, purple, or bluish shades that the metal can reveal after its heat treatment.
Ember Steel offers a long but controlled sustain, a sensitive and responsive touch, a wide dynamic range, and excellent note stability. Its round, full, and almost ceramic sound avoids the excessively metallic character that some instruments can have. The notes remain clear, their harmonics are precise, and unwanted resonances are better controlled. Its high resistance to oxidation also makes it a material particularly suited for instruments intended to be played regularly and kept for many years.
Since its discovery, Ayasa has manufactured its own handpans exclusively in Ember Steel. But the brand’s influence extends far beyond the walls of its workshop. Through its Maker Shop, it makes its deep-drawn shells, tools, and technical expertise available to other manufacturers. Ayasa doesn’t just contribute to creating beautiful instruments: the brand actively participates in the evolution of the handpan worldwide.
The result of this high standard is felt from the very first notes. An Ayasa has a depth, precision, and balance that naturally invite you to play. The notes respond with very little effort, the bass maintains its presence, the highs remain clear, and the harmonics enrich the playing without overwhelming it. The instrument accompanies the most delicate gestures as well as powerful rhythms and complex compositions.
In my eyes, Ayasa is quite simply the best handpan brand in the world. It is also my favorite brand, as much for the personality of its instruments as for the rigor, passion, and consistency of the team that makes them. This appreciation is naturally personal, as the choice of a handpan always depends on each individual’s sensitivity. But when looking for a high-end, precise, expressive instrument capable of supporting true musical progression, Ayasa represents an absolute reference for me.
Of course, excellence comes at a price. Acquiring an Ayasa requires a larger budget than buying an entry-level instrument or handpans sold by most other manufacturers on the planet. Yet, it’s not just an expense for equipment: it’s a lasting investment in an instrument, but also a true investment in yourself.
A handpan whose sound touches us deeply makes us want to play more often and for longer. Its precision allows us to better hear nuances, work on the quality of touch, and develop musical sensitivity more quickly. Because the instrument responds faithfully to every gesture, it rewards progress, stimulates creativity, and maintains the pleasure of learning. It can thus become a life companion, a space for centering oneself, a tool for expression, and a daily source of inspiration.
Choosing Ayasa means investing in years of research, exceptional craftsmanship, and a vision that continues to evolve the handpan. But above all, it’s choosing an instrument capable of making us want to play again, to go further, and to discover, day after day, new dimensions of ourselves.
